Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 Review: Open Comfort, Limited ANC
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 focus on comfort and ease rather than isolation and immersion. With an open-fit design, these earbuds are feather-light and easy to wear for long periods. They offer decent sound for casual listening, and the touch controls work well. But because they don’t create a tight seal, their noise cancellation and bass fall short compared to in-ear competitors. Battery life is okay but not standout. If you want all-day comfort and don't need full noise blocking, they’re a solid but specialized option.
They’re also an update to a proven design, not a radical shift. The hardware refinements are small but meaningful—better mic clarity, faster pairing, and slightly improved ANC. Still, many of the same trade-offs remain. They aim for a light, airy feel that’s ideal for voice calls and light music use, not immersive isolation. Huawei seems to understand that not every user wants their ears sealed off from the world.
What sets these apart is how little they ask from the user. No pressure in your ears, no heavy seal, no constant micro-adjustments. They fade into the background and just work. For anyone who finds traditional earbuds uncomfortable or tiring, this is a refreshing alternative. The compromises in ANC and bass are real, but they’re balanced by true long-wear comfort and reliable voice performance. to a proven design, not a radical shift. The hardware refinements are small but meaningful—better mic clarity, faster pairing, and slightly improved ANC. Still, many of the same trade-offs remain. They aim for a light, airy feel that’s ideal for voice calls and light music use, not immersive isolation. Huawei seems to understand that not every user wants their ears sealed off from the world.
MSRP (when available or best estimate): $214.50
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✅ Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 Pros
✅ Extremely Comfortable Fit
The lightweight, open-ear design avoids ear fatigue entirely, making these ideal for long hours of wear, especially in office or at-home settings.
✅ Reliable Touch Controls
Intuitive stem-based gestures allow you to control playback and volume without reaching for your phone. Touch response is fast and consistent.
✅ Dual Device Connection
Lets you stay connected to two devices at once, like a laptop and phone, making transitions between calls and music seamless.
✅ Clear Mids and Highs
Balanced tuning emphasizes vocal clarity and treble, making them a great fit for spoken content, video calls, and light instrumental music.
✅ Fast Charging Support
A 15-minute charge offers up to 3 hours of playback, which is helpful when you're short on time and need a quick power boost.
✅ Seamless Huawei Integration
Features like instant pairing, battery widgets, and ANC controls are accessible directly on Huawei EMUI phones, enhancing ease of use.
✅ Mic Clarity in Quiet Spaces
Voices sound natural and detailed during calls, making these a strong pick for work-from-home or quiet indoor environments.
✅ Well-Balanced for Podcasts and Video
Low latency and crisp dialogue reproduction make them ideal for video content or virtual meetings.
❌ Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 Cons
❌ Weak Bass Response
Because of the open design, bass lacks punch and depth. This makes them less satisfying for genres like EDM or hip hop.
❌ Ineffective ANC
The open-fit style prevents a proper seal, meaning ANC can only partially reduce steady background noise and fails in noisy environments.
❌ Shorter Battery with ANC On
With ANC enabled, playback drops to just 2.5 hours per charge, which limits uninterrupted listening time.
❌ Less Secure for Workouts
Without silicone tips or a locking fit, the earbuds may loosen or fall out during physical activity.
❌ No LDAC or AptX Codec Support
Lacking support for high-res audio codecs limits sound quality potential, especially for Android users.
❌ Not Great for Noisy Commutes
Ambient sounds like traffic or chatter leak through, making them a poor choice for public transit or busy environments.
❌ Limited EQ Customization
Unless you’re using a Huawei phone, your ability to adjust sound profiles is very restricted.
❌ Slippery Case Finish
The case is sleek but can be hard to grip, increasing the risk of accidental drops.
Key AI-Powered Features
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4
- Open-Fit ANC 2.0 - Uses dual microphones to reduce ambient noise, though performance is limited by the design.
- Adaptive Ear Matching - Adjusts ANC based on your ear shape automatically.
- AI Voice Enhancement - Improves mic clarity during calls, even in noisy areas.
- Low-Latency Mode - Prioritizes real-time response during video and games.
How Smart is the AI?
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 use AI in subtle ways that support comfort and clarity rather than flashy extras. Adaptive ANC is smart in theory, adjusting based on your fit and ear shape. In practice, though, the open design limits how much ANC can actually do. It softens some low background hums, but don’t expect silence on a subway.
