Finding the perfect headphones is not an easy task. And even more so for specific cases: listening to music from a computer, listening to music at home, on the street, on the subway, on flights - a specific model will be suitable for each of these scenarios, but it is not a fact that it will be ideal. And it’s not at all possible to find the ideal TWS headphones: they must be compact, comfortable, work for a long time, have noise reduction (without this, sorry, there’s nowhere). Of course, don’t forget about sound and cost: 25 thousand for AirPods Pro is already a bit much, to put it mildly.
And now Huawei releases FreeBuds Pro. The previous model of Huawei FreeBuds 3i turned out to be an extremely successful solution with excellent sound:
Huawei Freebuds 3i review: best TWS for Android?
Ilya Kichaev
2 June 2020
These are great headphones. But FreeBuds Pro cost 15 thousand rubles (or 11.5 with all possible discounts during the promotional period). Does it make sense to overpay six thousand for a Pro console? Or is it worth saving?
Connecting Bluetooth headphones Honor Magic Earbuds to your phone
Place the Honor Magic Earbuds in the charging case (case). Open the charging case cover, press and hold the function button for 2 seconds until the indicator light on the charging case starts flashing. Then search for bluetooth devices on your smartphone and pair.
If pairing fails, reset your Honor Magic Earbuds (read this guide).
Mobile application installation
only for Android
Download and install the HUAWEI AI Life app (available on Android only)
To customize the noise canceling functionality, personalize the earbuds' features, or perform a software update, scan the QR code, download the app, and add Huawei HONOR Magic Earbuds to your device list in the app.
How to prepare headphones for connection
Before connecting a wireless headset to your Honor gadget, you need to make sure that the phone meets the requirements. We recommend looking at and comparing versions of Bluetooth headphones and devices. The specifications of the accessory and the smartphone must match, otherwise the equipment will not recognize the new device.
Bluetooth consumes a lot of energy during operation. To prevent sudden shutdown of the devices, you need to charge both gadgets. Turn on the headset and place it next to the smartphone. The closer the devices are, the stronger the signal and the more reliable the connection.
How to connect Huawei wireless headphones to your phone
The specified headset is connected to phones such as Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi in the following sequence.
| 1 | Find the power button on the headphones. Enable them |
| 2 | Long press the Power button to activate the Bluetooth headphones. A successful connection will be indicated by blinking LEDs - red and blue |
| 3 | Find the item in the phone settings - Bluetooth connection |
| 4 | Activate it |
| 5 | Click on the Bluetooth menu - a list of devices available for connection will appear |
| 6 | Find the desired device, click the “Connect” button |
| 7 | If the connection is successful, the red LED goes out and the blue signal stops blinking (depending on the headphone models). LED lights up continuously |
Important! If at the beginning of setup only the blue LED on the headphones lights up, they are not available for search, but will be connected to the device that was previously paired with the headphones.
FreeLace
The special feature of FreeLace is the hidden USB hidden between the volume buttons. The model is sold without a charging case, and they can be charged using a laptop or other device that can be connected to USB.
The activation procedure itself is simple. Hold down the power button and wait for the indicator to activate; it should blink. On your smartphone, check the search for devices, click on the detected headphones and you can start listening.
Free Buds Lite
FreeBuds Lite must be placed in the case, open the cover and hold down the button located near the USB. When you select a detected gadget on your phone, they can be removed from the case.
FlyPods Lite
FlyPods Lite connect in the same way as the model presented above. Insert them into the case, hold down the power button until the light turns white. Then in your phone's Bluetooth settings, select the detected wireless accessory and you can enjoy listening.
How to use Honor Magic Earbuds
Playing music
Default When the Honor Magic Earbuds are in standby mode, double tap the earbud to start playing. Double-tap the earbuds again to pause playback.
Calls (calls)
Default To answer an incoming call using the Honor Magic Earbuds, simply double-tap the earbud. To end a call, double-tap the earpiece.
Noise suppression
Default Touch and hold the earbud to turn noise canceling on or off.
