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HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 vs Pro 3 Review – The Ultimate Wireless Headphone Showdown of 2025 (by Features)!

9
Best Wireless Headphones 2025 by Features
Emotional, Detailed, and Natural Sound with Top Features.
Sound and Frequency Balance9
Sound Detail9.5
Soundstage8.5
Natural Sound Reproduction9
Microphone9.5
Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode8
Controls, App, Battery Life, Stability9.5
Comfort, Durability, Design9
Pros
  • Sound: Perfect Mids, Detail, and Natural Reproduction.
  • Microphone: Reference-Quality.
  • Excellent Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode.
  • Controls and App: Reference-Quality.
  • Design: Attractive, Comfortable, Robust.
Cons
  • Battery Life: Roughly 4.5 hours for the earbuds and 22 hours with the case, which is about average.
  • L2HC only works with Huawei devices running EMUI 15 or higher, and the connection animation is exclusive to Huawei devices.

That moment has arrived, folks! The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 is the model that has, in terms of sound, outsold the best wireless TWS headphones of 2024, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 are the acclaimed $167 wireless in-ear TWS headphones that came out in the winter of 2024. Given the huge success of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3, I had high expectations for the FreeBuds Pro 4, and in some aspects, the model did improve significantly. However, my main question was whether the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 could outperform the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, currently the top in the TWS category, in terms of sound. And as you can see from the intro and the cover, they did. But it’s not a win across the board, and there are quite a few drawbacks. Let’s dig into them in this review.

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The most interesting aspects of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4: they feature an 11mm dynamic driver and a separate planar tweeter, just like the Pro 3. In terms of codec support, Huawei’s proprietary L2HC codec has been updated from version 2 to version 4, and LDAC, AAC, and SBC are also available. Huawei claims reduced audio latency and improved active noise reduction. The design remains largely unchanged, with the “strings” now featured on the stems. Otherwise, the claimed changes are not significant. But let’s get into all the details.

Buy HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 for $167 – in the official store on Aliexpress | official website
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 headphone reviews on: Aliexpress | 4PDA | Amazon
Buy the models that are mentioned in the review: OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ($120), HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 ($147), Apple Airpods Pro 2 ($199).

The sound of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 is, by default, characterized by moderate bass frequencies, an emotional feel, a transparent mid-range, and moderately bright highs. While there are no critical flaws in the sound, there are some downsides. I personally liked the sound without any adjustments, on the default EQ setting, as some of the presets weren’t particularly good. However, it’s still essential to enable sound priority in the proprietary app, which involves activating the LDAC codec.

Huawei’s proprietary L2HC 4.0 codec, which transmits sound at a speed of 2.3 Mbps with support for 48 kHz / 24 bits, unfortunately only works on Huawei devices running EMUI 15 or higher. This is a real drawback, and for that, I’m docking the model’s score slightly because it essentially forces users into Huawei’s ecosystem. While it’s true that everyone is doing this nowadays, I’m a firm believer in universality—users should get the most out of their devices, regardless of brand. Therefore, I’ll be marking this as a negative in all MyChooz reviews, including those for Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and others.

The manufacturer claims a “triple adaptive equalizer” that supposedly adjusts the sound to the user in real-time. There’s no way to verify this, so we just have to trust that the sound genuinely changes based on volume, ear canal shape, and headphone fit. Does it impact the quality? Possibly, but without a direct comparison, it’s hard to tell. Everything operates automatically.

What really pleased me and makes a significant difference to the sound are the two included ear tip options: three pairs of silicone tips and three pairs with memory foam. I highly recommend trying the memory foam ear tips; they’re denser, lead to less sound leakage, and provide more low-end, which this model was slightly lacking right out of the box. If you then try to correct this with EQ and enable the bass preset, the bass tends to become bloated and muddy.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 AChH
Frequency balance. 8.83 There’s a slight lack of lows. The mids are bright. The highs are moderately bright.
Lows. 9 There’s less bass than I’d like. The low-end is natural, tight, and punchy.
More details.
Mids. 9 The sound is open and quite transparent. The artist sings right in front of you.
More details.
Highs. 8.5 There’s a lack in quantity.
More details.
Detail retrieval. 8.5 Main and secondary parts are audible. You can hear some micro-details on the surface. High-frequency instruments are better resolved, though there’s some grain in places. Low-frequency instruments are less resolved. However, instrument textures are distinct. It’s hard to confuse a double bass or bass guitar.
More details.
Natural timbre. 8.5 The sound is pretty natural. Low-frequency instruments are better resolved. High-frequency instruments are less natural and have grain.
More details.
Soundstage. 8 The soundstage is a bit wider than your head. But there’s noticeably less width resolution.
More details.

