Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 Review: Is This the Android Equivalent to AirPods?
For iPhone users, the choice for premium wireless earbuds is often straightforward: the Apple AirPods Pro 3. They offer seamless integration, reliable performance, excellent sound, and superior call quality within the Apple ecosystem. However, the Android landscape has long sought its own equivalent – a pair of earbuds that delivers a similar blend of performance and user experience without locking users into a single brand.
Many expected Samsung to fill this void, but products like the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, while impressive, lean heavily into ecosystem lock-in. They lack true multipoint connectivity and reserve their best audio codecs for Samsung phones, limiting their appeal for users with diverse devices. Another strong contender, the Technics AZ100, are lauded for their triple-point connectivity, sound, and call quality, but come with a premium price tag and a niche brand presence. This creates a significant opportunity for other manufacturers. Enter the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5. We’ve put these earbuds through their paces to determine if they finally offer the “AirPods for Android” experience many have been waiting for.
Design & Comfort: A Premium Feel
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 immediately impresses with its premium design. Both the case and the earbuds exude a high-quality feel that surpasses some competitors. The pebble-shaped charging case is remarkably compact, easily slipping into pockets or small compartments. It features a unique circular LED indicator and a dedicated pairing button, showcasing thoughtful design choices that differentiate it from generic offerings. The earbuds themselves sport a toned-down, elegant aesthetic, moving away from the more flamboyant golden and black accents seen in previous models. The case also provides satisfying auditory feedback for actions like pairing and charging, enhancing the overall user experience.
A significant improvement over previous generations is the fit. While earlier Huawei FreeBuds Pro models struggled to stay securely in some ears, the FreeBuds Pro 5 addresses this. They now offer a comfortable and stable fit, even during workouts, making them a viable option for active users.
Versatile Controls
The FreeBuds Pro 5 offers three different ways to control your buds. You can control playback and settings by squeezing the stems (similar to Apple AirPods and Samsung Buds), swiping for volume adjustments (also akin to AirPods and Samsung), and even tapping the earbuds (like say the Technics AZ100 and the Sony WF-1000 XM6). These controls are fully customizable within the companion app, allowing users to tailor the experience to their preferences. While the haptic feedback from squeezing the stems might not be as “confidence-inducing” as the AirPods Pro 3, it is by no means unusable and represents a strong effort from Huawei. Gesture controls for answering and hanging up calls are also a welcome industry standard feature.
Unrivaled Call Quality
Where the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 truly shines is in its call quality. Huawei has consistently delivered exceptional microphone performance, and the FreeBuds Pro 5 continues this legacy, setting a new benchmark. You can check out the call samples in our full review. Even in extremely challenging conditions, such as wind speeds of 6-7 meters per second, the earbuds maintain remarkable clarity. During testing, the voice remained clear and processed, almost as if recorded in a studio, despite significant environmental noise like passing cars and strong wind. This makes them an outstanding choice for anyone who prioritizes clear communication on the go.
ANC & Transparency: Good, But Not Best-in-Class
The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes on the FreeBuds Pro 5 are solid, earning a “Tier A” rating in our evaluations. While they don’t quite reach the “S-Tier” performance of some top-tier competitors, they are highly usable. Huawei’s choice to exclude the foam tips they provided with the previous generation contributes to this.
However, the transparency mode is commendable for its lack of occlusion, allowing for natural awareness of surroundings. Furthermore, the earbuds handle wind noise exceptionally well in awareness mode, a common pitfall for many earbuds. For users who don’t prioritize absolute best-in-class ANC but still desire effective noise management, these earbuds perform admirably.
Sound Quality & App Experience
The sound profile of the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 is characterized by rich bass and a “fun,” colored sound rather than a neutral one. It offers extensive customization options through its app, including an equalizer and presets tuned by the Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra. The earbuds also feature adaptive triple adaptive sound, similar to Bose and AirPods, which adjusts in real-time to your ears and compensates for any loss of seal.