Selection upon request - Where to buy “Honor Magic Earbuds”
…
Background
Before we get to the beginning of the review, I would like to start with some background and talk about the difficulties with these headphones.
If you were thinking about hassle-free connection of Freebuds, then I would recommend reading this material. I tried to put everything together. Go. So, Huawei headphones are connected using the A2DP bluetooth profile to the sound source. In this case, the headphones use the AAC codec, which allows the Bluetooth implementation to provide a bitrate of 264 kbps at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz. This codec was developed by Nokia and Sony and the target audience is the Apple company. In terms of sound quality, it can be compared with the aptX codec. Most devices released in 2021 support this codec. But if your device does not support this codec, then the sound will be implemented through the basic codec for A2DP, which is SBC. This codec provides a bitrate of 328 kbps at a sampling rate of 48 kHz. This is enough to transmit sound in mp3 format, but not enough for any more or less high-quality recordings. That is, in essence, the sound will not differ from any other inexpensive headphones. I had the same feeling when pairing the headphones with my Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (before the firmware update). After the update, I took a Sharp S2 with support for all codecs, but it automatically set SBC when connected to FreeBuds. And then I began to look for a smartphone that supports this codec. The third smartphone turned out to be Huawei Nova 2, it automatically turned on the SBC. The fourth was Asus ZenPhone 4, which also featured the SBC codec, although it supports all formats. In the end, I found a Samsung S8+ and it was able to connect automatically to the AAC codec. Therefore, just because your smartphone has AAC support, this does not mean that your headphones will be able to use it.
Now about the pleasant things. In Android 8, the developers added an interesting feature, namely forced selection of an audio codec for a Bluetooth connection. By going to this menu, you can see the following list: SBC (basic codec), AAC (I talked about it earlier), aptX (codec developed by Qualcoom, allows you to encode audio at a frequency of 44.1 kHz with a bit depth of 16 bits, providing a bitrate of up to 352 kbit/s. The sound is close to CD audio), AptX HD (improved HiRes codec, the availability of devices with this codec is minimal) and LDAC (codec developed by Sony. LDAC provides a sampling rate of 96 kHz and a bit depth of 24 bits, which gives bandwidth 990 kbps Codec support is limited to Sony devices, but it provides higher quality audio than CD format.) Therefore, if you have a device with Android OS version 8.0 or higher, then choosing a codec is not a problem. But the headphones’ operation with other devices is not guaranteed. To do this, you can visit the website www.bluetoothcheck.com and find out what codecs your device supports. And then think about buying Huawei FreeBuds or replacing your smartphone with a newer one. Now you can move on to the headphone review itself. I hope there won’t be any questions about the fact that I bought headphones and the sound turned out to be disgusting.
Characteristics of Honor Magic Earbuds
Model Honor Magic Earbuds Bluetooth signal transmission method Emitter membrane diameter 10 mm Minimum reproducible frequency 20 Hz Maximum reproducible frequency 20000 Hz Sensitivity 75 dB Microphone yes Microphone location in the body Functions and features of the microphone microphone noise reduction Bluetooth version 5.0 Battery life up to 3.5 hours, up to 13 h Wireless communication radius 10 m USB Type-C charging connector Active noise reduction system yes Battery capacity 410 mAh Dust and moisture protection IP IP54 Weight 10 g
How to connect Huawei wireless headphones to a computer
Accessories with Bluetooth technology are easy to connect to devices that have a wireless communication module. The gadget supports the creation of multiple pairings, which allows you to listen to music on different devices. Let's look at the features of the connection method.
How to connect wireless headphones to PC
Before pairing the headset with the computer, check the presence of a Bluetooth module on the PC. It's easier to find the item in Device Manager. In the list, the technology is hidden under the name Bluetooth or an icon with the letter B. Double-click on the icon to make sure it is functioning correctly.
The sequence of user actions when setting up a connection between headphones and a PC:
- Turn on Bluetooth on the computer. A wireless icon will appear in the lower right corner. If the tray is minimized, we recommend clicking on the arrow. A list will be displayed in the window.
