Huawei FreeBuds 4 test: phenomenal design and unusual solutions, but not for everyone! Huawei FreeBuds 4

Huawei FreeBuds 4: we test one of the most beautiful headphones on the market, tempting with a powerful transducer, extensive controls, open design and options that can only be found in Huawei! Unfortunately, there were mishaps…

The collection of ManiaKalny tests is now joined by the latest installment of FreeBuds, i.e. Huawei FreeBuds 4, without any "i" or "pro" at the end. So it seems that the brand has decided to follow the direct path of the first generation of True Wireless headphones, which it launched into the wide waters, i.e. the "three" famous for their beauty.

Huawei FreeBuds 3: powder case or case? / photo: techManiaK

If you are curious how the previous models fared in our pages, below you will find a concise description and a link to the full test:

This quick summary will be useful for people who want to check whether it is worth choosing FreeBuds 4 or another model from the Huawei portfolio with specific needs.

Huawei Freebuds 4 /photo. Huawei

The latest version of the Buds is a device that targets people who do not like in-ear constructions or ... Apple fans, because the construction of "buds" (especially in white) may seem familiar to them.

Headphones on the manufacturer's website were valued at PLN 599.

Huawei FreeBuds 4

from: 420 PLN »more information »

We are checking what direction FreeBuds 4 is taking and whether it can cope with older brothers from own family!

Huawei FreeBuds 4 – specification

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

With this model, Huawei achieved a great result in terms of the weight of the "buds" and the case - just over 4 g of the weight of one handset is almost 1.5 g less than in the case of 4i! Of course, this is due to the different design, but it is impressive, especially in combination with the cosmic design of the silver version.

It is impossible to hide (although Huawei accidentally omit this information on the product page) that the headphones again do not support any codecs higher than SBC and AAC. It's a pity, because in combination with a powerful 14.3 mm transducer, it could result in interesting possibilities.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

Since we're pointing out the similarities to the predecessors, it's worth adding the use of a sensor that monitors the presence of the headset in the ear (autopause), an interestingly solved issue of control or cooperation with the AI ​​Life application.

What distinguishes the fourth installment of Buds from the older ones is:

As we can see, Huawei does not let go and tries to refresh not only the nomenclature of the next generations, but also their capabilities, and for this he deserves a solid plus.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 – construction, case and accessories

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

FreeBuds 4 are beautiful headphones. It's hard to say anything else when you hold them in your hand, although a closer look takes away some of their beauty - but more on that in a moment.

Without a doubt, the designers of this model deserve applause, because the device looks like premium equipment and we operate it as well. The effect is slightly spoiled by the materials, because the silver version we received for testing looks at first glance as if it was made of aluminum (matte case and polished "buds"), and in fact it is ... plastic.

Even so, after about 10 days with the headphones, I didn't find any scratches or damage on them that would indicate mediocre materials.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

I also have to praise Huawei for moving away from the annoying tendency to use headphones to make it difficult to remove them from the case (too little space and a small surface for which we could grab them). FreeBuds 4 can be easily removed, although there is still a piece left to the ideal.

In the package, apart from the case and headphones, we will find a cleverly arranged USB-C ->USB charging cable and paperwork. For obvious reasons, there will be no silicone overlays 😉

Huawei FreeBuds 4 – service and application

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

Huawei knows how to present pleasant True Wireless headphones and it's the same with 4. The first pairing itself is trivial and depends on which manufacturer the device will act as a transmitter:

1. Huawei devices - just open the lid of the case, after 2 seconds we see a pop-up window on the smartphone, confirm the pairing and that's it,
2. devices from the rest of the world - open the lid, press the button to the sides case for 2 seconds, in the Bluetooth settings, select our headphones and włala(shek)!

In the case of Huawei devices, even without the AI ​​Life application, we have access to the settings of the headphones and preview their status:

FreeBuds 4 app and who needs it (1)FreeBuds 4 app and who needs it (2)FreeBuds 4 app and who needs it (3)FreeBuds 4 app and who needs it (4)

This is not the end improvements related to service, because like some other Buds, the reviewed model also supports two devices at the same time, being able to switch from one to the other in the event of an incoming voice call.

I used the P30 Pro + Lenovo laptop myself and I didn't encounter any problems with the headphones. Interesting fact: in AI Life we ​​set the priority of devices connected to the headphones ourselves.

AI Life double connection (1)AI Life double connection (2)

The control also works without reservations - both on factory settings and on your own, which can be set in the application. Huawei again messed up a bit with the way we give commands to the headphones, and in addition to the standard tap and hold, we also have a drag here, responsible for adjusting the volume.

