Huawei FreeBuds 7i Review: Can They Beat More Expensive Earbuds?

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I’ve tested a lot of wireless earbuds over the years, and it’s always the same story—premium features usually come with a premium price tag.

That’s why the Huawei FreeBuds 7i grabbed my interest. They claim to offer powerful noise cancellation rich sound, and long-lasting comfort at a price that won’t empty your wallet.

After putting them to use every day in all sorts of situations, from busy city streets to quiet late-night listening, I’ve got a lot to say.

Here’s my complete review, and whether the FreeBuds 7i truly deserve a place in your pocket.

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You might like:

• Huawei FreeBuds 7i vs FreeBuds 6i – What’s New and What Stayed the Same?
• Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 vs FreeBuds 7i: Which Should You Buy?
• Huawei FreeBuds SE 4 ANC Review

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Huawei FreeBuds 7i – Specifications

Category	Specification
Driver & Audio	11 mm quad-magnet dynamic driver
Frequency Response	20 Hz – 40 kHz
Noise Cancellation	Intelligent Dynamic ANC 4.0 (multi-mode)
Microphones & Call Tech	Triple-mic + bone conduction mic, AI & DNN noise suppression up to ~90 dB
Bluetooth & Codecs	Bluetooth 5.4, supports SBC / AAC / LDAC / L2HC 2.0
Battery & Playback	~5 h (ANC on) / ~8 h (ANC off) earbuds; up to 35 h total with case
Fast Charging	10 minutes in case → ~4 hours playback
Battery Capacities	Earbud: ~55 mAh; Case: ~510 mAh
Dimensions & Weight	Earbud: 31.9 × 21 × 24.6 mm, ~5.4 g Case: 57.8 × 57.8 × 27.8 mm, ~36.5 g
Ingress Protection	IP54 (earbuds)
Colors	Sakura Pink, Pearl White, Deep Space Gray

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Unboxing & First Impressions

Out of the box, the Huawei FreeBuds 7i feel more premium than their price suggests. The charging case has a soft, rounded design with a flattened base so it sits sturdily on a desk. It’s compact, pocket-friendly, and has a nice magnetic snap when closing—something I always appreciate in everyday use.

Inside, you get the earbuds themselves, four sizes of silicone tips, a USB-C charging cable, and the paperwork. Nothing fancy, but everything you need.

I tested them in Deep Space Gray, but they’re also available in Pearl White and Sakura Pink—all part of Huawei’s Morandi-inspired color palette. Personally, the gray looks the most premium, but the pink option will definitely catch some attention.

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Design, Comfort & Build Quality

Comfort is where Huawei nailed it. I wore these for over three hours straight while working and never once felt fatigue. The lightweight build and angled silicone tips create a secure seal without digging into the ear canal.

They’re also IP54 certified, meaning they can handle sweat and light rain. While I wouldn’t swim with them, I used them for runs and gym sessions without any issues.

Touch controls are intuitive and responsive. Huawei added swipe gestures for volume control—a feature I really missed on older FreeBuds models. Combined with taps and long presses, you can do pretty much everything without reaching for your phone.

The AI Life (or Audio Connect) app opens up even more customization. You can tweak the EQ, adjust ANC modes, enable head gestures (like nodding to answer a call), and even fine-tune spatial audio settings.

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Audio Performance

This is where the FreeBuds 7i really impressed me. Each earbud houses an 11mm quad-magnet dynamic driver, and the difference is noticeable.

• Bass: Punchy but controlled—not the muddy kind you find on cheaper earbuds.
• Mids: Vocals are crystal clear and instruments sound well-separated.
• Highs: Airy, detailed, and never harsh.

Huawei also added Hi-Res Audio certification with LDAC support, which means if you’re on an Android phone that supports it, you’ll get a noticeable bump in detail and clarity compared to standard SBC/AAC.

But the standout feature is 360° spatial audio. With head tracking enabled, movies and games feel more immersive. Listening to live concert recordings with this mode almost tricks you into thinking you’re there. And through the app, you can customize the EQ to your exact liking.

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Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Huawei markets this as Dynamic ANC 4.0, and honestly, it’s one of the best ANC implementations I’ve tried at this price.

On a noisy street, the earbuds cut down car engines and chatter to a faint hum. In my office with a mechanical keyboard and PC fans, they reduced distractions significantly. It’s not quite Bose or Sony level, but for under €100 / AED 299, it’s fantastic.

There are three main ANC modes:

• Ultra Mode: For flights or very noisy environments.
• General Mode: For daily commutes.
• Cozy Mode: For quieter spaces like an office.

There’s also Awareness Mode, which lets outside noise in—handy when walking or cycling. My only gripe is that transparency mode isn’t as natural as Apple’s AirPods Pro; voices sound slightly processed.

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Call Quality & Microphones

Call quality is decent, but not flawless. Huawei uses a triple-mic system with bone conduction and AI noise reduction. In quiet environments, calls sound fine—clear enough for Zoom or phone conversations.

However, in windy conditions or crowded places, voices can sometimes sound thin and a bit unnatural. They’re more than adequate for casual use, but if professional call quality is your top priority, these won’t outperform high-end buds.

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Battery Life & Charging

Battery performance is another big win. Huawei claims:

• 6 hours with ANC on
• 8 hours with ANC off
• Up to 35 hours total with the case

In my testing, those numbers held up. I routinely got through a full workday with ANC on and still had juice left.

The fast charging is a lifesaver—just 10 minutes in the case gives you about 4 hours of playback. Perfect when you’re rushing out the door.

Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging for the case. Not a dealbreaker at this price, but worth noting.

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Connectivity & Features

The FreeBuds 7i use Bluetooth 5.2 and support dual-device pairing, which I found extremely handy. I had them connected to my laptop for work calls and my phone for music, and switching between the two was seamless.

Latency is very low, and I noticed no sync issues while watching Netflix or gaming casually. Huawei’s AI Life app also adds nice touches like firmware updates and touch control customization.

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Pricing

Huawei FreeBuds 7i retail at €99 in Europe, and you will find around $100+ something on AliExpress.

Best Deal: View on AliExpress

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Final Verdict

After putting them through their paces, I can tell you the Huawei FreeBuds 7i nail it. They combine high-end features like LDAC audio adjustable ANC, and spatial audio in a package that won’t break the bank and looks good too.

Are they flawless? Nope. The call quality and see-through mode need some tweaking. But for what you pay, they really deliver more than expected.

If you want wireless earbuds around $100 packed with features that don’t feel like you’re settling, go for the FreeBuds 7i. Huawei has set a new standard for mid-range earbuds again, and these might just become the go-to choice in their price range.