- Click the Bluetooth symbol with the mouse. Select the mode for adding devices from the drop-down menu.
- Activate the headset. Hold the Power key to boot, then another 10 seconds to turn on the wireless connection (the indicator will flash).
- The PC searches for paired devices. In the parameters window, find the name of the headphone model. To make recognition faster, we recommend installing the drivers (disc included in the package) before the procedure.
- In the list of devices next to the accessory there is a pairing mark.
If after installing the headset there is no sound, then you should manually recheck the settings. Go to the Start menu and look for the Control Panel icon. Open the configuration, double-click on the icon with the speaker. In the window, select the “Playback” tab. Manually activate the headphones in mode.
How to connect to TV on Android
Smart TVs running Android OS support Bluetooth connectivity. Step-by-step instructions for the user:
- In the main TV menu, go to the wireless and wired networks section.
- Activate the module and enable device search.
- Hold down the Power key to “wake up” accessories. If you hold your finger on the button for 10 seconds, Bluetooth will work.
Huawei freebuds 4: hybrid noise cancellation and fast charging
HUAWEI introduced new TWS headphones FreeBuds 4. Like the previous model, they are made in earbud format, but at the same time they support improved active noise reduction technology.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 are 6.3% smaller and 20.8% lighter than the previous version. According to the manufacturer, special attention was paid to ease of use, so when developing their design, more than 10,000 3D models of real human ears were analyzed so that the headphones were equally comfortable for as many people as possible.
The headphones feature advanced active noise cancellation technology. They automatically analyze the wearer's ear type and usage method to select the optimal noise-canceling settings for each individual. The dual-microphone system is said to more accurately pick up ambient sounds and better eliminate return acoustic noise in the ear.
The new HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 are equipped with 14.3 mm drivers that are large enough for their class and support a frequency range of up to 40 kHz. In addition, high-quality microphones are capable of recording audio at sampling rates up to 48 kHz. It is possible to simultaneously connect to two devices at once and remember the last 10 synchronized gadgets. With fast charging support, just 30 minutes is enough for 14 hours of music playback.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 will go on sale on June 1 at a price of $155.
Learn more about HUAWEI
Everything about the HUAWEI ecosystem
Source:
Sound and noise reduction
Each FreeBuds 4i earphone contains two microphones. One cuts off external noise, the second transmits voice during calls. The impressions are the following: during a call I can be heard well, the noise is really cut off. But if there are several voices, then the microphone picks up the voice of the one who is louder, and accordingly the second one is drowned out. This is especially noticeable if you are watching a video on YouTube and calling someone - the other person can hear the presenter’s voice better than yours.
As for the sound, I compared it with AirPods Pro and they turned out to be worse, which is not unexpected. Apple headphones have never been the standard. At the same volume, the FreeBuds turned out to be more spacious, especially at high frequencies. There are no equalizer settings in the application.
I also praise the noise reduction. I didn’t notice any noticeable squeaks in the background, passive noise reduction also works well. The fit is generally comfortable, but with active loads, the headphones still fall out over time - this is an ear problem, not relevant for everyone.
It is also not always necessary to remove headphones during a conversation; there is a “transparency” mode. Switch, as I wrote above, by holding on any earphone. I don’t know about you, but I’m always taking pictures, it’s a habit.
Noise reduction
Huawei FreeBuds 3i also has good noise reduction. More recently, it has a third mode - “Transparency”. Switching between them is simple: just hold your finger on the touch area of any of the headphones for two seconds. During the mode change, a female voice will notify you of what is currently activated: Off, Noise Cancellation, and Awareness.
The headphones themselves absorb noise very well due to their form factor. I came to the office to pick them up and sat down to write the text while listening to music at the same time. As a result, they wrote to me on Telegram, because they tried to shout to me, but it still didn’t work out. And then I found out that it was purely passive noise insulation!
Then I turned on ANC. The noise has become significantly less. For example, I practically don’t hear the clicking sound of the “scissor” keyboard of my MacBook, listening to music even at 30-50% of the volume. Most of the lower register of the vacuum cleaner noise is cut off, but the highs remain slightly muffled. And then you turn up the volume to 70% and the scream of the vacuum cleaner is not audible at all.
