TECH REVIEW – The Huawei FreeClip 2 enters a category that has so far offered more compromises than real solutions. Most open-fit earbuds force a trade-off between comfort and clarity, so at first I approached this pair with some suspicion. After a few hours of home use, running errands, and packing for a late shoot, that doubt quickly evaporated.

The C-shaped frame never once “reminded” me it was there. I kept checking my reflection because I could hardly believe that something this small and this light could handle so much while staying firmly in place. The FreeClip 2 does not chase the latest trends. Instead, it tries to solve a basic human tension: wanting to stay aware of your surroundings while still staying connected to the world through sound. This approach feels like a direct response to the first generation’s three-million-unit success and to the development checklist that Huawei itself highlights in its own documentation.

Design and Comfort – A Rethink That Fixes What the First Generation Never Fully Closed

My ears are picky. Most open designs start to pinch after a while, or that dull ache creeps in after a few hours, the kind you do not notice at first. Here, Huawei essentially redesigned the entire structure into a softer, more cooperative shape. The Airy C bridge now has a liquid silicone exterior and a shape-memory alloy core inside, increasing flexibility by 25 percent. The gentler tension wraps around the ear rather than “grabbing” it, without squeezing. For me, this specifically eliminated the pressure points that I eventually experienced with the original version. Meanwhile, the comfort bean size was reduced by 12.5 percent while maintaining stability, and according to Huawei, it was dimensioned based on more than ten thousand ear scans with micrometer-level precision.

The result feels natural even during longer use. I wore them through a long editing day, grocery shopping, and finally some late-evening downtime. They never warmed up my ears, and that subtle, sneaky soreness common with non-sealed designs never appeared. The arms of my glasses also rested against the silicone without having to “fight” for space. This was the first time an open earbud shape did not feel like a compromise I had to keep working around during my day.

Charging Case and Colors – Smaller Footprint With a Surprising Material Trick

The charging case also received a meaningful redesign: the base area is 11 percent smaller, and the profile is 17 percent thinner. The previous case was not bad, but this one truly disappears into a jeans coin pocket or a camera bag compartment with less hassle. It weighs 37.8 grams while housing a larger 537 mAh battery.

This combination has tangible benefits: the case becomes an object you simply carry without having to think about it. At the same time, Huawei added subtle design elements that make the whole object “step up” without becoming flashy. The Denim Blue and Feather White versions feature a molded surface with a denim-weave texture created through a precise replication process. The look lands somewhere between a fashion accessory and a practical tool, which fits well for a product you are theoretically wearing on your ears all day.

Open earbuds often behave as if one sudden head turn could send them clattering onto the pavement. The FreeClip 2 did not create that anxiety for me. On long walks, short sprints, errands, and even a weekend workout, they stayed on me and remained stable throughout. The shape-memory alloy in the C bridge bent without feeling like it was “thinning out” or fatiguing. Thanks to the lighter 5.1-gram weight, I felt less urge to adjust them. I even deliberately tried intense head shaking, and the clips did not move. Huawei’s guide mentions cycling, jump rope, and aerial yoga stress tests. My real-life version was running down the stairs with a camera bag, and these clips held on as if they knew exactly what their job was.

Sound – Small Body With More Confident Bass

The internal design now uses a dual-membrane driver in a tighter acoustic “sphere.” The redesign moves air from both sides of the membrane, which, according to the manufacturer, increases volume by 100 percent and doubles low-frequency strength compared to the first generation. I noticed this most quickly with electronic music, where the bass gained more physical weight without turning muddy. Pop vocals stayed forward, clean, and intelligible, fitting the company’s more neutral tuning. The playlist does not melt into a single mass of sound. Drums keep their contour, and the high range remains crisp without crossing into harsh, uncomfortable edges.

The documentation specifically addresses differences compared to Bose, SoundCore, and OpenDots. Bose lifts the lower-mid range, adding warmth but also a hint of blur. SoundCore leans more on upper-range brightness, which can become tiring after a few tracks. OpenDots emphasize a sense of space, presenting a taller stage, but lose some micro-detail. The FreeClip 2 lands in a more balanced zone: highs are articulated, vocals are separated, and the bass reaches deep without burying the mids. It does not chase hype. Instead, it builds a measured foundation and lets the content breathe.

