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

9Оценка
Best Wireless Headphones 2025 by Features
Emotional, Detailed, and Natural Sound with Top Features.
Sound and Frequency Balance
9
Sound Detail
9.5
Soundstage
8.5
Natural Sound Reproduction
9
Microphone
9.5
Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode
8
Controls, App, Battery Life, Stability
9.5
Comfort, Durability, Design
9
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 is 9/10. There’s a slight lack of low end, along with bright mids and moderately bright highs.
Bass – 9/10 (❗️Reference: Realme Buds Air 7 Pro). There’s slightly less bass than I’d prefer, but it’s natural, tight, and punchy. The sub-bass is excellent; the bass synthesizer sounds fantastic in The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” The main bass synth in Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” sounds confident but not quite full enough, which makes the groove feel a bit understated. The same minor flaw is present in Lenny Kravitz’s “Low,” though here it’s a real bass guitar. I’m deducting 1 point for this slight lack of bass.
Midrange – 9/10 (❗️Reference: Technics EAH-AZ80). The midrange is simply perfect and noticeably BETTER than the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. This is especially clear on Oasis’ “Don’t Go Away,” where the vocalist sings within a very tight mix of instruments, yet his voice feels incredibly present, and the instruments don’t overpower it. The same characteristic holds true for Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” On Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” the vocals achieve striking intimacy and closeness. After listening to the HUAWEI, the sound from the OnePlus now feels a bit distant – not critically so, but it’s still noticeable.
High Frequencies – 9/10 (❗️Reference: Technics EAH-AZ100). In Daft Punk’s “Lose Yourself to Dance,” the metallic drums sound with a slight lack of brightness. If I didn’t have the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 on hand for comparison, I wouldn’t have noticed the difference, but it’s audible when directly contrasted. It’s the exact same story with the percussion and ringing guitars on The Eagles’ track, “Hotel California.” I’m deducting 1 point for this slight lack of brightness in the treble.
Detail – 9.5/10 (❗️Reference: Technics EAH-AZ100). Excellent, and once again BETTER than the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 by a full point. In Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” the detail in the percussion and background cello is noticeably clearer and more distinct. It’s the same story in tracks with plenty of live instruments.
Stage – 8.5/10 (❗️Reference: Technics EAH-AZ100). This is already a bit wider than I’d prefer, and it’s particularly noticeable in Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” Here, the backing vocals sound widely separated into the left and right channels, much closer than they do on the OnePlus. The same applies to the instrument sounds. In a track with numerous 3D effects like Yosi Horikawa’s “Bubbles,” the ping pong ball sounds and other effects feel a bit closer than on the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 benchmark. I’m deducting 1.5 points for the narrower soundstage compared to the benchmark. I wouldn’t call it critical, but it lacks that effortless spaciousness.
Naturalness – 9/10 (❗️Reference: Technics EAH-AZ100). In Sting’s “Englishman in New York,” all the live instruments and vocals sound simply delightful; there’s nothing to fault. I particularly enjoyed the timbre and texture of the double bass. It’s the exact same story in Lenny Kravitz’s “Low.” When it comes to the highs, both OnePlus and Huawei perform admirably. The only exception is that Huawei sounds a bit more distinct and honest in the lows. As for the mids, as I’ve already mentioned, Huawei wins there too, simply because OnePlus exhibits a slight muddiness in the mid-frequencies compared to Huawei. There’s a lack of naturalness in the treble, though, compared to the reference.

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.

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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.

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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 of the design is 9/10. The headphones offer a good level of comfort, but you do not lose the feeling of wearing them, resulting in a deduction of 0.5 points. The case is also slightly thicker than the Apple AirPods Pro 2, leading to another 0.5-point deduction. The AirPods Pro 2 remain the 10/10 benchmark in this regard.

The quality of materials and durability scores 9/10. The headphones themselves are IP54 protected, making them splash and dust resistant. However, the charging case is not waterproof. The case is constructed from matte plastic with a glossy insert, while the headphones are entirely glossy. Glossy surfaces generally have low scratch resistance, and the case tends to collect fingerprints and is prone to micro-scratches. For these reasons, I’m deducting 1 point.

Appearance scores 9/10. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 are available in three colors: black, white, and green. Their design is beautiful, stylish, and gives off an expensive, rich vibe. However, the headphones do look a bit bulky when worn, as they are quite large. Additionally, the glossy finish with the prominent logo might not appeal to everyone. These design flaws result in a deduction of 1 point.

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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 – Popular Questions:

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.

Vladimir Papazov
Vladimir Papazov

Vladimir Papazov - Chief Editor. I answer questions, publish news, reviews, ratings and FAQs.

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