I haven’t had a chance to check the quality of noise reduction in the subway, and it’s not yet very clear when it will be possible.
Huawei claims a 32 dB reduction in noise levels. It is quite difficult to assess the veracity of these statements by ear, since there is also excellent passive sound insulation.
Unpacking and packaging
I received a very simple and compact package for review. It is made in a minimalist form from white, but quite thick cardboard. On the front part there is a drawing of headphones and a charging box with the name of the company and model.
But on the back of the package there is a list of the main features. For example, this is active noise reduction, 10 hours of operation on a full charge, and much more.
Inside the box, I was also a little surprised by the quality and good packaging. For example, here I discovered - this is a charging box with headphones inside. Also included in the package is a fairly long Type-C charging cable, a set of replaceable silicone ear pads and various documentation.
Connection
The headphones work with Bluetooth 5.1. During the week of active use there were no desynchronizations. The music stuttered twice, but an hour later an update arrived and I never heard this problem again.
More about Huawei: Why does Honor and Huawei phone take a long time to charge: reasons, how to fix it?
Then I decided to call. Uncle Zhenya, our operator, with whom I decided to talk, said that he could hear me just fine. Leaving the phone on the table, I went. I got far until the headphones started stuttering. I was separated from the telephone by two thick walls more than half a meter thick and 15–20 meters of practically empty space between them.
Huawei FreeBuds 4i: sensational TWS headphones with huge disadvantages
Hello everyone! I want to share my opinion about the extremely sensational TWS headphones, which were praised by many. But during use, I discovered huge disadvantages, which I want to talk about.
I bought it on Aliexpress (full-fledged global version):
GO TO STORE
Characteristics:
- Headphone type: TWS
- Connection type: Bluetooth 5.2
- Supported codecs: AAC, SBC
- Purpose: For smartphone and player (with Bluetooth support)
- Emitter: Dynamic
- Headphone frequency range: 20 - 20,000 Hz
- Presence of a microphone: Present, there are noise reduction and sound permeability functions
- Control: Touch panel
- Water and dust protection: IP54
- Earphone weight: 5.4 grams
- Case weight: 37.3 grams
- Capacity, mAh: 55 (earphone), 215 (case)
- Operating time: almost 8 hours at 75% volume (with active noise reduction function just over 6 hours), with case - 20 hours
- Charging time for the case is 1.5 hours.
Equipment:
Packaging made of thick cardboard with excellent printing. The front side shows the headphones themselves, as well as the main advantages in the form of active noise cancellation and enormous autonomy of 10 days on 1 charge. On the back side, the main “chips” of the device are duplicated, and additional information is added, which in most cases will be useless to the average consumer.
The set of headphones itself additionally contains: a USB - Type-C cable 1 meter long, 2 pairs of additional branded tips of various sizes (the middle ones come on the headphones themselves), safety instructions, a manual for using the headphones and a warranty card.
Appearance and ergonomics:
The case is made entirely of slippery glossy plastic, in my case white (black and red are also available), which collects scratches and dust. The dimensions of the case are small; in addition, it has a very streamlined shape, which is why it fits even into the “fifth” jeans pocket without any problems. There is an LED that notifies you of the battery charge level. The cover is very flimsy and plays when rotated “left - right”, the play is approximately 2 - 3 mm, which gives the feeling that the cover will fall off in a month. At the bottom of the case there is a Type-C port for charging. The headphones are held in the case using a very strong magnet, which is why they won’t fall out even if they fall, but there is no catch on the headphones, and even with minimally sweaty hands, pulling the headphones out of the case is difficult. The photo also shows comparisons with the ZMI PurePods Pro case.