In regions like Europe, the FreeBuds Pro 5 supports LDAC, ensuring high-resolution audio quality across various Android devices. While Huawei phones might offer even better transmission rates and the ability to use the earbuds as studio microphones, the general Android user still benefits from excellent audio fidelity.
The app experience, while generally smooth, does have regional nuances. In Europe, the app is readily available on both iPhone (via the App Store) and Samsung devices (via the Galaxy Store). However, users on other Android phones (like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra mentioned in testing) might need to sideload the app. Once installed, the app is highly capable, allowing for comprehensive customization of ANC, sound profiles, and managing connected devices. This stands in contrast to Samsung earbuds, which lack an iPhone app, and AirPods, which offer no customization on Android.
Battery Life & IP Rating
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 offers approximately 6 hours of battery life from the earbuds themselves, which is fairly standard. The charging case provides additional charges, offering more total battery life than the Samsung Buds 4 Pro’s 30 hours. Given the compact size of the case, this is a reasonable trade-off. Using a lower codec can further extend the battery life.
Durability is another strong suit, with the earbuds boasting an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, making them suitable for intense workouts and various outdoor conditions. The case also carries an IP54 rating, a crucial detail often overlooked by competitors. This means both your earbuds and their charging case are protected from dust and splashes, a significant advantage for everyday use and travel.
The Final Verdict: A Strong Contender for Android’s Best
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 emerges as a compelling option for Android users seeking a premium earbud experience. With its exceptional call quality, premium and comfortable design, versatile controls, and robust IP rating for both buds and case, it ticks many boxes. While its ANC and transparency modes are not industry-leading, they are more than adequate for most situations. The competitive price point of €169-€179 further solidifies its position as a top choice, especially when compared to the more expensive, ecosystem-locked alternatives.
For those who prioritize crystal-clear calls, a comfortable fit that stays put, and a feature-rich experience across different Android devices, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 is a highly recommended daily driver. It successfully bridges the gap, offering a truly premium and versatile wireless earbud experience for the Android ecosystem.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional Call Quality: Unrivaled clarity, even in windy conditions.
- Premium & Compact Design: High-quality feel, pebble-shaped case, unique aesthetics.
- Improved Fit: Stays securely in ears, even during workouts.
- Versatile Controls: Three-way control (squeeze, swipe, tap) with app customization.
- Good IP Rating: IP57 for buds, IP54 for case, offering robust durability.
- Rich & Customizable Sound: Fun sound profile, EQ customization, adaptive sound.
- LDAC Support: High-resolution audio for Android users (in supported regions).
- Competitive Price: Significantly more affordable than direct competitors.
Cons:
- ANC & Transparency: Good, but not best-in-class (Tier A).
- Average Bud Battery Life: Approximately 6 hours from the earbuds themselves.
- App Availability: May require sideloading on some Android devices outside Europe.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro | Technics AZ100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANC/ Transparency | Tier A (Good, good in wind) | S-Tier (Great) | S-Tier (Amazing) | S-Tier (Great) |
| Call Quality | Excellent | Great | Great | Great |
| Controls | Squeeze, Swipe, Tap (Customizable) | Squeeze, Swipe (Best haptics) | Squeeze, Swipe | Tap |
| IP Rating (Buds/Case) | Buds: IP57, Case: IP54 | Buds: IP57, Case: IP57 | Buds: IP57, Case: No rating | Buds: IPX4, Case: No rating |
| Battery (Buds) | ~6 hours (minimum) | 8 hours | ~6 hours (minimum) | 10 hours |
| Ecosystem | Cross-platform (app in Europe, LDAC) | Apple ecosystem lock-in (no Android app) | Samsung ecosystem preference (codecs, no multipoint) | Cross-platform (triple point connectivity) |
| Price (approx.) | €169-€179 | ~€250 | ~€250 | ~€300 |
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
- Technics AZ100
- HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5
- HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra
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