I should have tested the excellent Huawei Freebuds Pro 3 headphones sooner

The premium wireless earphone segment is an arena in which top gladiators are particularly difficult to take down. Apple, Sony and even Bose are competing for the best share of the pie. However, there are other manufacturers who also want to sit at the table of the best. This is the case of Huawei, whose image has been seriously damaged by its American ban and its ban on the use of Google applications. In 2023, the Chinese company is launching a new pair of headphones, called the Freebuds Pro 3.

Sold below the €200 mark, which already constitutes a strong argument in the face of stiff competition, the Freebuds Pro 3 are therefore an evolution of the Freebuds Pro 2. For this new generation, Huawei has not worked with Devialet, whose acoustic know-how can attest to a certain guarantee of quality. However, the Freebuds Pro 3 have not lost everything: they also have a dual transducer for very high quality sound reproduction, in addition to other very valuable features.

Strong points

• Successful and comfortable design
• Stunning sound quality
• Price under €200

Weak points

• Application outside of Google
• Autonomy far from references
• Very shiny finishes

Headphones in AirPods Pro format

For the design of the Freebuds Pro 3, we immediately know which is the best comparison: they look like AirPods Pro, one of the market references from Apple. Huawei’s headphones feature a very short stem, which concentrates convenient touch controls. For example, you just need to slide your finger down or up to manage the volume. The zones are sensitive enough to guarantee good ergonomics, and the functions can be personalized a little via the application.

Unlike the AirPods Pro, the Freebuds Pro 3 are available in three colors: green, ceramic white and silver. Huawei provided us with the green model, which boasts a metallic finish that looks great. The finishes are worthy of the price with well-cut plastic. Only problem: the glossy finish tends to pick up fingerprints, which is a shame for an object that you touch so much.

Conversely, the case has a matte texture, with the exception of a mirrored area which houses the brand name. Strangely, the logo is located on the back, which can create confusion when trying to open the case. Logically, we would rather imagine it in front, under the lid. You actually have to trust the small diode. Said case, very large, but not very thick, can fill its battery on a wireless charger or via its USB-C port. The autonomy of each charge is given for a little less than 5 hours, which does not make them monsters of longevity (22 hours in total).

Where is the app located?

Of course, the Freebuds Pro 3 can be used with an app designed by Huawei. It is easily found on the App Store, which is not the case on the Google Play Store (where the Chinese manufacturer has become persona non grata). There is an alternative path, consisting of scanning a QR Code available on the official website. Thanks to it, you can easily install the application to access all the features of the Freebuds Pro 3, considered as connected objects within the AI ​​Life ecosystem.

The interface, quite clear and well inspired, provides access to updates and, above all, to some customization elements (equalization, active noise reduction modes). We can also check the size of the tips to find out if it is suitable for our ears, knowing that the comfort of the Freebuds Pro 3 is really difficult to fault. Not only do they hold up well (a big plus for running sessions) but, as a bonus, they don’t hurt. This is the sign of a successful design, both pretty and practical.

What sound !

Do the Freebuds Pro 3 suffer from the loss of the Devialet acronym? You might think so. The reality is much more exciting. The dual-driver design allows the headphones to deliver dizzying audio performance for the segment. Balanced, it goes deep into the details, particularly in the midrange, well ventilated and very precise. The attacks in the bass are punchy as it should be, without needing to modify anything in the options (you can, in the event that you judge that something is missing). We really have a lot of fun with these Freedbuds Pro 3, which provide dynamic and engaging listening. They can challenge the AirPods Pro with no problem, which is not a small comparison at all. As an added bonus, they support high-resolution audio codecs.

To claim to be high-end headphones, the Freebuds Pro 3 must be impeccable from an acoustic point of view. It’s a given. But, they must also offer active noise reduction worthy of the name. On this criterion, they do a good job of mitigation, although lower than that of its competitors. As proof, we can hear them working when playback is paused, with a slight hiss which betrays less mastery compared to Apple, Sony and, above all, Bose (the master of the discipline). However, they manage to isolate correctly in a noisy environment, which commands respect for headphones under €200. In short, they are not the best students. However, they are far from being the worst. In transparent mode, called here “Perception”, they are rather effective (you still have to forget about breathing).

Price and availability of Huawei Freebuds Pro 3

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