The headphones are similar in size and shape to the Apple Airpods Pro. Like the case itself, the headphones are made of the same material - glossy, slippery plastic. The fit of the headphones is excellent; even during various active exercises and running, the headphones remain in the ear. The ear pads have a special shape; in addition, there is an additional area that holds back earwax and various dirt. The material of the ear pads is soft, and there is no discomfort during prolonged wear. At the end of the stem, as well as in the middle of the headphones, there are contacts for charging. For active noise reduction to work, 2 microphones are used, which are located in the internal part. For conversations, a microphone is used, which is located at the very bottom. In addition, a proximity sensor is used, with the help of which it detects whether the earphone is located in the ear to activate active noise reduction, transparency and pause/play music modes. As before, here are photos comparing FreeBuds 4i with ZMI PurePods Pro.
The weight of one earphone was 5.4, the case itself was 37.3, the headphones and case were 48.3 grams.
These are the first headphones with touch controls that work 95% of the time. You can configure each earphone individually, which will be done by double-clicking on the upper area of the “stick”. A long press changes the modes: “Noise Canceling”, “Normal”, “Sound Transmission”.
Application:
The headphones are connected through the proprietary “AI Life” application, which is downloaded using the QR code in the user manual. After connecting the headphones, the headphones are updated to the latest version (in my case - 1.9.0.152). The interface is as simple and clear as possible, while being concise. The main page provides information about the charge of each earphone, as well as the case. In the “Update” item, the current firmware version is written. The “Control” tab allows you to assign functions by double-clicking on the left or right earbud; with a long press, you can turn on the “Noise Canceling” and “Sound Transmission” modes or disable these same modes.
Communication and microphone:
After connecting the headphones to the device for the first time, they are automatically connected to the device. The connection to the smartphone itself is instantaneous, the connection is stable (many people noted that when using this model with Xiaomi smartphones, breaks occur and the connection itself often disappears, but I personally did not notice this), I used them with Poco x3 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro . Indoors, the interlocutors did not complain about the sound quality, but outdoors they asked to speak louder, which is the norm for TWS headphones. I always heard my interlocutors well, since the passive sound insulation in this model is good.
“Noise Reduction” and “Sound Transmission” modes:
I was very pleased with the active noise reduction mode: there is no “vacuum” effect, which brings discomfort during use, while it filters out low-frequency noise very well: in the subway, when walking next to a large flow of cars, the noise is practically inaudible, and if you turn up the volume of the headphones 50 - 60% there is no extraneous noise at all.
Transmission mode serves to amplify sound by allowing the microphone to transmit sound from the external environment to the speakers, which play it into the user's ear. I used it in most cases so as not to take out my headphones while talking with sellers. The mode works fine, I asked again in extremely rare cases.
Autonomy
Excellent autonomy of the headphones, the charge lasted a little more than 8 hours at 50 - 65% volume. When using mixed mode (noise reduction and sound transmission) it was approximately 7 hours. The case is enough for almost one and a half full charges of the headphones, so in general they will last for 24-25 hours of active use without using modes.
The main disadvantage of autonomy is the incredible self-discharge of the case ; approximately 10-15% of the charge is consumed in 24 hours.
Sound
I used FreeBuds 4i with Poco x3 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro smartphones using the AAC codec. The sound very much depends on the fit of the headphones in the ear and the ear pads. In general, the sound can be described as “calm”, which is aimed at listening to audiobooks, podcasts or pop music. Low frequencies are not emphasized, it may seem that there are not enough of them, there is not enough “attack”, which is why the overall sound seems a little flat. The middle is worked out better than other frequencies (they are best emphasized), there are a lot of details, the high frequencies are raised, which sometimes can make them grate on the ear. Headphones are definitely not suitable for those who listen to music with powerful bass lines or bassheads. The volume of the headphones is high, I usually listened at about 50-60%, in very noisy places I raised it to 80%.
conclusions
Overall, Huawei FreeBuds 4i is a good choice for the money, not great, but definitely not bad, since the model combines both great pros and huge cons. In general, if we briefly describe the pros and cons of the device:
- Many people may not like the sound;
- The battery life of one earphone is excellent;
- The self-discharge of the case is terrible;
- The fit and ear pads are good;
- ANC and sound transmission are good;
- Use as a headset is good;
- The top cover is terrible.
That's all, thanks for your attention.
