Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: Huawei is back into the audio game, and this time, it’s gunning directly for Apple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 3 with its new FreeBuds Pro 5. Huawei looks ready to redefine premium wireless audio with its brand-new NearLink audio system and a promise of lossless transmission. But can it really outshine Apple’s long-standing dominance in the earbuds market? Let’s break it down.
Processor and Audio Technology Comparison
Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 5 immediately catches attention by being the world’s first earbuds with NearLink audio transmission. This new technology supports a lossless transmission rate of 2.3 Mbps, but can be scaled up to 12 Mbps, well above what Bluetooth-based earbuds normally have. Added to that, it is 40% more power-efficient, which could mean longer playtimes without sacrificing audio clarity.
Apple’s forthcoming AirPods Pro 3 will likely retain their current H2 chip and Adaptive Audio. But the switch to NearLink could be a massive stride for wireless audio on Huawei, setting a new benchmark for both speed and efficiency.
Design and Battery Performance
FreeBuds Pro 5 brings some subtle but meaningful design changes. First, the noise-cancelling microphones have been repositioned, promising improved active noise cancellation that could bring in clearer calls and deeper isolation. Huawei also expects better battery life than with the FreeBuds Pro 4, which offered up to 33 hours with the case. While Apple is known for its seamless design, Huawei’s efficiency improvements might give it a real advantage this time.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are likely to retain the same sleek form factor but could bring enhanced ANC and improved fit. Still, with NearLink reducing power consumption, Huawei could be ahead in terms of total playback hours per charge.
Audio and Connectivity
The FreeBuds Pro 5 has support for L2HC Codec, promising high-resolution sound with richer tones. With Huawei’s new transmission standard, users may experience nearly a wired audio experience, which has been one of the challenges that even high-end Bluetooth buds could not accomplish. Meanwhile, AirPods Pro 3 will continue to rely on Bluetooth 5.3, which could limit peak bitrate performance.
For connectivity, Huawei’s solution may also improve signal stability in crowded environments, which is a common challenge with Bluetooth. NearLink might change completely how wireless audio is experienced if it were to get support across the board.
Price and Availability
Reservations for the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 are already open in China, with its full release expected later this month. Pricing details aren’t known yet, but going by its high-end specs, it will likely compete in the same price range as Apple’s lineup of AirPods Pro.
Conclusion
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 can easily be the most exciting pair of wireless earbuds to come out this year. With NearLink audio, higher transmission speeds, better power efficiency, and design refinements, it’s shaping up to be a true AirPods Pro 3 challenger. If Huawei can deliver on these battery life and lossless sound claims, then Apple might finally have some serious competition in the premium audio market.