Last updated on March 9, 2021
If you want to buy good studio headphones with active noise cancellation, you usually choose between models from Bose and Sony. Huawei is now entering the market before Apple with the FreeBuds Studio. But are the Huawei headphones really a competitive alternative to the long-established manufacturers? This is exactly the question we are looking into in the test of the Huawei FreeBuds Studio.
Huawei FreeBuds Studio in the test: conclusion
The Huawei FreeBuds Studio made a good impression in the test. After several days of use, the advantages of these headphones compared to my older Bose have become clear. The sound is good, the active noise cancellation works reliably and the battery life is very long. At a price of 299 euros , Huawei is celebrating a successful debut in Germany.
But there are a few things Huawei can improve on FreeBuds Studio. This includes, for example, a simple announcement with the remaining running time when you switch on the headphones and put them on. Or, for example, the ability to charge the headphones while using them. Sure, there is a quick charge function, but using it at the same time would be practical. In addition, the wearing comfort is not that great for me. The bracket presses relatively hard on the head and the ear touches the relatively hard inside of the earpiece. This is not as deep for the back of the ear as with Bose or Sony. In the long run, this creates an oppressive feeling. But that doesn't have to be the case for everyone.
Overall, with the Huawei FreeBuds Studio you get beautiful and modern over-ear headphones with good sound and convincing ANC at an attractive price of 299 euros. If Huawei can further improve the wearing comfort, I could imagine switching from my Bose headphones. Until then, I personally can't ignore Bose – even if these are also not perfect.
Benefits:
- sound
- Call quality
- ANC
- Choice of material
- USB-C connector
- Multipoint Bluetooth
- Battery life
- Fast charging function
Disadvantage:
- Comfort
Huawei FreeBuds Studio in the test: rating
- Sound: 8/10
- Carrying comfort: 7/10
- Hardware, design & functions: 7/10
- Battery: 9/10
Overall: 7.8 / 10
Huawei FreeBuds Studio in the test: sound, ANC and call quality
The dynamic noise suppression of the Huawei FreeBuds Studio ensures that you can enjoy the sound of the headphones in any environment. If the ambient noise is rather low, the ANC is weaker and more natural. In noisy environments, the headphones recognize the background noise and filter out more. It all works automatically, which is very convenient. With FreeBuds Studio it works even better than with FreeBuds Pro .
A total of ten microphones are installed, which are used for active noise suppression and for voice recording. Two Bluetooth antennas ensure that the connection does not break. This is where Huawei scores. The range of the headphones is very long. When my Bose reaches its limit and threatens to break the connection, you don't notice a difference with Huawei. So I can move around the apartment freely.
Huawei FreeBuds Studio in the test: the operation
The operation of the Huawei FreeBuds Studio is very easy. On the right side of the ear cup there is a touch field that can be used to operate the most important functions. If you swipe up or down, you change the volume. You can skip the titles forwards or backwards or go back. With a double tap the playback is stopped and restarted. A call is also accepted or hung up. If you take off the headphones, playback pauses automatically. This is really an ingenious function that every headphone should have and that Apple in particular made popular with the first AirPods.
Otherwise there is a button on the left earphone of the Huawei FreeBuds Studio for active noise suppression. On the right side you can find the USB-C connection and the Bluetooth and the on-off switch. Everything is self-explanatory and easy to feel.
What I'm missing is an easy way to quickly find out how much remaining battery the headphones have. You either have to go to the notifications from Android or the app. An announcement when you put on the headphones would make more sense. In the app you can then make a few settings and install software updates.
Huawei FreeBuds Studio in the test: battery life
The battery life of the Huawei FreeBuds Studio is really long. I wore the headphones every day for over a week during meetings and to listen to music during the test. That was about 5-6 hours every day and I only had to charge it once so far. Now I have 62 percent left. ANC was always on. A running time of 20 hours is therefore absolutely realistic – probably even a little more. Since the test period is limited to two weeks, the value cannot be determined too precisely. The manufacturer's specification of 24 hours from Huawei can be approached.
The quick charge function should be mentioned positively. The headphones are fully charged in just 60 minutes. This takes much longer with other manufacturers. Incidentally, a power supply is not included, just a USB-C to A cable. In addition, a cover for transport and storage.
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