Huawei FreeBuds SE TWS review: Wireless in-ear headphones with IP certification at a budget price

The color selection of the FreeBuds SE is limited to a green-bluish and a white version of the Huawei TWS. The design is relatively susceptible to fingerprints due to the high-gloss finish. Together with the headphones, the charging case only weighs about 36 g, which is very light. Thus, the case lacks a bit of value, and the plastic used also feels less valuable than premium TWS - the same applies to the headphones themselves. On the other hand, the workmanship is very solid, and the case is closed securely with magnets. The lid of our test sample has some play and therefore wobbles a bit.

We found the FreeBuds SE comfortable to wear, and the in-ears also hold well enough for normal everyday use. Huawei calls the design of the in-ears Half-in-Ear-Design, which means that the headphones are inserted into the external ear canal. Three different silicone attachments allow individual adjustment for the best possible fit. In everyday use, Huawei's headphones do not stand out negatively due to their low weight of about 5 grams, even during longer use.

The IPX4-certified Huawei headphones promise sufficient protection against splashing water, but not against dust or water penetration. The Huawei FreeBuds SE are not suitable for users who like to clean their in-ears from sweat under running water after sports. The charging case does not offer protection against liquids.

Since the FreeBuds SE are rather in the low-priced TWS mid-range category the equipment features are rather manageable. Active noise cancellation or Transparent Hearing, like the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2, is not supported by the SE model. However, each headphone has two silicone microphones that can filter out annoying frequencies during calls.

Google Fast Pair is not supported by FreeBuds SE, and the setup with an Android smartphone has to be done "classically" - via the pairing button inside the case; the same applies to Apple phones by the way. It is easier with a Huawei smartphone, as long as at least EMUI 10 or Harmony OS 2.0 is installed. In this case, the FreeBuds SE is paired directly when the case is opened.

The manufacturer's AI Life app is required for software updates or settings. The QR code on the packaging can be scanned on iOS and Android devices, while a Huawei phone downloads the app via HUAWEI's AppGallery. However, the settings of the FreeBuds SE are not extensive. Users will not look for more than an adjustment of the gesture control. And the gesture control is also a bit too small compared to other TWS headphones and very limited. Huawei's in-ears have touch-sensitive outer sides - Huawei calls this G-Sensor - but they only support a tap gesture. Here, the user can decide between pausing playback or accepting a call. We would have wished for more touch or tap gestures here.

Playback is automatically paused when removing the Huawei TWS from the ear canal. This wear detection, which automatically stops both music and movie playback, works very reliably in the FreeBuds SE in everyday use.

The FreeBuds SE use 10 mm dynamic drivers with a polymer diaphragm for audio playback and cover a frequency range of 10 Hz to 20 kHz, according to the manufacturer. Besides the Bluetooth codec AAC, only the compulsorily supported SBC via Bluetooth 5.2 is available for use. Huawei does not report any latency for the FreeBuds SE in the spec sheet but we did not notice a significant offset between the picture and sound in YouTube videos or movies - we used Galaxy S23 Ultra or Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, and not a Huawei smartphone.

The most important feature of a pair of headphones, especially in light of the FreeBuds SE's lack of ANC, is the sound quality. The half-in-ear design makes the headphones sit securely in the ear, but the passive shielding of the in-ears is not very pronounced, which means that ambient noise is not really muffled either. This is especially evident since the silicone attachments are not flush with the casing and do not provide the necessary strength, and they often overlap when the TWS are removed.

The frequency spectrum is not as wide as in the FreeBuds 5i, but the FreeBuds SE's harmonic distortions are just as exemplary low in our measurements. The Huawei headphones offer a solid sound experience with a clear focus in the mid-range that brings some boredom and randomness overall. The 10-millimeter drivers do not have much power and deliver a rather flat sound image with little present bass. The clarity in the trebles is also not a strength of the FreeBuds SE. If the music playback is rich in bass and characterized by trebles, we find other TWS in this price range, like the OnePlus Buds Z2, to be fuller. The Huawei in-ears lack an equalizer or at least sound tuning profiles to compensate for these shortcomings.

The Huawei FreeBuds SE are very low-noise in-ear headphones with a good runtime but also some shortcomings. The low pricing of the TWS can certainly compensate for the lack of features like ANC or spatial audio, but the FreeBuds SE's basic features are too rudimentary for headphones. The operating concept and the sound, in particular, could have used a bit more fine-tuning. Those who enjoy bass-rich music will certainly not be convinced by the Huawei TWS.

Those who do not want to spend a lot of money on wireless headphones and use a Huawei device will find a cheap companion for the on-the-go in the FreeBuds SE. However, a sound miracle in the TWS mid-range should not be expected.

We see a suitable alternative in Huawei's cosmos with the FreeBuds 5i. A more extensive feature set, better sound, and above all solid ANC are offered for a price of well under 100 Euros. However, the same is also true for headphones from other manufacturers like the OnePlus Buds Z2, or Nokia Clarity Earbuds+ where a small surcharge entails much less willingness to compromise than in the FreeBuds SE.