Review of Huawei FreeBuds 3i headphones

Specifications

Type of emitters	Dynamic, 10 mm
Connection	Bluetooth 5.0
Frequency range	20-20,000 Hz
Bluetooth protocol	SBC, AAC
Battery	Headphones - 37 mAh, case - 410 mAh
Working hours	13 hours
Connector	USB Type ‑ C
Headphone weight	5.4 grams
Case size	80 × 35 × 29 mm

Appearance

FreeBuds 3i are in-ear headphones with a number of successful, ergonomic solutions. Streamlined housings and angled sound guides provide a comfortable fit and adequate isolation. It is also convenient to take the headphones out of the case by holding them by the "legs".

It is convenient to take the Huawei FreeBuds 3i headphones out of the case, holding them by the "legs"

The gadget is protected according to the IPX4 standard, so it is not afraid of sweat and splashes. The headphone cases are entirely made of plastic, with a choice of black and white options.

The FreeBuds 3i have three microphones each. One is located on the outside of the case, there are also touch panels for control. Two more - on the inside and at the end of the "leg" - provide voice transmission and active noise cancellation.

Microphones from Huawei FreeBuds 3i, three each

Also on the inside are magnetic contacts for charging and a proximity sensor, thanks to which the music is paused as soon as you take one earphone out of your ear.

The oblong case is equipped with LED indicators inside and outside, and also has a magnetic cover. At the back there is a USB Type-C connector for charging and a pairing button. The assembly is good, but the large size makes the case difficult to carry in a jeans pocket.

Due to its large size, the case is difficult to carry in a jeans pocket

In addition to the case, the kit includes a charging cable and four pairs of silicone tips. It is better to handle the latter with care and not lose them: flattened sound guides are not friendly with ear cushions from third-party manufacturers.

Connection and communication

According to common practice, headphones are easiest to sync with smartphones from the same manufacturer - in this case Huawei and Honor. It is enough to open the cover, and a pop-up menu for connection will appear on the screen.

With devices from other brands, you must hold down the button on the charging case until the LED indicator flashes white. Further pairing occurs when the case is opened.

Huawei FreeBuds 3i: with devices from other brands, you need to hold the button on the charging case

The range of work is impressive: the connection to the smartphone was kept, even if you go to the other end of the apartment. On the street, there is no interference either. In addition, left and right channels are connected in parallel and independently of each other - the problem of desynchronization in wireless headphones is a thing of the past.

Working in headset mode did not cause any complaints: the device suppresses background noise and clearly conveys what was said to the interlocutor thanks to additional microphones.

Control

You can interact with FreeBuds 3i using voice commands or touchpads. By default, double tap on each headphone is responsible for starting or pause, as well as receiving or ending calls. Long press activates noise canceling.

You can customize the controls for each headphone in the proprietary Android application AI Life. The only problem is that you cannot adjust the volume using the touch panels.

Sound

Inside the FreeBuds 3i are 10mm dynamic drivers with a range of 20-20,000 Hz. The acoustic design is closed, which increases noise isolation and audibility of low frequencies. On the other hand, the feeling of plugging in your ears can be tiring, so do not insert the devices too deeply.

Headphones with a bias in bass sound, which will appeal to fans of electronic music and rap. Low frequencies are rolling and clearly stand out against the general background. With increasing volume, their number also increases: at maximum values, subwoofers were screwed on to the ears.

If you do not indulge in high volume, then the bass does not overwhelm the rest of the frequencies. The vocals are not relegated to the background, although the female voices are slightly muffled. When noise cancellation is turned on, the mids fall through, which affects the development of both vocals and the main instruments. However, this allows you to listen to music in noisy environments at a safe volume.

There are not many high frequencies, and they are clearly not of the best quality: instead of the sharpened metallic ringing of cymbals, some kind of indistinct rustling is heard. However, this is a typical situation for wireless headphones and it's good that gross distortion is not so noticeable.

Autonomy

Inside the FreeBuds 3i there are 37 mAh batteries. According to the manufacturer's assurances, such a capacity will be enough for 3.5 hours of work. During the test, the headphones lasted 4 hours, playing music at a volume of 50%, after which they asked to charge.

Inside Huawei FreeBuds 3i 37 mAh batteries are installed

The case is equipped with a 410 mAh battery and is able to replenish the energy of the gadget up to three times. It takes just over 2 hours to fully charge the case and headphones.

Outcomes

In Russia, Huawei FreeBuds 3i cost 8,990 rubles. For the money, the headphones offer a comfortable fit, comfortable controls, noise cancellation and good sound. The only thing I want to find fault with is an overly voluminous case. Otherwise, we have before us a good product, which only benefits from the resemblance to the AirPods Pro.