- Effective ANC for semi-in-ear design
- Rich sound with dual-driver
- Excellent microphone quality
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Wireless charging
- Modest 4–4.5-hour battery life with ANC
- Bluetooth 5.2, not 5.4
- Slight mid-frequency brightness
The Huawei FreeBuds 6 are sleek semi-in-ear earbuds with effective ANC, a dual-driver system for vibrant sound, and top-notch microphone clarity. They offer a comfortable fit, IP54 resistance, and wireless charging, rivaling premium competitors, though battery life is modest at 4–4.5 hours with ANC.
Huawei has unveiled the FreeBuds 6, a sleek and stylish addition to their wireless earbud lineup that blends premium features with an attractive price point.
Designed to compete with industry leaders like Apple’s AirPods, these semi-in-ear earbuds promise enhanced sound quality, advanced active noise cancellation (ANC), and a refined fit for all-day comfort.
After weeks of real-world testing across daily commutes, workouts, and casual use, here’s a detailed look at whether the FreeBuds 6 live up to their “AirPods killer” reputation.
Huawei FreeBuds 6 Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Design | Semi-in-ear, droplet design; Colors: Black, White, Purple |
| Dimensions | Earbuds: 30.6 × 18.5 × 24.0 mm; Case: 66.2 × 49.9 × 26.8 mm |
| Weight | Earbuds: 4.9 g each; Case: 40.3 g |
| Audio | 11 mm dynamic driver + planar diaphragm; 14 Hz–48 kHz; LDAC, AAC, L2HC 4.0 |
| ANC | Intelligent Dynamic ANC 3.0; Up to 95 dB noise reduction |
| Battery Life | Earbuds: 4.5 h (ANC on), 6 h (ANC off); Case: 27 h (ANC on), 36 h (ANC off) |
| Charging | USB-C, wireless; 10 min charge for 4 h playback |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2; Multipoint; Pop-up pair (EMUI 10+) |
| Microphones | 3 per earbud + bone conduction; DNN noise cancellation |
| Resistance | IP54 (earbuds only) |
| Controls | Double-tap, triple-tap, swipe, press & hold; Customizable via AI Life app |
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei FreeBuds 6 maintain a design language similar to their predecessor, the FreeBuds 5, with a few thoughtful tweaks.
The charging case retains its distinctive oval, egg-like shape, which is both compact and visually appealing. Crafted from plastic, the case is available in three colors: white, black, and purple.
The case includes a front-facing LED for battery and pairing status, a USB-C port for charging, and a side button for resetting the Bluetooth connection. At approximately 40.3 grams, the case is 9% lighter than the FreeBuds 5, enhancing portability.
The earbuds themselves also see refinements. Each bud weighs just 4.9 grams, a 12% reduction from the FreeBuds 5, making them exceptionally lightweight.
The semi-in-ear, teardrop-shaped design remains, but Huawei has optimized the fit by orienting the sound output slightly more toward the ear canal. This subtle adjustment, combined with the inclusion of optional silicone tips, significantly improves comfort and stability.
During my testing, the FreeBuds 6 stayed secure during runs, gym sessions, and daily activities, with no noticeable slippage.
The silicone tips, available in multiple sizes, enhance passive noise isolation, addressing a common critique of semi-in-ear designs.The earbuds carry an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring durability against sweat and light rain—perfect for active lifestyles.
Touch Controls and Ergonomics
The FreeBuds 6 feature intuitive touch controls on the stems, supporting gestures like double-tap to play/pause, triple-tap to skip tracks, and swipe gestures for volume adjustment.
These controls are customizable via the Huawei AI Life app and respond accurately, with minimal input errors. A standout feature is the automatic pause/play sensor, which works flawlessly when removing or inserting the earbuds.
The semi-in-ear design, while not as isolating as in-ear models, offers a comfortable fit for extended wear, though fit may vary depending on ear shape. The included silicone tips help mitigate this, providing a more secure fit for diverse ear anatomies.
Sound Quality
The Huawei FreeBuds 6 introduce a dual-driver setup, a first for Huawei’s open-fit earbuds. This system combines an 11mm dynamic driver with four magnets for powerful bass and a planar diaphragm driver for crisp highs and mids.
The earbuds support a frequency range of 14 Hz to 48 kHz, an improvement over the FreeBuds 5’s 16 Hz to 40 kHz, and offer LDAC codec support for high-resolution audio streaming at up to 2.3 Mbps.
Huawei’s proprietary Sound technology further enhances the audio experience, particularly when paired with Huawei devices.
In practice, the sound profile is warm and bass-heavy out of the box, ideal for genres like pop, electronic, and urban music. The bass is punchy and robust, delivering a satisfying depth for rhythmic tracks.
However, the mids and highs can feel slightly overshadowed, with a touch of brightness in the mids that may not suit all listeners.
The Huawei AI Life app offers an equalizer with preset modes (e.g., Classical, Balanced) and a custom option, allowing users to fine-tune the sound. Adjusting the equalizer can balance the mids and highs, resulting in a clearer, more detailed audio experience.
While not audiophile-grade, the sound quality surpasses many competitors in the semi-in-ear category, including Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC, offering a slightly crisper and more dynamic output.
