Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC Review

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When Huawei first introduced the FreeBuds SE lineup, the goal was clear—deliver premium features at an affordable price. With the Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC, the brand takes things up a notch, introducing active noise cancellation, longer battery life, and a design overhaul while still keeping the price under budget territory.

I’ve been using the FreeBuds SE 4 ANC for a while now, testing everything from sound quality to battery performance, ANC effectiveness, and even call quality in noisy environments.

In this review, I’ll share my hands-on experience, highlight what Huawei got right (and wrong), and help you decide if these earbuds are worth picking up.

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Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC – Specifications

Colors	White, Black
Dimensions	Earbuds: 32.3 × 21.3 × 24.0 mm Case: 46.5 × 61.8 × 24.7 mm
Weight	Earbud: 4.3 g Case: 36 g
Battery	Earbud: 41 mAh Case: 510 mAh
Battery Life	Music playback: up to 10 hrs (50 hrs with case) Calls: up to 6 hrs (30 hrs with case)
Charging	USB-C, approx. 110 mins full charge
Driver	10 mm dynamic driver
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, Low Latency (Huawei devices)
Controls	Double-tap, Triple-tap, Touch-hold
Audio Formats	SBC, AAC, mSBC
Water Resistance	IP54 (earbuds only)

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Unboxing & First Impressions

The FreeBuds SE 4 ANC come in a clean, minimal box—typical Huawei style. Inside, you get the earbuds themselves, a Type-C charging cable, interchangeable silicone ear tips (S, M, L), and some paperwork.

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Design & Comfort

The FreeBuds SE 4 represents a significant departure from its predecessor, the SE 3. Where the previous model featured a compact, tipless design, Huawei has completely reimagined the SE 4 with a stem-style form factor that bears an unmistakable resemblance to Apple’s AirPods Pro. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – there’s a reason this design has become so popular.

Each earbud weighs just 4 grams, making them some of the lightest earbuds I’ve tested. The complete package, including the case, comes in at a mere 44 grams – lighter than most car keys.

During my extended listening sessions, often lasting 4-5 hours while working, I frequently forgot I was wearing them. The ergonomic design, combined with the included silicone tips, creates a secure yet comfortable fit that doesn’t cause the ear fatigue I’ve experienced with heavier alternatives.

The IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance has proven its worth during my morning runs. I’ve worn these through light rain and intense workout sessions without any issues. While they’re not fully waterproof, they handle sweat and moisture admirably.

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Features & ANC Performance

Here’s where Huawei really surprised me: the FreeBuds SE 4 ANC are the first in the SE series to feature Active Noise Cancellation, and they don’t just offer a single toggle—they give you four ANC modes:

• Dynamic Mode – automatically adapts based on your surroundings.
• Cozy Mode – best for quiet indoor environments.
• General Mode – balances noise reduction for everyday use.
• Ultra Mode – max noise cancellation, great for flights or public transport.

In my testing, Dynamic Mode worked best. It adjusted seamlessly when I moved from a quiet room to a noisy street without me having to fiddle with settings.

Noise cancellation isn’t quite at the level of Huawei’s flagship FreeBuds Pro series, but for the price, it’s outstanding. It cuts out low-frequency noises like engine hums and fans very well, though human voices in cafes still seep through a little.

Transparency Mode is also available, and it works without that weird artificial amplification you sometimes hear in cheaper earbuds.

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Sound Quality

One of the first things that stood out to me when testing the Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC was the sound quality. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much at this price point, but the audio really surprised me.

The bass has a solid punch to it—deep enough to add weight and energy without drowning everything else out. I could feel the low-end presence, and it gave my listening sessions a lot more life than I expected.

The midrange is warm and well-rounded, which makes vocals sound natural and clear. I pay close attention to how voices come through since I use earbuds for both music and podcasts, and here they felt smooth and easy to listen to for long stretches.

The highs are crisp with enough detail to pick out subtle sounds without becoming harsh or piercing, which is something I often notice in cheaper earbuds. There’s also a nice sense of space to the audio—nothing feels cramped or muddy, which really adds to the overall experience.

All in all, I’d say the FreeBuds SE 4 ANC deliver a sound profile that feels far more premium than their price suggests. They’re fun, engaging, and versatile enough to handle pretty much any kind of content I throw at them.

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Call Quality & Microphones

Each earbud houses three microphones, with Huawei’s directional pickup algorithms designed to improve clarity.

I tested calls both indoors and outdoors. In a quiet room, call quality was excellent—voices sounded clear and natural. In noisy environments (traffic and wind), some background sounds still slipped through, but my voice remained intelligible.

Compared to similarly priced earbuds, I’d say the FreeBuds SE 4 ANC perform above average for calls, though not quite flagship-level.

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Connectivity & Latency

Equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.4, the connection was rock solid during my testing—no random drops, no noticeable lag when watching YouTube or Netflix.

There’s also a low-latency mode (around 180ms), which is decent for casual gaming. Playing PUBG, I noticed minimal delay, though competitive gamers might want something faster.

One downside—some regions report no multi-point connection support, so you might not be able to switch seamlessly between phone and laptop.

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The AI Life App Experience

The AI Life app, while not the most sophisticated I’ve used, covers all the essentials without overwhelming users with options. The interface is clean and intuitive, with battery indicators prominently displayed for both earbuds and the case.

I particularly appreciated the 10-band manual EQ, which allowed me to fine-tune the sound to my preferences. The gesture controls are fully customizable, letting me set up double-tap for play/pause, triple-tap for track skipping, and press-and-hold for ANC mode switching.

The app also handles firmware updates seamlessly. During my review period, I received one update that noticeably improved the ANC performance in windy conditions – a nice reminder that these earbuds can improve over time.

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Battery Life

Now, this is where Huawei really flexes. The FreeBuds SE 4 ANC boast up to 50 hours of total playback with the charging case:

• 10 hours per charge (ANC off)
• 7 hours per charge (ANC on)
• Up to 50 hours with case

In real-world use, I got close to these numbers. With mixed usage (ANC on and off), I averaged around 8 hours before needing a recharge.

The fast charging is another highlight—just 10 minutes of charging gives you 4 hours of playback. This is a lifesaver when you forget to charge before heading out.

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Final Verdict

The Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC strike a solid balance between affordability and performance. They offer clear sound with satisfying bass, dependable ANC for everyday use, and excellent battery life that outperforms many in their price range. Comfort and build quality also hold up well, making them a practical choice for daily listening.

That said, they don’t quite match the refinement or advanced features of higher-end earbuds. The ANC is good but not class-leading, and some users may miss extras like wireless charging or high-resolution codec support.

Overall, if you’re after budget-friendly earbuds that deliver reliable sound, long endurance, and modern features, the FreeBuds SE 4 ANC are an option well worth considering.

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