Huawei has launched the FreeBuds Neo, a new pair of true wireless earbuds that give a fresh twist to the traditional stem-style design.
These earbuds feature shorter stems than Huawei’s previous models, yet they still come packed with active noise cancellation, high-resolution audio, spatial audio with head tracking, and an impressive 40 hours of battery life when you include the charging case.
What’s really cool about the FreeBuds Neo is how light they are. Each earbud weighs just 4.8 grams, and Huawei has designed the smaller “mini stem” with comfort in mind. The shape is meant to distribute pressure evenly in your ear, and a well-balanced center of gravity ensures they stay put, even when you’re moving around.
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A much shorter take on the stem design
The most eye-catching change is definitely the design. The FreeBuds Neo have a look that’s reminiscent of traditional stemmed earbuds, but the stems are noticeably shorter. Huawei calls this a “mini stem” design, which not only makes the earbuds more compact but also helps keep them lightweight.
At just 4.8 grams per earbud, they’re lighter than Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, which weigh in at 5.55 grams each. Huawei claims that the ergonomic design of the FreeBuds Neo was developed through research involving 150 ear profiles and over 10,000 ear samples. They also emphasize a secure fit that’s meant to withstand activities like running and jumping.
The smaller earbuds come with a more compact charging case too. Huawei has designed a rounded “mini shuttle” case that takes up less room in your pocket.
Despite the shorter stems, the touch controls are still intact. A double tap plays or answers calls, a triple tap skips tracks, swiping adjusts the volume, and holding the touch area switches noise-cancellation modes. Huawei has even added head-control gestures for accepting or rejecting calls.
Adaptive ANC is one of the main features
The FreeBuds Neo are far from your average lightweight earbuds. Huawei has packed them with adaptive active noise cancellation, thanks to a cutting-edge third-generation audio chip and a dual-channel noise-cancellation setup.
Huawei boasts that this system is always on the lookout for environmental noise, processing sound data an impressive 400,000 times per second, with a lightning-fast latency of just 8 microseconds. Plus, they’ve designed these earbuds to minimize wind noise with a clever C-shaped tube and air-vent structure.
According to Huawei, you can expect up to 30dB of average full-frequency noise cancellation depth, though how well they perform in real life will depend on how well they fit and the environment around you.
When it comes to phone calls, each earbud is equipped with three microphones, including a bone-conduction mic.
Huawei claims this microphone system effectively drowns out background noise while honing in on your voice. They even say you can expect clear voice pickup in noisy settings with background sounds reaching up to 95dB or wind speeds of up to 9m/s.
High-resolution audio and spatial sound
Huawei has really focused on delivering top-notch audio quality. The FreeBuds Neo feature a cutting-edge Turbo driver unit, boasting a lightweight yet sturdy diaphragm, and they claim an impressive frequency response that spans from 10Hz all the way up to 48kHz.
These earbuds also support LDAC audio at speeds of up to 990kbps. When paired with compatible Huawei devices, they can utilize the L2HC 4.0 codec, allowing for transmission rates of up to 2.3Mbps, which includes 48kHz/24-bit lossless audio.
And let’s not forget about spatial audio! With head tracking technology, the soundstage adjusts as you move your head, which Huawei has dubbed “unlimited spatial audio.” This feature works seamlessly, no matter what device or content you’re using.
For gamers, there’s a dedicated gaming mode too. Huawei claims it enhances critical sounds like footsteps and directional cues in first-person shooter games, making it much easier to pinpoint where your opponents are coming from.
Battery life reaches 40 hours, but only with ANC off
The battery life of these earbuds can last up to 10 hours when you have noise cancellation turned off. However, if you switch on the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), that time drops to about 6.5 hours.
When you factor in the charging case, you can enjoy a total of up to 40 hours of listening time without ANC. If you do use ANC, Huawei claims you can get around 24 hours of total playback.
Keep in mind that these numbers come from Huawei’s lab tests, so your actual battery life might differ based on factors like volume, codec, connectivity, and other features you might be using.
The charging case uses a USB-C port, but it doesn’t support wireless charging.
IP55 protection, but not for the case
The FreeBuds Neo earbuds carry an IP55 rating, giving them protection against dust and water jets and making them better suited to workouts and everyday outdoor use. Huawei specifically positions them for use during movement and exercise.
The charging case doesn’t have the same protection rating, however, so users will still need to keep it away from water.
Price and availability
Huawei is offering the FreeBuds Neo in a range of stylish colors: Stellar Silver, Nebula Pink, Starry Black, and Ice White, depending on the market.
The launch price in Europe is set at €129, but some regions might have launch discounts that could bring that price down.
Source: Huawei
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
