Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 - Put Something Different In Your Ears

While we continue to wait for the return of Huawei handsets to our shores (we can only hope this will happen some day) there's no denying there's still plenty of other high-quality Huawei tech to try.

We've seen quite the selection of Huawei watches this year and now they've updated the top end of their earbud range, with the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2.

From the instant you pull the compact charging case from the box, you can tell there's something unusual going on here; the hint is the reflective inlay on the case engraved with the names Huawei and Devialet.

I've been sent the Silver Blue variant but the FreeBuds Pro 2 also come in an attractive Silver Frost. The case (other than the inlay) is a more muted continuation of the holographic-like earbuds themselves - my Silver Blue ones almost seem purple in some lights, or more icy in others. They're certainly unique and although they're nice and small, they're also quite eye-catching - in a good way.

I first encountered the Huawei/Devialet collaboration when I reviewed the rather superb Huawei Sound bluetooth speaker a while back. Devialet is a French audio manufacturer that creates speakers so high-end, I feel unworthy just looking at them, let alone listening to them. So to be able to access this level of audio excellence in my ears for under NZ$350.00 seems like a pretty good deal.

"Tranquillize" by the Killers is quite a complicated piece of production, starting with lead vocals over a fairly monotonous bass riff but quickly evolving into a much more intense combination of gang vocals, driving guitar and expansive keyboard backing - not to mention a drum performance that utilises the whole kit on demand. It's truly anthemic and thanks to the two completely separate drivers, an 11mm quad-magnet unit for bass and a UHF planar diaphragm for the higher frequencies, you can still pick out every element, even as the track reaches its ultimate crescendo.

On the other hand, Thirsty Merc's "Tommy and Krista" bobs along over a catchy electric piano groove. Although this is a far simpler pop song, again the clean, distinct reproduction offers a warm, accessible listening experience.

There are a few preset EQ's available in the Huawei AI app but you can also create custom EQ's of your own using a ten-band virtual equaliser - this level of aural tweaking ability is pretty rare amongst companion apps like these.

Huawei AI is also how you update the firmware, customise control gestures and conduct a fit test, so you can make sure you've chosen the correct-size tips. After years of struggling to find earbuds that fit comfortably, yet remain snugly in place when exercising, this year has seen a few brands finally nail it. Huawei's done a pretty good job with the FreeBuds Pro 2 as well - the unusual square-stem design helps keep the buds in place as they naturally tend to displace their (minimal) weight over several points of contact. They're not the absolute most secure-fitting earbuds I've worn but they'd easily make my top five.

Where the FreeBuds Pro 2 do push for number one contention is both in call quality and Active Noise Cancellation. This is due partly to the sheer number of built-in mics and mostly to Huawei's own "deep neural network" noise cancellation algorithm. This means they're capable of automatically sensing how noisy your environment is, as well as what kind of noise is trying to intrude on your listening or voice call experience. These new, smarter FreeBuds then decide between Ultra, General or Cozy ANC modes and adjust themselves accordingly. Or you can just choose manually using the app.

On-board controls all happen on the stems - a combination of physical pinches for things like play/pause/answer, long pinches to toggle between ANC on or off and Awareness mode, and finally swiping up or down the stem to adjust the volume. These gestures are all customisable in the Huawei AI app too and they quickly become very intuitive. Because pinching and swiping are quite specific gestures, this all but eliminates accidental pauses and skips when inserting, adjusting or removing the buds.

Battery life is excellent - which should be a minimum expectation for earbuds at this higher end of the market, as should features like wireless charging, IP54 water resistance and multi-point pairing - all of which the FreeBuds Pro 2 boast. There's also a low-latency mode for gaming and video streaming. In fact, I can't really think of anything these earbuds don't do.

Therefore, there's every reason to consider them if you're after a genuinely high-performance, in-ear solution. The noise cancellation is first-rate. Thanks to the colab with Devialet, sound reproduction is exquisite. And perhaps most importantly, these buds look dramatically different and are guaranteed to set you apart from the pack.

    

        

Click here for more information on the Huawei Freebuds Pro 2.