Why you possibly can belief TechRadar
We spend hours testing each services or products we assessment, so that you may be positive you are shopping for the most effective. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5: Two-minute assessment
Let’s be clear from the beginning. For on a regular basis listening, the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 are the most effective earbuds you may get with out spending considerably extra. They tick each field, ship throughout the board and make a compelling case that there’s life past Apple for many who have been reluctant to buy round.
They’re the fifth era of Huawei’s FreeBuds Professional line, which has been round since 2020 and we’ve all the time rated them effectively. In reality, I examined the FreeBuds Professional 2 again in 2022. The FreeBuds Professional 4 landed in November 2024 and scored 4 stars in our assessment. They have been sturdy however not fairly there. The Professional 5 are completely different and ok to go head-to-head with the most effective at this stage, together with the Apple AirPods Professional 3.
The FreeBuds Professional 5 feel and look extra premium than their value suggests, and so does the charging case. They’re smaller and lighter than the Professional 4 at 5.5g per bud, which is noticeable. Construct high quality is great, the stems have a high-shine end and the case has a satiny coating that feels upscale.
Most significantly, the design interprets right into a supremely snug put on. As somebody with small, specific ears who put these by means of gymnasium classes, runs and full working days, I can inform you the match is spectacular.
The function set is intensive. There’s clean multipoint connectivity, customisable gesture controls which are responsive and the Huawei Audio Join app is considered one of my favourites at this stage. Battery life reaches round 8.5 hours with ANC off and practically 6 with it on, with 38 hours complete from the case. That’s not so good as rivals for ANC listening time, however the quantity of energy the case holds is nice.
ANC is likely one of the headline upgrades right here. The FreeBuds Professional 5 use a dual-driver system they usually work collectively as noise-cancelling engines, paired with an AI sensing mannequin. In apply, it’s near silence however with out that airless, pressurized high quality that heavy ANC can typically produce. Name high quality advantages from the identical tech, I discovered it to be clear and pure, even in busy environments.
Then there’s sound, which is excellent certainly. The twin-driver acoustic system delivers a large, wealthy soundstage with sturdy low-end response, glorious instrument separation and element that holds up throughout genres, from driving rock to expansive orchestral soundtracks. I believe you’d should spend considerably extra or go wired to do meaningfully higher.
Our audio editor Becky Scarrott known as these “hands-down Huawei’s finest buds but” after 5 days of early testing at launch. After a number of weeks with them, I wholeheartedly agree. They earn their 5 stars as a result of they’re glorious worth, genuinely well-made and carry out at a stage that earbuds costing extra can be happy with.
Now, are they good? Not fairly. Lossless audio requires a Huawei system, which many don’t have. The design is fractionally chunkier than some rivals at this value too and you do not get foam ideas within the field such as you did with the Professional 4. But when these are the one cons (and they’re), they’re doing effectively. I’d guess none of those would register on the radar of most on a regular basis listeners.
That’s exactly who I believe these buds are for. Not the audiophile chasing the completely finest sound or the devoted athlete who wants function constructed exercise buds. However the on a regular basis listener who needs the most effective all-rounders. They have extensive attraction, sturdy worth and no significant ecosystem restrictions.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Value and launch date
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Launched globally in February 2026
- Sells for £179.99 within the UK
- No value hike from previous fashions
The Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 have been launched in February 2026 in lots of markets throughout the UK, Europe and Asia. Although there are nonetheless ongoing commerce restrictions between Huawei and the US.
The buds price £179.99 within the UK. Nevertheless it’s price noting that, on the time of writing, the official Huawei web site is providing a £30 off coupon for the FreeBuds Professional 5. This may increasingly not final lengthy, but it surely makes an already nice worth pair of buds even simpler to suggest.
Whether or not you discover them for £179.99 or get the £149.99 deal, they seem to be a good value for earbuds designed to compete with high-end rivals.
Let’s put that into context. The newest AirPods Professional price $249 / £219 / AU$429. So that they’re undercutting these whereas being a really stable different, notably for Android customers. Equally, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional, that are going to be seen as the highest AirPods Professional different for Androids customers, promote for $249 / £219 / AU$399.
They’re pricier than a few of our favourite mid-range picks, just like the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 at $149 / £119 and the Nothing Ear (a) at $99 / £99. However I would say they’re positioned as a step above each of these choices, so that may make sense right here.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Drivers
11mm dynamic woofer and micro-planar tweeter
Energetic noise cancellation
Sure
Battery life (ANC off)
9 hours buds, 38 hours case
Weight
5.5g per bud, 43g case
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6
Frequency response
10 Hz to 48 kHz
Waterproofing
IP57 buds, IP54 case
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Options
(Picture credit score: Future)
- 9/38-hour battery life, much less with ANC or options
- Loads of helpful options within the easy-to-use app
- Incredible ANC
The FreeBuds Professional 5 are filled with options, and virtually all of them dwell contained in the Huawei Audio Join app, which is likely one of the cleanest companion apps I’ve examined. Every part is straightforward to search out and nothing is buried in sub-menus.