For gaming and video playback, the FreeBuds 6 excel due to their low latency, especially when using the AAC codec. Testing with games like Call of Duty Mobile revealed immersive audio with minimal delay, making these earbuds a solid choice for multimedia consumption.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
One of the standout features of the FreeBuds 6 is their active noise cancellation, which Huawei claims can reduce ambient noise by up to 95 dB, even in windy conditions up to 8 m/s.
Powered by Intelligent Dynamic ANC 3.0, the earbuds use three microphones per bud and a bone conduction microphone to monitor noise every 2.6 microseconds, adapting cancellation parameters in real time. This system is trained on 34 scenarios, from quiet cafés to noisy subway rides, ensuring versatile performance.
For a semi-in-ear design, the ANC is remarkably effective. It significantly reduces low-frequency noises like traffic, engine hums, and office chatter, creating a more immersive listening experience.
However, it falls short of the isolation provided by in-ear earbuds with silicone tips, such as Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro series or Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds.
In public transport, some ambient noise remains audible, but the ANC performs better than most semi-in-ear competitors, including Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC.
The absence of a full seal means users can still hear their surroundings, which is a deliberate design choice for safety and awareness.
Disabling ANC effectively serves as a transparency mode, allowing users to stay connected to their environment without needing a dedicated setting.
Microphone Quality
Huawei has a strong track record for microphone quality, and the FreeBuds 6 continue this trend. Each earbud features three microphones, including a bone conduction microphone, paired with a deep neural network (DNN) algorithm to isolate vocals from background noise.
In indoor settings, voices sound clear and natural, with minimal echo even in reverberant rooms. Outdoor tests, including in windy conditions, demonstrated impressive noise suppression, though some wind noise persists—a common challenge for wireless earbuds.
For phone calls, video conferences, and social media voice messages, the FreeBuds 6 deliver near-top-tier performance, rivaling premium models like the AirPods Pro 2.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is one area where the FreeBuds 6 fall slightly short. Huawei claims up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC enabled and 32 hours with the charging case.
In real-world testing at 60% volume with ANC on, the earbuds lasted closer to 4–4.5 hours per charge, with the case providing around 20–24 hours total.
Disabling ANC extends single-charge playback to approximately 6–7 hours. While sufficient for short workouts or commutes, the battery life lags behind competitors like the FreeBuds 6i, which offer up to 8 hours without ANC.
The charging case supports both USB-C and wireless charging, a welcome feature at this price point. A 10-minute charge yields about 4 hours of playback, making it convenient for quick top-ups.
The case’s 510mAh battery takes about an hour to fully charge via USB-C, ensuring minimal downtime.
Connectivity and App Integration
The FreeBuds 6 use Bluetooth 5.2, which is slightly outdated compared to the newer Bluetooth 5.4 standard, but it remains reliable for most use cases.
The earbuds support LDAC and AAC codecs, with Huawei’s proprietary codec available for Huawei devices.
Multipoint connectivity allows seamless switching between two devices, such as a phone and laptop, and the connection remains stable within a 10-meter range using AAC.
LDAC, while offering superior audio quality, may experience occasional dropouts if the phone is in a pocket or bag, particularly in crowded environments.
The Huawei AI Life app, available for iOS and Android (though Android users must download it from Huawei’s AppGallery or website), is intuitive and feature-rich.
It provides battery status for each earbud and the case, ANC mode adjustments (Low, Balanced, Ultra, or Dynamic), customizable touch controls, and an equalizer.
Additional features include a fit test, low-latency gaming mode, and a “find my earbuds” function.
For Huawei device users, a pop-up pairing interface mimics Apple’s AirPods experience, enhancing ease of use. While the app is not as advanced as some competitors (e.g., Soundcore), it covers all essential functionalities effectively.
Price and Value
The FreeBuds 6 have not officially launched in the US. But in Europe, you’ll find it at €159, positioned in the upper mid-range segment, competing with Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC and other premium semi-in-ear earbuds.
The price is justified by the dual-driver system, effective ANC, and excellent microphone quality, but the battery life and slight mid-frequency brightness may deter some buyers.
For comparison, the FreeBuds 6i, a more budget-friendly option, retail for around €90 but lack the dual-driver setup and wireless charging.
Are They the AirPods Killer?
The Huawei FreeBuds 6 are a strong contender in the semi-in-ear earbud market, offering a refined design, impressive ANC, and robust sound quality that rivals Apple’s AirPods 4 with ANC.
The dual-driver system delivers punchy bass and clear highs, though some tweaking via the equalizer is needed for optimal balance.
The ANC, while not as powerful as in-ear models, is among the best for semi-in-ear designs, and the microphone quality is exceptional for calls and voice recordings. However, the battery life is a weak point, falling short of expectations for extended use.
For users seeking lightweight, comfortable earbuds with solid audio performance and effective noise cancellation without the full isolation of in-ear models, the FreeBuds 6 are an excellent choice.
They may not dethrone the AirPods entirely, but they offer a compelling alternative at a competitive price. If battery life is a priority, consider the FreeBuds 6i for a more budget-friendly option, or the FreeBuds Pro 4 for premium in-ear performance.
Overall, Huawei has delivered a versatile and feature-packed product that deserves a spot on your radar.
If you’ve tried the FreeBuds 6, share your thoughts in the comments below! How do they stack up against your current earbuds?
Related:
- Huawei FreeBuds SE 3 Review
- Huawei FreeBuds 6i Review
- Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 Review
- Huawei FreeClip Review
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.
