Huawei FreeBuds 3: True Wireless With Noise Cancellation, Good Battery Life and Sound Quality

All major audio companies are producing True Wireless headphones, and Huawei joined the competition with an excellent model. The Huawei FreeBuds 3 look very similar to the Apple AirPods. However, they are cheaper and a better option for Android users. In addition, they feature active noise cancellation technology and are very comfortable.

The market for True Wireless headphones continues to grow in popularity. They are the most versatile gadgets due to their compact size, versatility and connectivity options. The Huawei FreeBuds surprised us with their quality, and the sound they offer is really remarkable. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about the excellent FreeBuds 3.

Design

The Huawie FreeBuds 3 look almost identical to the Apple AirPods 2. In fact, it can be difficult to tell them apart. They are not original in appearance, but they take advantage of a design that works. They are In-ear headphones of the open type: they rest in your ear and do not invade the ear canal.

This has its advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, they are very comfortable. You can wear the Freebuds for hours without any discomfort, and after a while you forget you are wearing them. On the other hand, they do not insulate you from external noise, and this can affect sound quality. Fortunately, they have active noise cancellation, but it's not the best on the market.

The cups stay securely in place in the ears during any activity, and are comfortable to wear. In addition, they are IPX4 certified against water splashes and sweat. That's why you can use the Huawei FreeBuds 3 in gyms, and even while running without worrying about rain or sweat.

Like most True Wireless headphones, the Huawei AirPods come with a case that doubles as a charging port. The case integrates a 410mAh capacity battery, and allows you to charge the FreeBuds four times. Like the earbuds themselves, the case is lightweight and has a good build quality. It's compact, and can be carried in any pocket.

Controls and Functions of Huawei FreeBuds 3

The FreeBuds 3 have no physical controls, except for the sync button on the case. The cups have touch controls that allow you to operate them with touches or gestures. You can also control them with the AI Life application.

Double-tapping the left earpiece turns on active noise cancellation. Similarly, with the right you can play/pause and change songs. Huawei FreeBuds detect touch very well.

On the other hand, they offer additional functions when you use them with EMUI 10 devices. For example, the wear detection function: it pauses or starts playback when you remove or insert the earbuds.

Huawei's technology, called “isochronous Dual Channel Connection”, is also available only for EMUI 10 devices. This technology sends information to each earpiece independently, which improves battery performance, decreases latency, and increases wireless data transmission.

AI Life Application

You can also adjust the functions on the earbuds with the application. You can modify the functions to activate your favorite personal assistant, change the strength of noise cancellation, and even disable the controls.

If you do not install the AI Life app, the Huawei FreeBuds 3 work in the same way as other Bluetooth headphones. You will have the touch controls, but you will not be able to change or adjust gestures. However, if you connect them to a Huawei phone and make adjustments, the changes will be saved when you use them with other devices of different brands. AI Life brings versatility to Huawei FreeBuds, but you don't have to use it.

Huawei FreeBuds 3 Connectivity

They work with Bluetooth 5.1 technology and are ideal for Android users. You can use them with iOS devices, but first you will need to adjust the active noise cancellation settings and touch control gestures in the Android app.

The application allows you to synchronize the FreeBuds 3 very easily. However, you can also use the Bluetooth menu of your device for synchronization. We tested them and noticed impeccable wireless connectivity. Some users experienced certain synchronization issues when using them for running, and Huawei fixed this bug with the new update.

We recommend downloading the AI Life application, but if you do not wish to do so, you can also use them without it. To synchronize the Huawei FreeBuds 3 without the app, you just need to open the case and press the connection button for two seconds. This will put them in connection mode and they will appear in the Bluetooth menu of your phone.

Autonomy and Charging System

You can charge the FreeBuds 3 with a USB-C cable, or wirelessly with a wireless charger, such as the Huawie SuperCharger. A full charge allows you to use them for four hours at normal volumes. However, the noise-cancelling technology decreases the autonomy somewhat.

The charging case/base that comes with the FreeBuds gives you four charges and an additional 16 hours of use, for a total of 20 hours. This is a great capability. In this aspect, it competes with much more expensive True Wireless headphones.

Active Noise Cancellation

Huawei FreeBuds 3 headphones feature active noise cancellation technology. On the other hand, they also have an open design that doesn't isolate you from ambient noise. Noise cancellation allows you to enjoy your favorite music in noisy environments clearly, but doesn't fully isolate you, due to the design.

To activate the ANC you can use the app, or the left earpiece. In addition, with the app you can adjust the technology and optimize it according to your environment and the shape of your ear. The active noise cancellation offered by the FreeBuds doesn't compare to that offered by Sony's True Wireless, Bose headphones or Sennheiser headphones, but this is mostly due to their open design.

Sound Quality

They offer an amazing sound for True Wireless In-Ear headphones. The open design doesn't create an in-ear seal, but the audio is perceived with remarkable spatiality. Likewise, the power is good, and the sound profile is well balanced at all frequencies.

They offer great sound for this price range. We would have liked the application to allow you to equalize the audio for more versatility. However, the sound is very neutral and allows you to enjoy any genre of music with good fidelity.

Overall, the Huawei FreeBuds 3 deliver a rich and pleasant sound. The bass is not as emphasized as in other models, but we think it's great for an In-Ear product. In addition, the mid-tones maintain an excellent frequency, and the treble is flawless.

Another positive feature is the quality of the calls. Voices sound very clear in any type of environment, although if you are in an office or a noisy room, it's difficult for them to separate your voice from the environment.

Conclusion

The FreeBuds 3 are an excellent choice for anyone who wants Tue Wireless earphones similar to the AirPods, but more compatible with Android devices. They have an open design that doesn't invade the ear canal, and are very comfortable. They feature active noise cancellation technology. However, they do not totally isolate you from external sound due to the open design.

They offer great sound quality, are IPX4 certified and have a good battery life. The Huawei FreeBuds 3 are not the cheapest True Wireless, but they are more affordable than the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the AirPods Pro. Interested? Find the best price on Amazon.

If you are looking for higher quality, we recommend the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2.

The JBL Tune 120, realmeBuds Air 3 and QCY headphones are other good affordable options. You can also check our review of the best Energy Sistem headphones, and the new Huawei Freebuds 4i.