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MagyarHuawei FreeBuds 5i review - Affordable in-ear headphones with LDAC
The Huawei FreeBuds 5i are the direct successors of the FreeBuds 4i and are again at the same price level of just under 100 Euros (~$109/MSRP). The new model now has IP certification, an additional audio codec for Bluetooth, and a wider frequency range for the two drivers. The active noise cancellation (ANC) of the True Wireless Headphones (TWS) is also said to have been improved and attenuates ambient noise by up to 42 dB.
Specifications
| Wearing style | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Speakers | 10 mm drivers, 20 - 40,000 Hz |
| Audio codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Battery power (earphones) | 55 mAh |
| Battery power (charging case) | 410 mAh |
| Charging port | USB-C |
| Wireless charging | not supported |
| Weight (earphones) | 4.9 g (~0.17 oz) each |
| Weight (charging case) | 33.9 g (~1.2 oz) |
| Firmware version | 2.1.0.160 |
| Package contents | FreeBuds 5i, charging case, 3 pairs of earbuds, charging cable (USB-A to USB-C), documentation |
| Price (MSRP) | 100 Euro |
Case and ergonomics - Huawei headphones with splash protection
The Huawei FreeBuds 5i are available in three color variants: black (Nebula Black), white (Ceramic White), and blue (Isle Blue). The latter two have a slight speckle look. The plastic casing is very pleasant to the touch and, in the case of our blue review sample, is not susceptible to fingerprints. With a total weight of 43 grams (~1.5 oz), the Huawei headphones are also pleasantly light.
The FreeBuds 5i are worn in the ear (in-ear), where they are inserted into the external ear canal. The three different silicone attachments allow an adjustment to achieve the best possible fit. Size M is already plugged in, with S and L also available. Like their Predecessor, they sit well in the ear, but have a little air to the antihelix, which does not provide the best fit, especially during sports.
The FreeBuds 5i are protected against the penetration of dust in damaging quantities as well as against splashing water on all sides according to IP54. Thus, they are not necessarily recommended as a companion in the shower, but a heavy rain will not harm them.
Features and operation - dual Bluetooth for the Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Setting up the Huawei FreeBuds 5i is easiest on the manufacturer's smartphones, provided they have at least EMUI 10 or Harmony OS 2.0 installed. In this case, the smartphone or tablet offers pairing the headphones directly via a pop-up. Windows also directly recognizes the pairing-ready TWS. With other Android or Apple devices, pairing has to be done manually, but that is also quick. If you want to configure the FreeBuds and install updates, you should download the AI Life app. It is available in Apple's App Store and Huawei's App Gallery, and Google users can download it via the QR code on the packaging or from Huawei's homepage at Android.
In the app, the wear detection can be turned on or off, a tutorial for touch operation can be made, or it can be adapted to the user's needs. The settings for the equalizer and the hybrid ANC can also be found there. Users who have paired several devices with the FreeBuds 5i will appreciate the connection center, which can be used to quickly switch to another, already paired device or to manage them. Thanks to dual Bluetooth, two devices can remain permanently connected to the headphones, for example a computer and a smartphone. Also useful is the fit test for the audio attachments or the search function for the individual earphones. In the latter, a loud ringing is played on the selected earbud to be able to track it down acoustically.
Huawei's FreeBuds 5i cannot only be controlled via the smartphone, but also via touch on the headphone's stem. This works flawlessly in the test and does not require much practice. The headphones can also be used separately.
Sound - FreeBuds 5i with Hybrid ANC and LDAC
Huawei's FreeBuds 5i support the high-resolution LDAC codec for Bluetooth and want to transport audio content to the receiver in as high a resolution as possible. Of course, this is only possible with Android devices; neither Microsoft nor Apple natively support Sony's codec. At the same time, the frequency range of the drivers is extended up to 40,000 Hz, which promises a good sound experience on the spec sheet.
In fact, the sound can largely convince. The FreeBuds 5i convey this in a very differentiated way, even though the high tones are much more present than their lower siblings. Especially the noise behavior is well controlled by Huawei when ANC is deactivated and the LDAC connection is used, and it is virtually inaudible. In everyday use, we occasionally miss a bit more depth in music playback, and the sound does not leave a completely clean impression in action movies when it really rattles. However, it is a good performance considering the price range. The automatic pause function for media content when an earphone is removed is also practical.
The FreeBuds 5i are well suited for phone calls. The two integrated microphones provide a clean voice recording and the DNN algorithm neutralizes minor noise and people in the surroundings. The Huawei headphones are a suitable addition for the home office, but they reach their limits in open-plan offices or in traffic.
Ambient noise is already somewhat muffled by the passive shielding of the in-ear headphones. The hybrid ANC can audibly improve this again. However, especially in quieter environments, you occasionally have to choose between the hum of the fridge or the whirring of a fan or the noise of the active noise cancellation.
| Loudspeakers | |
| THD | |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) | |
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) | |
| Huawei FreeBuds 5i (RMS: -2.4 dBFS) | |
| THD+N | |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) | |
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 (RMS: -3.0 dBFS) | |
| Huawei FreeBuds 5i (RMS: -2.4 dBFS) | |
* ... smaller is better
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Harmonic distortion quantifies the magnitude of the components that arise due to non-linear distortion (harmonic content) in relation to the original signal. THD only refers to the fundamental component. The distortion factor is often mentioned in the same breath, but refers to the total signal.
THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise): This value is comparable to THD, but in addition to the harmonic distortion, that of the noise is measured as an RMS value.
For the measurement, a low-harmonic sinusoidal signal (1 kHz, > 0 dB) is reproduced via the headphones to be tested, which is recorded by a linear measurement microphone (measurement distance: approx. 1 cm) in an artificial head.
Both values are given as a percentage. The lower the value, the better the signal fidelity.
Huawei FreeBuds 5i audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (96 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 31% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (92.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (3.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 13% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery runtimes - LDAC sucks the battery dry
We performed the battery test at an adjusted volume of 65 dB(A) with ANC in Ultra mode and the LDAC codec active. Huawei promises a runtime of up to six hours with active ANC and AAC. We did not even come close to this because it ended after less than four hours. This is probably due to the more powerful LDAC codec.
The headphones are fully charged within 60 minutes.
| Battery Runtime - Spotify loop at 65dB/A (incl ANC) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro | |
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 | |
| Huawei FreeBuds 5i | |
Verdict - Good in-ear headphones from Huawei
Huawei's FreeBuds 5i convince in the test with a wide range of features, good microphones and dual-Bluetooth. The sound is also good over long stretches, but it also has its weaknesses. The supported LDAC codec only helps to a certain extent. At least the FreeBuds 5i are very low-noise and the ANC is also quite good in loud environments.
The Huawei FreeBuds 5i offer a lot of modern technology for a competitive price.
The touch control of the in-ear TWS is also very successful. Implemented features like the wear recognition or the search function can be useful in everyday life. However, those who want to use the full potential of Huawei's headphones will have to put up with shorter battery runtimes.
Alternatives could be the Galaxy Buds2 or Teufel Airy True Wireless. Those looking for more sound quality at a similar price could look at the Sennheiser CX True Wireless.
Price and availability
The FreeBuds 5i are available directly from Huawei, but can also be purchased from Amazon, among others.
Disclosure: The product tested here was provided to the author free of charge by the manufacturer. There was no influence by the lender on the review, and the manufacturer did not receive any version of the review prior to publication. There was no obligation to publish.