Sound verdict

Sound. 8.46 The earbuds have great mids and transparent vocals. Vocals and instruments sound pretty natural, without distortion or artificial timbre. Detail retrieval is good enough to enjoy live instruments. On the downside, there’s a slight lack of bass. The soundstage is also a bit narrow.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 receive a sound rating of 9/10 among all wireless in-ear headphones. Overall, their sound is slightly better than the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 remain excellent headphones for $120. The title of superior sound among all TWS models now goes to the Technics EAH-AZ100, though by a slight margin. Whether that difference is critical? Not at all, and I’ll happily continue listening to the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 next. Simply put, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 offer a more emotional sound with an emphasis on vocals, while the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 deliver higher quality sound with an emphasis on lows and bright highs. That’s the key distinction. Keep this in mind when making your choice. If you aim to get the absolute most out of your sound, consider purchasing the Technics EAH-AZ100.

The main drawbacks of the HUAWEI’s sound are a slight lack of bass and a narrow soundstage. Conversely, the key strengths are its excellent midrange, transparent vocals, superb detail, and outstanding naturalness. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 stands out as the best option for those seeking uncompromising and accurate sound, suitable for all genres, but particularly excelling with vocal and rock compositions. For electronica, Hip Hop, and instrumental music, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 is definitely worth picking up for those genres. My engagement with the music is 10/10. I just want to dance and listen to entire albums of my favorite music.

img 9897 scaled

The manufacturer places a strong emphasis on improved microphone quality. However, the microphone remains exactly the same as in the Pro 3 version — that is, it’s still reference-quality and ranks number one.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 microphone – 9.75/10. In quiet conditions – 9.5/10. In noisy conditions – 10/10.

snimok jekrana 2025 03 09 v 14.29.33 1 1

Noise Cancellation is 8/10. We were promised 30% better noise cancellation. In reality, noise cancellation remained at the same level as it was in the 3 Pro version. It’s slightly worse at suppressing midrange and treble compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which are rated 9/10, with the benchmark being the Sony WF-1000XM5 at 10/10.

Transparency Mode – 8/10. This is the same level as the 3 Pro. It’s worse than the AirPods Pro 2, which are a 9/10. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro serve as the 10/10 benchmark. It was claimed that the speaker’s voice is recognized and amplified in noisy environments. This feature is supposedly activated automatically when changes in ambient noise are detected. I didn’t notice any such effect; it just functioned as a typical transparency mode.

Battery Life – 7.5/10. It’s at a sufficient level. The manufacturer claims 7 hours for the earbuds themselves and 33 hours total with the case, without noise cancellation and using the AAC codec. With LDAC and noise cancellation enabled, we get 4.5 hours for the earbuds and 22 hours total with the case. In practice, the manufacturer’s data is accurate. For comparison, the 3 Pro offered 6.5 hours for the earbuds and 31 hours with the case. The benchmark, Nothing Ear (a), boasts 9.5 hours for the earbuds themselves and 42.5 hours with the case. Battery life is perhaps the weakest aspect of this model. I personally drained the headphones to 0 in 4 days, and they notified me too late about the low charge, only when it was already at 10 percent.

Fast charging isn’t explicitly claimed, but charging the earbuds from 0 to 100% takes 40 minutes. Wireless charging is supported. I’m deducting 3 points due to the autonomy when compared to the benchmark.

According to the manufacturer’s claims, there’s a smart charging feature that will increase battery life by 38%.

Controls – 10/10. This is an example of how to implement reference-quality controls—everything is comfortable and problem-free. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 offers pinching the stem, tapping on the stem, and swipes up and down. What’s more, you can answer or reject calls completely hands-free by simply nodding or shaking your head. Everything works conveniently; you can even control the headphones by tapping on your ear instead of the headphones themselves. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 truly outperforms the AirPods Pro 2 in this regard.

The app is 10/10. You can download HUAWEI AI Life for Android and iOS. The main things I recommend using are: in the sound quality tab, prioritize the sound quality and complete the ear tip fit test.

Connection stability is 10/10. The connection and stability within 10m are excellent with Bluetooth 5.2. There were no stutters or dropped connections, even when using the LDAC codec.