Huawei claims the FreeBuds Professional 5 are the world’s first dual-driver ANC earbuds, which means each the dynamic driver and the micro planar diaphragm unit work collectively to deal with noise. The low-frequency driver concentrating on rumble and bass-heavy interference, the high-frequency driver dealing with sharper sounds. This {hardware} is then paired with a real-time AI sensing mannequin that samples ambient noise 400,000 occasions per second (sure, you learn that proper!), which implies it’s constantly adapting to no matter surroundings you’re in.
In apply, it’s extremely efficient. I attempted them in all types of environments and low rumbles, like site visitors, air con, the hum of a commute, are all dealt with extremely effectively. The general impact is near silence with out tipping into the marginally pressurized, airless high quality some ANC can produce. I do know some folks do choose that, however what Huawei does right here is my choice. There’s additionally a great passive isolation baseline right here due to the safe match.
There are 4 ANC fashions to select. Twin-Engine, which adapts mechanically to your environment. Cozy, which is for quieter environments. Basic for on a regular basis noise and Extremely for loud environments. With Extremely you would possibly discover extra of a stress sensation, which is price figuring out in the event you’re delicate to that feeling, but it surely does do a great job at eliminating virtually all ambient sound.
There’s a great Consciousness mode right here, which has a bunch of choices inside it. Normal, Voice Consciousness, which filters in voices whereas suppressing different noises, and Adaptive Consciousness, which adjusts dynamically.
Dialog Consciousness can be on board. If you begin talking, the buds mechanically swap from ANC to Consciousness mode and decrease the amount, then steadily fade again after round ten seconds when you cease. I discovered I might maintain a pure dialog with out touching the buds in any respect, and the transition again was gradual and clean moderately than jarring. Sony’s Converse to Chat works equally.
The FreeBuds Professional 5 transfer as much as Bluetooth 6.0 from the Professional 4’s 5.2, and multipoint pairing of two units is supported. Switching between my laptop computer and telephone throughout testing was clean with no lag. There’s additionally Discover My Earbuds, which emits a spherical from whichever bud you’ve misplaced. I used it a number of occasions when one slipped underneath my desk, it’s a kind of options you’ll be extra grateful for than you’d count on.
A brand new inner antenna guarantees a 38% enchancment in Bluetooth vary alongside higher interference rejection. I had no dropouts throughout testing throughout gymnasium classes and on the transfer.
(Picture credit score: Future)
On the codec aspect, iPhone customers get AAC, Android customers get LDAC and Huawei units get entry to lossless audio through L2HC 4.0 at 2.3Mbps. In order that lossless tier is firmly Huawei ecosystem solely. For the remainder of us although, LDAC and AAC are nonetheless stable choices and the excellent news may be very few different options listed here are gated behind a Huawei system.
Management throughout the stems are faucet, pinch and swipe, which is an effective vary for buds. You possibly can customise these within the app and I actually favored that they registered with a satisfying, audible little click on. Head gesture controls allow you to reply or reject calls with a nod or a shake, which labored effectively more often than not. Put on detection pauses playback while you take away a single bud, and you’ll hear with ANC lively in only one earbud, which I favored. There’s additionally a low-latency mode right here for players.
Huawei says the FreeBuds Professional 5 final 9 hours with ANC off and round 6 hours with it on, with 38 hours in complete from the charging case. Throughout testing, I received simply over 8.5 hours with ANC off at 50% quantity. I then received practically 6 hours with ANC on. In order that’s near the claimed determine, although it’s price allowing for that these real-world outcomes with ANC lively do are inclined to fluctuate based mostly on surroundings and mode – I had the Twin-engine setting on for testing.
For context, the AirPods Professional 3 provide 8 hours with ANC on and 10 hours with it off, with 24 hours in complete from the case. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional are available in at 6 hours with ANC on and seven hours with it off, and 30 hours from the case.
So the FreeBuds Professional 5 don’t beat these figures, however do maintain up pretty effectively. Although the case’s 38 hour complete is a bonus over the AirPods. Value figuring out in the event you journey rather a lot and know you will have to rely solely on the case for a couple of days.
