Huawei has announced the launch of its latest flagship true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro. Huawei says its new product is the world’s first intelligent, dynamic noise-cancelling earphones. What does that mean? Well, first of all, Huawei claims to have upgraded its noise-cancelling experience to 'Pro' level here, and it promises to achieve a class-leading 40dB of noise cancellation – a bold claim indeed.
Furthermore, using mics plus a machine learning algorithm, the buds support three different modes of extraneous noise elimination: 'Cozy', 'General' and 'Ultra'. If you're in a relatively quiet spot such as a library, you’ll want a lower level of ANC to avoid a locked-in feeling, where as on a plane you’ll want to switch to Ultra. And the best bit? The headset does this dynamically – so the AI understands it’s on a plane, say, and will switch to Ultra mode for you.
There's a Natural Awareness mode too, so no need to remove them when ordering a coffee first thing, and even a Voice Enhancement mode via a simple pinch of the stem.
In addition, Huawei says the FreeBuds Pro are the world's first smart dual-antenna Bluetooth earphones. Each earphone is equipped with two Bluetooth antennas that offer 360-degree omnidirectional Bluetooth signal coverage for a more stable connection.
The FreeBuds Pro feature larger 11mm ultra-large amplitude dynamic drivers alongside a new audio stabilisation system that promises to improve the uplink audio quality. For voice calls, a three-mic system and bone voice sensor (it reverberates from your cheek – as seen in Buds 3) are claimed to make for a precise, "wind-proof" pickup via beam-forming mics.
In terms of stamina, Huawei says to expect 4.5 hours with ANC deployed, 7 hours if you're going ANC-free; a little underwhelming, then. There's no news yet on how much battery-charging juice the case holds.
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro come with three sizes of silicone earplugs and the company claims that the fit detection feature – available in the Huawei AI Life app – should allow users to find the perfect fit. They're available in the UK from 5th October in three finishes (carbon black, ceramic white and silver frost), and will cost £170 (€199).