Huawei also updated the electronics with a new chip offering ten times the processing headroom. This extra “room to move” helps the adaptive audio system respond subtly when environmental noise changes. When I stepped out of a quiet studio into a parking lot, the volume increased just enough to keep speech intelligible. When I went back indoors, the level dropped again without any jerky behavior or pumping effect. During late-night couch listening, this felt especially natural. I did not feel forced into a constant volume war against the environment.

Call Quality – A Noticeable Step Up for Those Who Do Not Only Call Indoors

Call volume also benefits from the dual-membrane driver, as speech gains more presence. Adaptive volume adds another layer, keeping conversations intelligible even when the surroundings change suddenly.

Open designs are rarely friends of quiet spaces. Huawei built in a reverse sound field system that emits phase-opposite waves to reduce outward leakage. I tested this on long editing days, and people sitting near me did not hear the audio unless I turned the volume up to levels that would not be realistic in everyday use anyway. This matters because it allows you to wear the earbuds in shared spaces without feeling self-conscious. At extreme levels there will still be some leakage, that is the physics of the category. The difference is that this limit comes much later.

Software and Controls – Simple Tools With One More Serious Limitation

Huawei now uses the Audio Connect app for updates, EQ adjustments, and settings. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. It includes the adaptive audio toggle, gesture assignments, and spatial modes. The app is available on iOS and in the Samsung store. It is not on Google Play. This means Pixel owners either sideload or simply miss out on customization. The earbuds still pair via standard Bluetooth, but the absence of the app creates unnecessary friction for a segment of Android users.

The new sliding gesture on the comfort bean adjusts volume without awkward, forced tapping. Touch controls respond on the sphere, the bridge, and the “bean” section, so there is no need to “hunt” for the ideal spot. Head gesture control also worked reliably for calls when my hands were full. Automatic left-right detection was just as smooth: I swapped sides, and the earbuds corrected the channel within a moment. This detail matters because single-ear use also became more natural, without having to think about orientation.

Huawei promises 9 hours on a single charge and 38 hours with the case. My mixed-use days landed slightly below the full claim. The reason was higher volume and continuous streaming. Fast charging, however, delivered: a 10-minute top-up gave roughly 3 hours of use, which can be a real lifesaver on travel days. Wireless charging is convenient because I could place it on the same pad I use for my phone. Compatibility with Huawei watch chargers added another layer of flexibility. The earbuds also maintained IP57 protection during workouts and handled sweat without issue.

What It Solved for Me in Everyday Life

The most telling moments of the test were the hours when I forgot I was wearing them. That never happened with other open earbuds. They always reminded me of themselves through pressure or by slipping and needing readjustment. The FreeClip 2 avoided both. I went through my day without having to fix them from time to time. While driving, I clipped on a single ear. While cooking, I handled calls. Late at night, I wrapped a shoot and only then realized they were still on my ears, long after I had stopped listening. The redesign finally treats comfort and stability as equal priorities. The hardware respects the reality that ear shapes and sensitivities vary enormously.

A Confident Step Forward Among Open Earbuds

The Huawei FreeClip 2 brings a level of refinement that happens when a brand truly listens to user pain points. New materials eliminate pressure. The thinner case improves portability. The dual-membrane driver lifts the bass without swallowing the mids. Call quality reaches a level where outdoor conversations are also viable. The adaptive audio system reduces everyday listening friction. Limitations remain: there is no active noise cancellation, the physics of the open frame still apply, and the Google Play app is missing. These boundaries appear alongside a product that is finally genuinely ready for real, daily use.

The FreeClip 2 earns a place in my bag because it does not demand attention. It maintains comfort all day. The sound signature stays balanced. The hardware behaves like something you want to wear, not something you tolerate. Huawei took an unusual form and finally gave it the refinement it has needed for years.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector”-