One remaining level price making on the subject of the battery is that due to the stable match and passive isolation, you received’t all the time want ANC. I discovered that for decrease noise environments, working on ANC off actually prolonged my listening time and not using a sacrifice.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Design
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Design is smaller, lighter and extra snug than ever
- IP57-rated buds make them genuinely workout-friendly
- Beautiful case with sturdy magnets and a useful ring gentle
The FreeBuds Professional 5 are a transparent evolution of the Professional line, and that’s a great factor. So long as you’re on board with stems. They work notably effectively for smaller ears and make gesture controls way more dependable than tap-based alternate options. That stated, stem-free designs would possibly go well with some ear shapes higher, so it is a subjective factor.
Huawei says the FreeBuds Professional 5 are 10% smaller and 6% lighter than earlier buds and at 5.5g per bud, you possibly can really feel it. I do assume they’re a fraction chunkier than say the AirPods Professional 3 and some rivals at this stage, however as soon as they’re within the consolation stage is genuinely spectacular.
I wore them for round three hours straight one morning and for an extra 4 within the afternoon with none ache or fatigue, and that is coming from somebody with smaller ears who may be delicate to heavier buds.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Huawei says it used greater than 10,000 ear profiles to tell the match right here, and it exhibits. 4 silicone tip sizes are included, and I discovered the medium labored effectively for me, regardless of often needing to achieve for the smallest pair.
The one minor gripe right here on consolation is the absence of froth ideas, which have include some earlier FreeBuds Professional fashions and are nonetheless talked about within the app, which suggests they might arrive later. Most individuals appear to choose silicone anyway, however foam can add passive isolation and a barely extra immersive ANC impact. Although this omission isn’t a dealbreaker by any means.
The stems themselves have shifted from rectangular to a flat oval profile, with a high-shine entrance panel and metallic detailing spherical the perimeters that reads as genuinely premium. I examined the sand/gold shade, which provides to the premium really feel, although white, silver and a blue choice with a vegan leather-based case are additionally obtainable too.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The brand new IP57 ranking on the buds is an actual spotlight. That covers sweat, splashes and transient submersion, making them as workout-friendly as an on a regular basis pair of buds will get. I took them out on a number of runs and to the gymnasium all through testing they usually stayed safe all through.
The charging case is properly designed too. At 43g it’s gentle and pocket-friendly with a clean, rounded form and gentle movie coating that feels premium while you gold it. Robust magnets snap it shut and a hidden hinge retains the strains clear.
On the entrance, the halo ring gentle glows in numerous colours to point battery and pairing standing, which is each sensible and a nice-looking design contact. The case is IP54-rated now as effectively, providing stable splash and rain resistance.
All in all, there’s little or no to fault the place design is anxious. In order for you stems, these are among the many best-looking and best-built choices at this value.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Sound high quality
(Picture credit score: Future)
- New dual-driver acoustic system.
- Dynamic and energetic sound
- Huawei telephone wanted for lossless audio
The large {hardware} information for the FreeBuds Professional 5 is a brand new dual-driver acoustic system, combining a low-frequency dynamic driver with a high-frequency micro planar diaphragm driver.
The low-end response is powerful and current from the get-go, with the buds leaning into bass-forward tuning that feels deliberate and punchy. There’s additionally a bass boosting mode obtainable if you wish to push that even additional. Impressively, even with that enhance utilized, the low-end stays managed. No muddiness or bloat, simply a number of vitality and energy.
Crucially, they’re not bass-heavy although, a number of element survives alongside it. That dual-driver setup handles separation effectively throughout the entire frequency vary, which retains mids and highs actually clear even when the low-end is doing a number of work. So the general character is dynamic and energetic, nothing feels misplaced within the combine right here.
Listening to Queens of the Stone Age’s No One Is aware of, that dynamic high quality is entrance and centre. Josh Homme’s vocals have an actual presence, they’re vibrant and slicing, however the guitars nonetheless drive laborious beneath with out crowding them out of the image. Instrument separation is assured right here too, and there’s this pleasing sense that the monitor is opening up at greater volumes moderately than compressing. It’s the type of rock combine that rewards earbuds with real low-end grunt, and the FreeBuds Professional 5 ship that in spades.
However I additionally liked listening to something orchestral with them too. Hans Zimmer’s Dune soundtrack is a demanding take a look at, spanning whispered, layered vocals, sweeping strings, darkish percussion and heaps of bass, and the Freebuds Professional 5 deal with it with out flinching.
The Bene Gesserit chants land with an appropriately unsettling, layered depth, whereas Ripples within the Sand opens into a large, wealthy soundstage the place each ingredient holds its place. Strings, percussion, and people haunting excessive vocals all occupy their place within the combine. The soundstage right here is genuinely spectacular for earbuds at this value, with no detectable distortion even pushed to greater volumes.
