Huawei is notably known for its range of mobile phones and is one of the biggest telecommunications equipment manufacturers in the world.
But over the last few years, they have expanded into different electronic products such as tablets, laptops, smartwatches and even audio devices.
Huawei has an adequate selection of audio devices that come with competitive tech and prices to match their rivals.
After the great reception for their FreeBuds Pro, Huawei has released its successor the FreeBuds Pro 2.
One of the main selling points of the FreeBuds Pro 2 is that they have been co-developed with Devialet, who are pretty big players in the audio industry.
This is a great collaboration as it shows Huawei’s dedication to filling the audio space with high-quality devices.
The Freebuds Pro 2 sport a sleek design with long stems and an oval shape housing unit for all the hardware.
The out-of-box ear tips are slightly bulkier than usual and I found myself swapping over to the smaller ones for a much more secure fit.
After this, the earbuds felt comfortable, safe and secure over long periods of time and during workouts.
They come in three glossy colour schemes Silver Blue, Silver White and Silver Frost.
They look lovely and these unique colours really elevate the earbud's premium stylish look.
The only issue is that these earbuds were covered in fingerprints from the moment I used them due to the glossy finish.
I feel that they will also be susceptible to scratches over long periods of time, which is not ideal, especially for the price range.
The Freebuds Pro 2 are premium-looking earbuds that will be great stylish companions for all occasions.
However, the design isn’t hugely original and audiophiles will instantly notice a lot of similarities with the Freebuds Pro 2 and other earbuds on the market.
The Freebuds Pro 2 comes with a unique set of touch controls that are performed through the stem.
The controls are easy to use and will grant the user full authority over their earbuds. The main problem I found is that the pinch gesture required a bit of force to work as opposed to simply touching it like others.
The touch controls can be customised within the app but it's fairly limited to what can be changed.
The earbuds come with an IPX54 rating which means they are resistant to rain or sweat but don’t go swimming with them.
The Freebuds Pro 2 comes built with technical specifications that really set them apart from a lot of earbuds on the market.
A major selling point is the dual driver system that consists of a UHF planar diaphragm and a quad-magnet dynamic driver.
This allows them to cover a wide range of frequencies from as low as 14Hz to as high as 48kHz.
Music enthusiasts will simply adore the stellar audio from these earbuds that sound fantastic, with crystal clear vocals and booming bass.
It gets better as the FreeBuds Pro 2 features a system called Triple Adaptive EQ which will automatically tune the earbuds based on a set of factors such as ear canal structure, earbud position and volume.
The earbuds also support LDAC which allows the user to control the playback quality.
This is a great addition that adds another level of control enabling the user to really enhance their listening experience.
Another big selling point is the ANC which has become a major talking point for earbuds in the last few years.
The Freebuds Pro 2 comes with several ANC options that can be picked on the Huawei AI life app.
The Dynamic option works in real-time and changes the ANC setting depending on your surroundings.
This worked really well and I heard major differences while I was out and about. The main problem with dynamic ANC is that it is constantly shifting which can be jarring.
The remaining three options worked a charm and were ideal for the specific surroundings. Overall the ANC was really powerful and one of the best on market for the price range.
The Huawei AI life App is crucial for getting the best out of the Freebuds Pro 2 as it grants a slew of customisation options.
There is so much depth within this app that allows the user to really curate their experience with the extensive controls.
The battery life is a little below average and with the ANC turned on the earbuds only managed four hours and about six when turned off.
This isn’t terrible as there is enough charge for a commute or workout session, however, given the price, audiophiles will probably be wanting more.
But they do charge very quickly via a USB C connection and the case comes with reverse charging which is a nice additional feature.
Verdict 4/5
Huawei’s Freebuds Pro 2 are fantastic sounding earbuds and really shine with strong ANC features.
The extensive level of customisation available via the AI life App is simply incredible and what you would expect from a product of this level.
The battery life is slightly below average and the wide range of customisation isn’t extended to the touch controls which isn’t a deal breaker but a meagre downside on both parts.
The Huawei Freebuds Pro 2 are available now from the Huawei store for £169.99
