Following the announcement of the AirPods Max, most of the reactions have been about the price tag of the headphones and how you can get one of the best headphones in the market – the Sony WH-1000XM4 – for about half the price of Apple’s. Other alternatives have also surfaced in conversations but one that I haven’t seen mentioned is the Huawei FreeBuds Studio which is not only less expensive but is even better, at least on paper, than Apple’s headphones.
The FreeBuds Studio is Huawei’s first premium headphones and it was announced in October in Europe for €299, practically half the price of the AirPods Max which goes for €597.25 in Germany. It doesn’t come in as many color options as Apple’s headphones, and frankly, it is not as stylish too, but what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in features. The table below shows how both headphones differ:
| Parameters | Apple AirPods Max | Huawei FreeBuds Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 40mm custom dynamic drivers | 40mm dynamic driver |
| Chip | Apple H1 Chip (one in each cup) | Kirin A1 Chip |
| Active Noise Cancelation | Yes Transparency mode to let ambient sound in | Yes (intelligent Dynamic ANC with multi-scene detection that automatically adjusts based on the environment) Hear-through mode to let ambient sound in. |
| Total number of microphones | 9 (8 microphones for Active Noise Cancellation) | 8 (8 microphones for Active Noise Cancellation) (6 microphones for Call Noise Cancellation) |
| Sensors | Optical sensor Position sensor Case-detect sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope | IMU Sensor for scene detection Capacitance sensor Microphone sensor |
| Control | Digital crown Physical button | Touch control Physical buttons |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 Lightning port | Bluetooth 5.2 USB-C |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours with Active Noise Cancelation/Transparency Mode/Spatial Audio on | Up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC on (24 hours with ANC off) |
| Fast Charging | 5-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of listening time | 10-minute charge provides 5 hours of listening time (8 hours with ANC turned off) |
| Other features | Spatial Audio Adaptive EQ Multi-device connection | Low-latency gaming mode (Huawei devices only) Multi-device connection L2HC Hi-res Codec support (Huawei devices only) |
| Compatibility | iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac | Devices running Android, iOS, or Windows |
| Weight | 384.8 grams | 260 grams |
| Price | $549/€597/£549 | €299/£299.99 |
Design and Weight
Both headphones are made from premium materials but with respect to the overall design, that is subjective. There will be those who prefer the Huawei FreeBuds Studio to the AirPods Max and vice versa. However, one thing we can agree on is that the AirPods Max having more color options is a plus.
Apple’s headphones also weigh about 50% more than the FreeBuds Studio. The weight may play a part in how comfortable the headphones are when worn for long.
Active Noise Cancellation
If you are picking up a pair of headphones, this is one feature you will want to pay attention to, and thankfully both Apple and Huawei’s headphones have it though the FreeBuds Studio takes it up a notch.
Huawei has built a sensor into the headphones that work in tandem with the microphones to detect the scene where the wearer is and automatically adjust the level of Active Noise Cancellation. According to Huawei, it completes 100 scene detection scans per second. The headphones will adjust the ANC to an Ultra Mode when on a plane or train ride; switch to a General Mode when in a restaurant or cafe, and change to a Cozy Mode when you are at work or in a more quiet environment.
Transparency Mode/Hear-through Mode
Apple and Huawei both call it different names but it is the same feature. When activated, it allows ambient sound in so you are aware of your environment. This comes in handy when you are outdoors and need to be aware of what is going on around you.
Just like with ANC, the FreeBuds Studio takes its hear-through mode to another level. Alongside the default Awareness Mode, it has a second one called Voice Mode that can be set up via the AI Life app. When activated, it enhances human voices but reduces environmental noise. This is particularly useful if you are having a conversation with someone or you are at the train station or airport where it is usually noisy but you need to listen to announcements while blocking out other noise.
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Control
Apple has brought the digital crown of the Apple Watch over to its new headphones. Users will be able to use it to adjust the volume, switch tracks, answer calls, and call on Siri.
Huawei, on the other hand, settles for touch controls. The touch area covers a large percentage of the whole cup. Users can adjust the volume by swiping upwards or downwards, switch tracks with a horizontal swipe, play/pause, or answer/end a call with a double-tap, and call on the voice assistant/reject a call with a long press.
Most TWS earbuds support touch controls including Apple’s own AirPods, so it will be easy for anyone who is used to that to switch to the FreeBuds Studio. While we appreciate Apple wanting to do things differently, we won’t be surprised if there are folks who switch between earbuds with touch controls and the AirPods Max and subconsciously tap the cups of the latter to control the device.
Battery Life and Fast Charging
The battery life on both headphones is the same with ANC turned on. Apple didn’t say how long the headphones will last without ANC on but you get 4 extra hours of listening time when you turn it off on the FreeBuds Studio.
Where the difference lies is in fast charging and this is where Huawei wins. A 10-minute charge will give you up to 5 hours of listening time (8 hours if you turn off ANC) but Apple’s own earphones will provide 1.5 hours of listening time but at half the charging duration. Even if the Apple headphones were to charge for 10 minutes, we do not think you’ll get up to 5 hours of playback.
Compatibility
The Huawei FreeBuds Studio works with a range of Android, iOS, and Windows devices giving it wide compatibility. Be aware that certain features are available only on Android such as the AI Life App that you can use for configuring the headphones. There are also features that only work with devices running EMUI 11 which means Huawei’s own phones and tablets.
The AirPods Max works with Apple products only. So if you don’t have a compatible iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch, or Mac, then this is not the pair of headphones for you.
Price
Price is a determining factor when you are purchasing a product. The AirPods Max commands a higher price tag than Huawei’s own headphones but as we know Apple’s high price tags don’t usually work against it. The AirPods Max will sell in thousands if not in hundreds of thousands. However, if you are looking for something less expensive but that doesn’t skimp on quality, Huawei’s FreeBuds Studio should be on your radar.
Conclusion
Like it is said above, this is just a spec to spec comparison. A proper comparison review of both headphones that focuses on audio quality, ANC quality, real-life battery life, and more will reveal which headphones are better. But for now, the Huawei FreeBuds Studio wins.
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