Important features and sensors:

  • Multipoint: Yes.
  • Auto-pause when headphones are removed: Yes.
  • Pairing animation: The pairing animation did not work on the iPhone 15 Pro or OnePlus 11. This feature appears to be exclusive to Huawei devices.
Comfort. 9 The earbuds are comfortable with the included ear tips. But you still feel like you’re wearing them. The charging case is a bit thicker than the Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Durability. 8 IP54 dust and water resistance – resistant to limited dust and splashes. The charging case has no water resistance. The charging case is made of matte plastic with a glossy insert. The earbuds are glossy. The earbuds are fingerprint magnets and get dirty easily. Scratches on the charging case are visible after a week of testing. I recommend putting a case on the charging case after you start using it.
Design. 9 The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 comes in 3 colors: black, white, and green. The design is beautiful and stylish. It looks premium. But the earbuds look a bit bulky in your ears. They are quite large. Also, the glossy finish with the logo might not be for everyone.

Build verdict

Build quality. 8.67 The earbuds have a comfortable fit. There’s no noticeable discomfort. No complaints about the build quality or materials. Only the earbud bodies are fingerprint magnets. Scratches on the charging case show up after a week of use. The earbuds look good. But the gold plating and brand name look a bit excessive. You can choose from 3 colors.
snimok jekrana 2025 03 09 v 14.27.39

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4: MyChooz? Definitely yes, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 are my choice.

The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 are a delightful model in terms of sound quality, outperforming the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in most criteria. With its superior audio performance, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 could indeed be crowned the new king of TWS headphones.

What kind of sound will you get? You get an emotional sound with moderate bass and moderately bright highs.
What else do you get? Otherwise, a reference microphone, good noise reduction and transparency mode, decent but not outstanding battery life, reference controls, and a reference app. Great design with its minor downsides.

Updating the review, the Technics EAH-AZ100s have arrived. They’ve managed to become the new benchmark for sound, but in terms of features, the Huawei are the winners.

What are the alternatives?

The OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are a superior and more affordable alternative in terms of sound. You’ll experience a more pronounced low-frequency sound, with a wider soundstage and slightly brighter treble. Feature-wise, the models are largely comparable.

The new Realme Buds Air 7 Pro’s are the best sound you can buy under $250.

Buy HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 for $167 – in the official store on Aliexpress | official website
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 headphone reviews on: Aliexpress | 4PDA | Amazon
Buy the models that are mentioned in the review: OnePlus Buds Pro 3 ($120), HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 ($147), Apple Airpods Pro 2 ($199).

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 Features:

  • HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 release date – December 4, 2024
  • HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 launch price – $205
  • Design: in-canal
  • Transducers: 11 mm dynamic driver and separate planar tweeter
  • Codecs: Huawei L2HC 4.0, LDAC, AAC, SBC.
  • Bluetooth: 5.2
  • Active noise reduction: Yes
  • Transparency mode: Yes
  • Controls: touch control, pitch control.
  • Battery life:
    7 hours on the headphones themselves, 33 hours total with the case
  • Charging:
    About 40 minutes for headphones (in charging case)
    About 1 hour for charging case without headphones inside (wired charging)
    About 150 minutes for charging case without headphones inside (wireless charging)
  • Application: available
  • Optional: auto pause, multipoint
  • Protection: IP54 (splash proof, dust proof)
  • Materials: matte and glossy plastic
  • Earpiece weight: ~5.8 g/each, charging case: ~47 g
  • Microphone: yes

What’s in the box?

2025 03 11 11.20.01
  • Headphones × 1 pair
  • Charging case × 1
  • Earpieces × 7 pairs (silicone earpieces: sizes L, M, S, XS; memory earpieces: sizes L, M, S; earphones come with size M silicone earpieces)
  • Quick Start Guide (with safety instructions) × 1
  • Warranty card × 1
  • USB-C Charging Cable × 1

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 – how to connect wireless headphones?

1. Go to pairing mode, open the case, press the button on the case, for 5 seconds, until the indicator light starts flashing. 2. Go to bluetooth settings, list of devices, at the very bottom will be HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4. 3. Connect the headphones.

Do you still have a question about HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4?

Leave your question in the comments and I’ll answer it for you.

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Vladimir Papazov
Founder of MyChooz. Audio Expert. Editor-in-Chief.
Vladimir Papazov – Chief Editor. I answer questions, publish news, reviews, ratings and FAQs.

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