Huawei has recently launched its latest open-fit earbuds, designed in the style of the classic EarPods or standard AirPods, which means they don’t sit deep in your ear canal, making them more comfortable for those who dislike the in-ear feeling.

The design of the case and earbuds has also been refreshed, looking a bit odd and almost alien at first glance, but I appreciate Huawei for daring to shake up the now somewhat dull and monotonous trend.

They’ve also paired this with some impressive specs: dual-driver construction, frequency response from 14 Hz to 48 kHz, dual point connection, plus tap & swipe controls for total control. The big question: does it really deliver?

The FreeBuds 6 come with excellent codec support, so you can get the most out of it on both Apple (AAC) and Android (LDAC) devices. However, L2HC4.0 is a kind of Huawei-exclusive, supported only by devices running EMUI15. It’s noticeable that the earbuds don’t support LHDC and aptX codecs, but based on the current competition, this is not a huge drawback, though gamers might miss low-latency LHDC.

Design and Colors

The Huawei FreeBuds 6 already look different from the usual options at first sight. The charging case has a flattened egg shape with a very smooth matte surface—it looks like it dropped out of an old Star Trek episode. Even the lid is cut at an angle, so nothing resembles the usual products on the market. The shape and surface of the case ensure that it easily slips into any pocket.

The surprises don’t end there: the earbuds themselves are oddly shaped, with no silicone tip, as expected for open-fit earbuds. But at the end of the stem, there’s a small “barrel,” so the whole earbud is almost hourglass-shaped. Yes, I admit, it takes getting used to. Huawei really innovated here, calling it a trendy, lifestyle accessory—the market will decide if it catches on or not.

In the box, you’ll find two types of silicone “sleeves” for the earbuds. For those with larger earlobes, these provide a better fit and extra grip. This is quite clever, especially if you want to use the FreeBuds 6 for running.

The stems also offer touch controls: single tap for play, double tap for next track, triple tap for previous track. Slide up or down to adjust the volume, long-press for noise reduction. Generally, I’m not a fan of touch controls, but if it’s there, it’s there. The only issue is that the FreeBuds 6 responds slowly, so you might wonder for half a second whether it registered your touch.

Huawei FreeBuds 6 is available in three colors: understated black, clean white, and a striking purple shade that’s also available in Hungary.

Sound Quality

Out of the box, the FreeBuds 6’s sound isn’t mind-blowing. I definitely recommend installing the Huawei AI Life app, as it provides extra settings (the app isn’t officially in the Play Store, only available separately). In my experience, it works on some Android phones with no problem, but on others it doesn’t. This is an important factor when buying.

But how does it sound? The dual-driver design and bass response down to 14 Hz suggest deep, soft bass. You can’t actually hear 14 Hz with the human ear, but you’d expect thunderous lows—well, you don’t get that. There is bass, but it just exists; it doesn’t rumble, punch, or pulse, though at least you can hear the bass guitar. The first impression is “clear, sharp sound,” but when vocals come in, you’ll notice the (default) harsh midrange—this can be fixed with the app. Highs are present, but not especially sparkling. Overall, the sound isn’t special, even though the looks and specs suggest otherwise.

I’ve already mentioned it, but the app is really the key: the Hi-Fi Live preset completely transforms the sound, smoothing out harsh upper mids, boosting the bass, and sweetening the highs. For me, this is the default setting—I wouldn’t use the FreeBuds 6 any other way. You can also set a custom EQ, but Hi-Fi Live was good enough for me.

Noise Reduction, Connectivity, Battery Life

You may have noticed I don’t call it ANC: due to the open-fit shape, true active noise canceling isn’t possible, and Huawei officially only claims noise reduction. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work well: I was surprised by how much it can filter out. It’s more effective against deep hums and rumbles, less so with high-pitched sounds, but if you want inner peace and dislike silicone tips, this shape is a good compromise.

I paired the FreeBuds 6 without issues to my laptop, several Android devices, and even an iPhone and an iPad. There’s Bluetooth Multipoint, so it can connect to two devices at once and switch audio sources automatically. The app also “remembers” paired devices—you can choose between them, remove them.

Unfortunately, due to Huawei’s current reputation, there’s no Fast Pair in the West—no pop-up animation when you first bring the case near your phone. On Huawei phones, however, the brand’s own fast pairing works.

Based on the design, you might expect huge battery life, but unfortunately, that’s not the case: the FreeBuds 6 lasts a bit less than average. It also depends on what you select in the app: “sound quality” or “connection stability.” The default is sound quality.

Is It Worth It?

The FreeBuds 6 is not officially available in the USA, but its price is roughly in line with the third-generation Nothing Ears. In Europe, the price is also similar, but the FreeBuds 6 is currently a bit more expensive.

Whether I’d recommend it depends on two key questions: do you like this design, and can you install the AI Life app? If the answer to both is “yes,” then I might cautiously say “it could work for you.” The open design is the main reason to buy—there aren’t many options for people who hate in-ear buds. Really, only the Apple AirPods 4 does this; the version without ANC is about the same price, the ANC one is about 50 units more (currency depending).

But let’s be blunt: the AirPods 4 starts off with better sound. If you’re adventurous or can’t resist that flashy purple, then the FreeBuds 6 could be your choice!

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-