Where the AI shines most is with voice enhancement. It does a great job identifying your speech and raising it above ambient noise during calls. You’ll still face challenges in wind or traffic, but clarity is noticeably improved. Huawei’s system keeps adjustments mostly invisible—volume, tuning, and background filtering all shift in real time without needing manual tweaks.
The AI is also used for wear detection, auto pause and resume, and adaptive audio in Huawei's ecosystem. While not revolutionary, it delivers helpful quality-of-life features that reduce friction in everyday use. You won’t notice the AI unless you disable it—and that’s a sign it’s doing its job well.
Performance & User Experience
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4
Sound Quality & AI Enhancement
Sound on the FreeBuds Pro 4 leans toward upper clarity over bass depth. Mids and highs are detailed and clean, making vocals stand out. You get good results with acoustic, podcasts, and classical—but EDM or hip hop may sound thin. Bass response is limited by the open-fit design, which prevents the kind of low-end seal needed for impact.
The 14.3 mm drivers provide good stereo separation and keep vocals front and center. Even without full EQ control, Huawei’s tuning feels refined for lighter listening. If you use EMUI devices, the AI-enhanced EQ helps tailor sound more to your habits, but Android users outside the Huawei ecosystem may not access these optimizations.
Volume output is strong, and there’s no noticeable distortion even at higher levels. AI-powered enhancements automatically balance peaks and dips as you move, keeping the experience smooth and predictable.
ANC Performance & Transparency Mode
ANC is one of the weakest areas for the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4, mostly due to their open-fit build. While Huawei claims they reduce ambient noise effectively, real-world use shows otherwise. They manage to reduce steady low-frequency sounds—air conditioning or distant engines—but fail to handle speech or higher frequency noise.
The adaptive ANC does improve comfort slightly by adjusting dynamically, but even with AI processing, it can’t match in-ear or over-ear solutions. Expect a noticeable improvement over no ANC at all, but nowhere near what you’d get from sealed buds.
Transparency is more or less built into the fit, so there’s less need for a dedicated mode. You’ll always hear your surroundings, which is helpful in offices or for those who want situational awareness. The drawback, of course, is constant exposure to external noise—even when you don’t want it.
Battery Life & Comfort
Battery life lands around 4 hours without ANC and just 2.5 hours with ANC on. It’s enough for casual daily use, but falls behind most competitors. The charging case adds about 3–4 full charges, giving roughly 20 hours total. Fast charging can restore up to 3 hours in just 15 minutes, which helps balance out the shorter sessions.
Comfort is where these earbuds shine. Their weight and open design make them ideal for long workdays, calls, or relaxed listening. You can wear them for hours without pressure or heat buildup. However, they don’t lock in place like silicone-tipped buds, so they can wiggle loose with movement.
The IP54 rating provides basic dust and water resistance, meaning they’re fine for walking and light workouts but not ideal for running in the rain. If comfort is your top priority, these are among the best in this category.
Microphone & Call Quality
Call quality is a highlight for the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4. In quiet to moderately noisy spaces, your voice cuts through clearly thanks to beamforming microphones and AI voice separation. Huawei’s mics work to identify the speaker and suppress background distractions—especially in steady environments.
Outdoors, performance is less consistent. Wind and crowd noise can still interfere, and there’s no mesh or channeling to reduce gust interference. Still, the AI filtering helps to make you understandable even in tough situations. Most users say calls sound natural, with minimal delay or robotic distortion.
Assistant access depends on your device. Google Assistant, Siri, or Huawei’s Celia all work via tap-hold, but results vary by OS. Huawei phones, again, get the best experience with deeper integration.
Final Verdict
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 are a niche product with specific strengths—and equally clear weaknesses. They’re among the best options for users who prioritize comfort, voice clarity, and an airy, pressure-free feel. Their AI features offer subtle support, especially in mic performance and device switching, but ANC and bass leave much to be desired.
They make sense for home offices, casual listening, and long meetings where silence isn’t the goal. But if you need immersive sound or travel often, these won’t meet your needs. Their open-fit design defines their experience—for better or worse.
With faster pairing, clean call audio, and comfort that lasts all day, they stand out from traditional earbuds. But they’re also limited by their form. Choose them if comfort and convenience rank above isolation and impact. Otherwise, stronger ANC models will serve you better.
Additional Information
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