Chinese manufacturer Huawei has unveiled the latest version of its flagship FreeBuds wireless earbuds, the eye-catching FreeBuds 5. The latest model features high-resolution end-to-end sound, extended battery life, smart audio connectivity and a curved, teardrop shape designed for those “who crave effortlessly comfortable earplugs.”
Since it’s one of the most eye-catching and original we’ve seen in a while, let’s start with that fluid, slightly amorphous shape. Huawei claims the redesign goes far beyond mere aesthetics, claiming that the “futuristic teardrop design” is the result of “tens of thousands of ergonomic simulations and hundreds of optimizations” made to ensure that the curves and lines of the earbuds match the natural contour of the human ear.
Speaking of aesthetics, the FreeBuds 5 come in three different color choices: Ceramic White, Silver Frost, or Coral Orange, while the charging case features a matte finish, textured surface, and easy-open mechanism.
This new shape should be conducive to better ANC and comfort. The FreeBuds 5 support tri-mic hybrid noise cancellation that adapts to the shape of a person’s ear, while intelligent dynamic ANC8 allows the earbuds to identify ambient noise and then adjust noise cancellation in real time. The earbuds’ three-microphone setup, meanwhile, works with a “deep neural network (DNN) algorithm” that should remove unwanted noise during voice calls.
What about sound? The FreeBuds 5 are boosted by an ultra-magnetic dynamic driver and equipped with bass turbo technology to deliver bass that can go as low as 16Hz, according to Huawei. There’s also a claimed frequency response that’s 50% higher than the previous-generation FreeBuds thanks to the dual-circuit magnets. A triple adaptive equalizer, meanwhile, improves sound quality in real time “to eliminate differences caused by ear canal shape, wearing status and volume level.” This, Huawei claims, should help deliver much more consistent, high-quality sound, as should the buttons’ support of L2HC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs for high-resolution audio.
The FreeBuds 5 are compatible with any iOS or Android smartphone thanks to a simple Bluetooth pairing mechanism. There’s also an AI Life app for personalizing controls and user experience.
Huawei’s new wireless earbuds also have 30 hours of battery life on a full charge. A five-minute charge can give the Freebuds 5 up to two hours of listening, a 200% faster charge than the fourth generation could handle.
Huawei’s FreeBuds 5 can be purchased on April 17 for £139.99 / €159 from select retailers and the Huawei store.
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