Home Wireless Earbuds Huawei Freebuds 5I Vs. Xiaomi Flipbuds Pro

A Review By Comparison of the Huawei Freebuds 5I Vs. Xiaomi Flipbuds Pro

Last updated on Apr 17, 2023   8 min read
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Huawei FreeBuds 5i

Huawei FreeBuds 5i

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Reasons why you might like the Huawei FreeBuds 5i

Overall Score 6.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 7.5 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 4 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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Reasons why you might like the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Overall Score 5.7 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX4
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 7 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 Huawei FreeBuds 5i Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IP54 IPX4
weight 9.2g 12.2g
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 10mm 11mm
lowest frequency 20Hz
highest frequency 40000Hz
POWER battery life 7.5hours 7hours
battery life of charging case 20.5hours 21hours
charge time 1hours 0.52hours
battery power 55mAh
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5.2 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has ldac
has aptx adaptive
audio latency 94ms
MICROPHONE number of microphones 4only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
mic sensitivity -47dBV/Pa
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
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Huawei FreeBuds 5i IP54
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro IPX4

Ingress protection ratings is the rating of protection offered by a casing, against dust and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating refers to protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to resistance against liquids (water).

Having a value of IP54, the Huawei FreeBuds 5i's rating for solids indicates 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 5i, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 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

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 9.2g
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 12.2g

Huawei FreeBuds 5i have a weight of 9.2g . We take in account a lower weight best because lighter devices are easier to move with.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, at 12.2g weigh more than the Huawei FreeBuds 5i by of 3g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, Huawei FreeBuds 5i are true wireless for this matter since they have no wires. This is a key difference as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the 2 earbuds .

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro also is true wireless since it has no wires linking the two earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i are resistant to sweat

Has Stereo Speakers

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro also have stereo speakers

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Active noise cancellation makes use of more advanced technology to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. ANC works when, it studies the sound pattern of incoming noise and after generates a mirror signal to counter it. In simple terms, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) then adding -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero which results in a reduced level of noise.

Huawei FreeBuds 5i have ANC allowing you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background noise.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have ANC making either of the devices ideal for flights and rush hour travels. The Huawei FreeBuds 5i and Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the setting that you prefer for travel or that suites your chill time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i stay tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that tones down background noise well as preventing the device voice audio from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this implies that both reduce ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 10mm
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 11mm

Huawei FreeBuds 5i have a unit size of 10mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the earbuds, the unit size corellates with the loudness of the device.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5i by 1mm , a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 20Hz
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal while at it.

Highest Frequency

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 40000Hz
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i's highest frequency is at 40000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio component generates high audible frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal while at it.

Power

Battery Life

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 7.5hours
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 7hours

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i's battery life is 7.5 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro's battery life is less than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5i by 0.5 hours . Each time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 20.5hours
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 21hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Huawei FreeBuds 5i's case has a full charge of 20.5 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before recharging the case itself.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro's charging case has a battery life of 21 hours, more than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5i by 0.5 hours

Charge Time

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 1hours
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 0.52hours

It takes 1 hours to fully charge the Huawei FreeBuds 5i's battery. It is highly adivsable to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for long periods.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro takes 0.52 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5i by 0.48 hours

Battery Power

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 55mAh
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i's battery capacity is 55mAh, battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store.

Has Wireless Charging

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you simply put down on a compatible charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have a battery level indicator, these allow you to tell the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Huawei FreeBuds 5i v5.2
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro v5.2

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

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5i . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 10meters
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 10meters

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

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5i

Has Ldac

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i 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 can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high-resolution audio.

Has Aptx Adaptive

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).

Audio Latency

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 94ms
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Latency refers to the time it takes for the audio signal to be transmitted to your earbuds. Huawei FreeBuds 5i have a latency of 94ms, a lower latency reduces audio lag and is particularly important when playing games or watching videos.

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 4only
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 6only

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i have 4 microphones.

While the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro microphones are 6, more than that of Huawei FreeBuds 5i by 2 . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the device to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to reduce noise from the earbuds' sound.

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have a noise-canceling type of microphone. Especially useful in noisy environments.

Mic Sensitivity

Huawei FreeBuds 5i -47dBV/Pa
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i microphone sensitivity is measured at -47dBV/Pa. The vastness of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a calculation of its sensitivity. It's the 'loudness' of the voice that the microphone can pick up.

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises so that they can still be heard even while wearing the earbuds

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music while being aware of your surrounding, for example when you’re having a jog but still want to be able to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too 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

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have the find earbuds feature. Use the device app on your phone to play a sound from your earbuds to locate them.

Supports Fast Charging

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

Also the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Huawei FreeBuds 5i 2only
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro 2only

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

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro support multipoint count of 2, equal to that of the Huawei FreeBuds 5i . Bluetooth multipoint is useful because you can be on one call and not miss notifications from another device.

Has A Mute Function

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro also have the mute function. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

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

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, say if there is an issue with the connection.

The Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro too have voice prompts .i.e the earbuds notifies you when the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Huawei FreeBuds 5i come with a special pouch. Carrying earbuds without a case, or placing them in your bag without a casing may easily damage them.

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro also have a case included, which offers safe transportation.

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