(Picture credit score: Future)
All the above was examined on default settings, however there’s loads of room to customise the sound. Eight EQ presets can be found, every developed in partnership with the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. Balanced is the default, which is probably the most correct and natural-sounding. That’s the one I stored returning to regardless of making an attempt and having fun with most of the relaxation.
Voice brightens issues up for vocals. Classical provides a live performance corridor high quality that labored notably effectively with these massive film soundtracks, and Bass does precisely what it guarantees. There are additionally some function constructed presets for motion pictures, podcasts and video games. If none of those be just right for you, there’s additionally a 10-band customized EQ that provides you full management.
Spatial Audio with head-tracking can be on-board right here and it doesn’t require Dolby Atmos tracks, it really works with no matter you’re taking part in. It’s not often my choice for music, however paired with the film preset it added a genuinely immersive high quality to movies and TV. Value figuring out too that you just don’t want a Huawei system to entry it.
Name high quality can be price noting right here. In a quiet area it’s clear and pure. In a busy market with chatter, loud sounds and low-level rumbling of vans and site visitors close by, some background noise crept in. However my voice remained clear and remoted, which I nonetheless discovered spectacular given the situations. Wind interference triggered some wobble on a very blustery day, although I used to be nonetheless completely audible. As a serial voice observe leaver, these handed that take a look at too.
Between the brand new {hardware}, tuning choices and the spatial audio, the FreeBuds Professional 5 make a robust case throughout virtually any style or use case you throw at them.
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Worth
(Picture credit score: Future)
- Nice worth for cash
- Undercuts rivals
- Already promotions on the official Huawei web site
It is a daring declare, however I believe the FreeBuds Professional 5 are the strongest all-round choice at this value proper now for on a regular basis listening.
If in case you have a really particular precedence, similar to devoted exercise buds or audiophile-grade lossless sound, you might discover higher worth elsewhere. And in the event you’re one of many few individuals who assume the weaknesses are dealbreakers, like no Huawei telephone for lossless audio or a choice for tiny, stemless designs, then it is price factoring that in.
However everybody else who needs nice sound, sturdy ANC and a snug, premium-feeling design with all of the important options, then these ship rather a lot.
They’re even simpler to suggest as a result of they’re priced decrease than most of their rivals at launch. In reality, Huawei is already providing a reduction code on them on the time of writing in the event you head to their official website, which makes them even tougher to argue with on worth. Can I give them 5.5 stars out of 5 for this part? No? Advantageous.
Ought to I purchase the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5?
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHuawei FreeBuds Professional 5 rating card
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Options
A wonderful suite of options, upgraded driver system and beautiful app. Battery life with ANC playback is sweet however is bested by high-end rivals.
4.5/5
Design
Smaller and lighter than predecessors. They match very effectively, look extra premium than they need to and gestures work are good with that stem.
5/5
Sound high quality
They sound nice, name high quality is improved and there is a number of customisation. You solely get lossless with Huawei telephones, although.
4.5/5
Worth
Every part you want is right here at a value that undercuts most rivals.
5/5
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 assessment: Additionally think about
Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5
Apple AirPods Professional 3
Technics EAH-AZ100
Drivers
11mm dynamic woofer and micro-planar tweeter
‘Customized high-excursion’ Apple driver
10mm free-edge dynamic
Energetic noise cancellation
Sure
Sure
Sure
Battery life (ANC on)
6 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)
8 hours (buds) 24 hours (case)
10 hours (buds) 28 hours (case)
Weight
5.5g (buds) 43g (case)
5.6g (buds) 44g (case)
5.9g (buds) 42g (case)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing
IP57
IP57
IPX4
How I examined the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5
- Examined for 3 weeks
- Examined at dwelling, on walks, on public transport in a metropolis, working in a restaurant and a co-working area, whereas working and on the gymnasium
I examined the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 for simply over three weeks to put in writing this assessment. I principally had them paired with an iPhone 16 Professional, however I additionally used them with a MacBook Professional.
I used a variety of various music and movie apps to check the buds. They performed music from Spotify, Qobuz and tunes from inner storage, in addition to movies from YouTube, Prime Video and Mubi.
I’ve examined many headphones and earbuds over the previous 13 years as a tech journalist. Together with units from high audio manufacturers, like Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, in addition to cheaper buds from the likes of JLab, Nothing, Skullcandy and extra. I’m eager about tech that prioritises consolation and ease of use.
- First reviewed in March 2026
Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5: Value Comparability
