We tested the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2, cheaper rival of the AirPods Pro

THE TechAll tested the premium phone from the traditional Chinese tech brand, which is currently seen on Amazon for R $ 899 – R $ 200 off the original price. The strong points of the phone are undoubtedly the sound quality and battery life. The design and price leave something to be desired in some ways. Check out the full review in the next few lines.

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One of the biggest promises of FreeBuds Pro 2 is Active Noise Canceling (ANC), which is also one of the most desired features by the users. The function neutralizes external frequencies, blocking ambient noise and allowing for clear and clean sound insulation, even in noisy and crowded places such as restaurants or public transport.

The promised sound quality is really a strong point of the device, with active noise cancellation, high-resolution sound quality and dual speakers with three-band adaptive equalization. The headset is also acoustically suited to different types of environments, always striving to enable clearer calls and avoid external noise. It’s impossible to focus on what’s outside the headphones with the outstanding noise isolation they offer.

The FreeBuds Pro 2 battery is, without a doubt, one of the strong points of the product. With a promise of up to 30 hours with the phone in the case and the ANC (active noise cancellation) off, and up to 18 hours with the ANC on, it’s safe to say that it does, in fact, deliver on its proposition.

For playtime without putting it back in the charging case, the headset promises and delivers up to six hours of continuous playtime with ANC off and four hours with the feature turned on.

We tested the phone over an 18-day period, with a minimum of one hour of use per day. Didn’t have to carry the case at all, just put the headphones back in the case after use. Charging is fast too, requiring you to leave your phone plugged into the USB-C charger for between 40 minutes and an hour to ensure multiple days without charging. It is worth mentioning though that in recent days, with the battery running low, the connectivity has seemed to lose some strength and at times, the laptop has disconnected by itself.

The connectivity of the Huawei phone in general leaves nothing to be desired. Once connected to your device’s Bluetooth, whenever the box containing the headphones is opened next to the device, the headphones are automatically connected. Furthermore, the connection is facilitated thanks to the Pop Up association function.

As usual, the biggest difficulty is the first connection. To pair the headset with the device, you need to press a small button without a design or relief, which is located on the side of the case. With it pressed, the option to connect automatically appears in the list of available Bluetooth devices.

Next time, take it out of the case and place it in your ear to pair again automatically. In addition, the headset makes a small sound when placed in your ear, which helps you be sure that it is turned on and capable of transmitting or playing what you need to hear.

It is also worth mentioning that the FreeBuds Pro 2 allows simultaneous connection to two different devices. This way you can, for example, connect the same phone to your mobile phone and computer or even to two smartphones.

It can be said that Huawei has chosen to offer users a safer and more minimalistic experience. Thus, the model has several controls that prevent the phone from being pulled out into the street. To turn off the ANC, for example, just press two dots on either side of the handset stem. Volume up and down, you can also slide your fingers on the side of the earpiece up or down. Finally, it is possible to pause or continue a song by pressing the same point of the first control.

During testing, however, it was possible to notice that the first and last control get confused quite frequently, because they fire at the same point. Furthermore, the minimalism of the gestures means that the commands can be activated even if involuntarily during daily activities with the headset.

FreeBuds Pro 2 is a wireless headphone that works over Bluetooth and has several silicone tip size options. In terms of design, it is reminiscent of the AirPods, but not as rounded as the Apple model. Therefore, the stem protruding from the ear can cause discomfort, realizing that there is an ideal position to use the phone without injuring the ear, for example.

Aesthetically, the headset is available in three different colors, namely: Silver Blue, Silver Frost and Ceramic White. The first tone is more bluish and, according to the brand, “brings back memories of a night sky shimmering under the light”; the second is a dull gray, which gives the phone “a more edgy look”; the second, in white, seeks to offer “a more discreet and elegant style”.

Splash-proof

The Free Buds Pro 2 are not waterproof, but they are splash and splash resistant. It should also, for example, not be affected by dust. The brand, however, points out that this resistance can decrease with daily use and wear of the headset.

Huawei’s website directs the consumer to Amazon to purchase the headset. The suggested price is 1,399 BRL, but it is seen for 899 BRL, a discount of 500 BRL. The phone is a cheaper option than Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, which can be found for BRL 2,159 on Amazon. Huawei’s phone, however, is pretty much on par with Beats Studio Buds, Apple’s cheapest in-house option, which is seen at R$1,090.