The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are Huawei's flagship truly wireless earbuds, aimed at buyers who want the brand's most advanced conventional in-ear model. Their Dual-Engine AI Noise Cancellation is designed to compete with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) leaders like the Sony WH-1000XM6, and Huawei hope features like L2HC high-resolution audio support will help the buds stand out. However, getting the most out of L2HC requires compatible Huawei hardware, which makes some of their appeal more ecosystem-dependent than rivals with broader codec support.
Our Verdict
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are great for sports and fitness. They're extremely lightweight and impressively stable, so they'll stay in place for runs. That said, there are no stabilizer wing tips on offer here, so very explosive workouts may cause them to come loose. Still, the earbuds have an IP57 rating, so they'll withstand a jog outside on a rainy or dusty day. It's worth noting that their fairly large housings might not be a good fit for people with smaller ears, though, and choosing the wrong tip size can cause them to work loose while you're moving.
Outstanding noise isolation.
Lightweight, comfortable, and stable fit.
Accurate bass and mid-range reproduction.
Only 5.5 hours of continuous battery life.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are excellent for travel. Their outstanding ANC substantially reduces most noise, from crying babies to passenger chatter. It also reduces a lot of engine noise, though some of the lowest rumbles may still be audible along with your audio. These earbuds are also lightweight, comfortable, and easy to carry. Unfortunately, their battery life could be better: they only lasted 5.5 hours continuously in our testing, though the case does provide three additional charges.
Outstanding noise isolation.
Lightweight, comfortable, and stable fit.
Accurate bass and mid-range reproduction.
Poor microphone quality, especially when faced with background noise.
Only 5.5 hours of continuous battery life.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are good for office work. Their remarkably strong noise isolation handily blocks out the sounds of coworkers typing and talking, as well as other distractions like fans whirring away. They also don't leak much audio, so you can blast your favorite tunes without disturbing that developer next to you. The earbuds are comfortable enough to wear all day, though their battery will only make it through half a day. So you'll need to pop the buds back into their case to recharge after about 5.5 hours. Fortunately, the case supplies a further three charges. The buds' microphone is a weak point, as recordings can break up and distort even in quiet conditions. You won't want to take important calls with these.
Outstanding noise isolation.
Lightweight, comfortable, and stable fit.
Accurate bass and mid-range reproduction.
Poor microphone quality, especially when faced with background noise.
Only 5.5 hours of continuous battery life.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 aren't suitable for wireless gaming since they don't come with a proprietary wireless dongle, and their Bluetooth SBC latency was both high and unusually inconsistent in our testing. The in-app low-latency mode didn't improve our measurements, either. Still, they're comfortable and offer a balanced, slightly warm sound, so you could use them for some mobile gaming in a pinch, especially games like turn-based RPGs that don't depend on timing.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 aren't suitable for wired gaming because you can't use them wired.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 have good audio reproduction accuracy. Their response follows their warm sound profile smoothly, with excellent bass and mid-range compliance that ensures bass lines, voices, and lead instruments like trumpets are reproduced accurately. The main tonal drawback is the recessed treble, which softens cymbals and sibilants. But many listeners enjoy this warmer profile. It's also worth noting our unit showed audible mismatch between the left and right drivers from the bass into the mid-range, which can make bass-heavy tracks feel lopsided. But driver matching can vary with each unit. On the plus side, the buds have very low harmonic distortion.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 have outstanding noise isolation. Their ANC blocks out all but the lowest rumbles around you, so you can listen free from distraction. They also leak very little audio, and any audio that does escape sounds thin and tinny. One caveat is that the ANC has an audible noise floor in quiet environments, which can be a little annoying.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 have a poor microphone performance. Even in quiet recordings, your voice can break up and sound distorted, and the microphone struggles considerably once background noise is introduced. If you plan to take a lot of calls with your earbuds, these are best avoided.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 have decent frequency response consistency. Their bass and mid-range remain fairly similar between reseats when the wear sensors correctly detect that they're being worn. The treble varies more with fit and placement, but these regions tend to vary with our individual anatomy.
Performance Usages
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 earbuds come in four colors: 'Sand,' 'Grey,' 'White,' and 'Blue.' We bought and tested a 'Grey' unit and took a photo of its label.
If you come across a different variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll add it to our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are the brand's flagship truly wireless earbuds, built around excellent noise isolation, a comfortable fit, and a warm sound that suits most kinds of audio. That said, their mic is disappointing, and a 5.5-hour continuous battery life leaves a lot to be desired. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro match the HUAWEI's outstanding isolation while offering a longer battery life, better microphone performance, and three-device multipoint. And if you're more of a loose-fitting earbuds person, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 provide a relaxed, comfortable fit, but can't compete with either pair of in-ears on the noise isolation front.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds and the best wireless earbuds for Android. If you're an Apple user, check out our article on the best AirPods alternatives.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are better in-ears than the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5. Both provide outstanding noise isolation, but the Anker offer a longer continuous battery life, a much better microphone, three-device Bluetooth multipoint, and removable stability fins that make them especially secure during demanding workouts. That said, the HUAWEI are still appealing if you want a smaller charging case or don't enjoy the Anker's heavily boosted bass default sound profile, though you can tweak either pair's sound in their companion app.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 have better noise isolation, but the OnePlus Buds 4 have the much better mic. This head-to-head really comes down to use case: if you'll mostly be using your earbuds while commuting, the HUAWEI's superior noise isolation will do a better job keeping out the sound of chatty coworkers. But they have a disappointing microphone. The OnePlus have a very handy mic that performs much better in use than our scores suggest. They also deliver more consistent audio between wears. That said, both pairs reserve some special features for their respective phone ecosystems, so if you already have a HUAWEI or OnePlus phone, the choice is easy.
If noise isolation is your top priority, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are better than the Technics EAH-AZ80. On the other hand, if you prefer more versatile earbuds with a superior mic, more accurate sound, and multi-device connectivity, the Technics are the pair to choose. The HUAWEI block substantially more outside noise and have a slightly more comfortable fit, with a warm tuning that adds low-bass without boosting the whole bass range. The Technics sound bassier overall, but their left and right drivers are better matched, and their frequency response stays much more consistent between wears. Both support LDAC and wireless charging.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 and Samsung Galaxy Buds4 are very different kinds of earbuds. The HUAWEI use a sealed in-ear fit that enables them to offer remarkably effective ANC, making them far better for use while commuting or in noisy offices. That sealed fit also means they can deliver thumpier bass stay more secure during vigorous movement. On the other hand, the Samsung's unsealed design means the tips don't get inserted into your ear canal, which some people find preferable. But that also means these buds can't offer nearly as strong noise isolation, and the bass is a bit thinner. That said, the Samsung have a much better microphone. And each pair offers extra features when paired with a compatible phone from the respective brand.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
