Home Wireless Earbuds Huawei Freebuds 5 Vs. Apple Airpods Pro (2Nd Gen)

A Review By Comparison of the Huawei Freebuds 5 Vs. Apple Airpods Pro (2Nd Gen)

Last updated on Apr 17, 2023   8 minute read
Note: This page may contain affiliate links, we only earn from qualifying purchases!
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

See price on Amazon

Reasons why you might like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Overall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 6 hours
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5

Reasons why you might like the Huawei FreeBuds 5

Overall Score 6 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 5 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

A summary of the review by feature comparison

Category Features Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) Huawei FreeBuds 5
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating ipX4 ip54
weight 10.6g 10.8g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 11mm 11mm
lowest frequency 20hz 16hz
highest frequency 20,000hz 40,000hz
POWER battery life 6hours 5hours
battery life of charging case 24hours 25hours
charge time 1hours
battery power 49.7mah 42mah
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.3 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
has ldac
MICROPHONE number of microphones 6only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
multipoint count 2only 2only
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
See price on Amazon

A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) ipX4
Huawei FreeBuds 5 ip54

Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by a casing, against solids and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating refers to protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of IP54, the Huawei FreeBuds 5's rating is read as, the first value of 5 denotes that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

In comparison to the Huawei FreeBuds 5, Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have a rating of IPX4 meaning that no data available to specify a protection rating and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Weight

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 10.6g
Huawei FreeBuds 5 10.8g

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a weight of 10.8g . We take in account a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are easier to move with.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), at 10.6g are lighter than the Huawei FreeBuds 5 by -0.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

For a device to be true wireless it should have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Huawei FreeBuds 5 are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a major distinction since wireless earbuds have cables connecting the 2 earbuds .

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also is true wireless since it has no cables connecting the 2 earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 are resistant to sweat

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s resistance to sweat makes both devices ideal for use while doing sports such as long-distance running, marathons, training in workout bodysuits, etc

Has Stereo Speakers

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Huawei FreeBuds 5's speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also have stereo speakers

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
See price on Amazon

Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

ANC utilises advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then generates a mirror signal to counter it. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (noise) then producing -1 (counter sound by the device) giving zero therefore "diluting" the noise.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue since you don't need to crank up the device volume to overcome background noise.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have ANC making either of the earbuds ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. Each work with different noise cancellation types, pick the noise cancellation type that you prefer for commute or that suites your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) stay well in place, creating a sound seal that reduces your environment noise and also prevents the earbuds sound from leaking out .

Driver Unit Size

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 11mm
Huawei FreeBuds 5 11mm

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a unit size of 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, and can produce better bass. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the earbuds, the unit size corellates with the sound made by the device.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making both Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), and Huawei FreeBuds 5 similar in how loud their sound gets , as many tend to believe that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so it's true that, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 20hz
Huawei FreeBuds 5 16hz

Huawei FreeBuds 5's lowest frequency is at 16Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio component generates low recognizable frequencies and if it alters the signal on its way through.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Huawei FreeBuds 5 produce a juicier bass than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Highest Frequency

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 20,000hz
Huawei FreeBuds 5 40,000hz

Huawei FreeBuds 5's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio component makes high human frequencies and if it makes any adjustments to the signal while at it.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that Huawei FreeBuds 5 can produce a clearer and crispier treble than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Power

Battery Life

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 6hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5 5hours

Huawei FreeBuds 5's battery life is 5 hours, these last less than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s battery life is more than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 1 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 24hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5 25hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Huawei FreeBuds 5's case is said to have a charge of 25 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before having to recharge the case itself.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s charging case has a battery life of 24 hours, less than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 1 hours

Charge Time

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 1hours
Huawei FreeBuds 5

It requires 1 hours to fully charge the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s battery. It is highly adivsable to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.

Battery Power

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 49.7mah
Huawei FreeBuds 5 42mah

Huawei FreeBuds 5's battery capacity is 42mAh, battery power, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)'s battery power is 49.7mAh. more than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 by 7.7mAh

Has Wireless Charging

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you just put down on a supported charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the earbuds has a low battery. Its lights indicate the charging status of your device and case.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you tell the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
See price on Amazon

Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.

Bluetooth Version

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) v5.3
Huawei FreeBuds 5 v5.2

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) has a Bluetooth version of 5.3, newer than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 10meters
Huawei FreeBuds 5 10meters

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5

Has Aac

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) will work fine with your MacBook. If you are planning on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

Has Ldac

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high-resolution audio.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 6only
Huawei FreeBuds 5 6only

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have 6 microphones.

While the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) microphones are 6, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5 . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the device to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are made to filter out background sounds from the desired sound.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too use a noise-canceling type of microphone. This is useful in noisy environments.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
See price on Amazon

Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even when wearing them

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a run but would still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears .

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

If lost in a room, or can't be found in your bag, Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a find earbuds feature.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have the find earbuds feature. Use the earbuds app on your smartphone to play a sound from your earbuds to help you find them.

Supports Fast Charging

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 support fast charging. Usually, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the amount of time it takes to charge a device.

Also the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) 2only
Huawei FreeBuds 5 2only

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) support multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5 . Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call and not miss notifications coming from another device.

Has A Mute Function

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also support this function. The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

Huawei FreeBuds 5 have voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) too support voice prompts .i.e the device will notify you when the battery is low, and it's time to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Huawei FreeBuds 5

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 come with a special pouch. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them inside your pockets without a cover can easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) also have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.

Related Reviews