Huawei AI Life application for Huawei FreeBuds 4: control (2)Huawei AI Life application for Huawei FreeBuds 4: control (1)Huawei AI Life application for Huawei FreeBuds 4: autopause

In the application we can assign the following gesture functions:

As befits Budsy, we support them in the AI ​​Life application and - despite the fact that it is more and more extensive - universality still takes its revenge on it. We will simply find the entire Huawei ecosystem here and the headphones have been treated somewhat neglectfully: there is no manual equalizer and we have TWO modes at our disposal: bass or treble boost.

The working time of the device is a bit disappointing: 22 h in total and 4 h on a single charge of "buds" is the result without ANC, with noise reduction it drops to 14 h / 2.5 h, and these are already unsatisfactory results, especially in compared to the price of the model. The situation is slightly improved by fast charging. Apparently, this was the manufacturer's intention - the lightness of the structure was to be more important than the battery, which received faster charging as compensation.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

During the tests, the working time of the headphones was in line with the manufacturer's declarations, but I also did not listen to them too loudly, because they have a large power reserve.

The quality of voice calls is at a high level, traditional for this brand, and it's hard to fault anything here. Unfortunately, the Achilles heel of FreeBuds 4 is the ANC, which, due to the open design, does what it can, but has a difficult task.

To put it simply: if active reduction of ambient noise is a priority for you, then look for other headphones: FreeBuds 4 follows in the footsteps of 3ki and has the same disadvantages as its predecessor - you will find them in the Huawei FreeBuds 3 review.

Of course, there is also a chance that the ANC will perform much better in your ear. If possible, I suggest checking it out before buying.

What does Huawei FreeBuds 4 sound like?

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

First of all, I have to say something that I often refrain from saying about other reviews you can find on the net.

Well, I have no idea why there is so much icing in the tests regarding the sound of this model, which is not bad, but certainly does not deserve a distinction. First of all, FreeBuds 4 are extremely loudness headphones, which is not mentioned in either Polish-language or Western reviews (there they already sail away complaining about the lack of bass ...).

Buds always liked to play low and the most interesting sound was paradoxically presented by the budget 3i and also well priced 4i, although it was still focused on entertainment.

I have the impression that with FreeBuds 4, Huawei wanted to take away the reasons for malcontents to complain about the average bass that we often find in in-ear headphones at all costs, and hit the stove "in stock".

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaKHuawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

Below you will find some examples of how 4ki cope with different genres of music:

Thy Catafalque "Piros-sarga": a strange folk-metal-electronic piece, combining catchy melodies with passages straight from the golden years of progressive rock, becomes muffled, compressed, stripped of space and that something that was specific sound of this piece. You can listen, but why?

Andreas Scholl "O Quam Tristis": a contemporary Stabat Mater, written especially for Scholl, due to the specific tuning of the TWS, there is too much cello and the vocal is moved a few steps further into the stage. Interestingly, people who normally avoid this type of music preferred Huawei's interpretation than Liberty Air 2!

Robert Gawliński "Bright Streets": this fast, rock piece loses all its edge and turns into muddy playing, which even with the strong will of Robert's fan is difficult to listen to the end.

Little Big "Skibidi": Russian techno in the fumes of the absurd sounds quite to the point, although the amount of bass is associated with E46 tubulars from the beach in Jerutki. But here comes the strength of the Huawei transducers, which not only generate powerful low tones, but also make them sound meaty and analog - in the sense of bass close to large, outdoor tech, and not a fast transmission straight from the Jabra Elite 75t.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

You won't listen to metal on FreeBuds 4, especially in its classic varieties - they murder Metallica as effectively as this band a piece of Dżem at a Krakow concert. Artillery, Therion, Sadus and other miasma are out, and Queensryche or Black Sabbath are simply impossible to listen to with these headphones.

So what will be the element of the latest model from the Huawei stable? I have the impression that pop in its various varieties, from the modern likes of Lady Gaga, through the slightly older Michael Jackson to Sylvester.

Is the Chinese tycoon decided to go the middle way and not split up into music genres, but gather as many people listening to popular music as possible? Seemingly nothing revealing, but probably with such a high intensity of this assumption I meet in mainstream headphones for the first time.

Is it worth buying Huawei FreeBuds 4?

Huawei FreeBuds 4 / photo by techManiaK

Huawei can surprise and is one of the few companies attacking the True Wireless in-ear segment with ANC - I have the impression that the design of this model will be a lure for specific audiences:

These are definitely not headphones for fans of high-quality balanced sound - the tuning of the Buds together with the lack of a sensible equalizer seems to us to Huawei's vision of sound, which is focused on pop music.

They will also disappoint people who require an efficient ANC (except 3 in this category, other Huawei models beat them) or a long working time (mercifully, I will pass over the comparison with FreeBuds 4i in this respect).

Despite these problems, I feel unsatisfied - because I like Huawei finding its own way and experimenting with the functions and design of the headphones.

If you combine the advantages of Buds 4 and 4i ...

Final test score [1-10]: 6.0

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