Huawei FreeBuds SE TWS evaluate: Wireless in-ear headphones with IP certification at a budget price

The Huawei FreeBuds SE place themselves within the entry-level section with their RRP of simply 50 euros, beneath the FreeBuds 5i (RRP: 100 euros). However, the cheap Huawei TWS solely assist a very restricted collection of audio codecs and do with out the energetic noise cancellation (ANC) of the sister mannequin.

Thanks to the ten mm dynamic drivers and an ultra-sensitive polymer diaphragm, the FreeBuds SE are nonetheless imagined to persuade with a “crystal-clear sound”. We will discover out whether or not we actually just like the sound of Huawei’s TWS and whether or not it’s value shopping for on this evaluate.

The coloration collection of the FreeBuds SE is proscribed to a green-bluish and a white model of the Huawei TWS. The design is comparatively inclined to fingerprints as a result of high-gloss end. Together with the headphones, the charging case solely weighs about 36 g, which may be very mild. Thus, the case lacks a little bit of worth, and the plastic used additionally feels much less beneficial than premium TWS – the identical applies to the headphones themselves. On the opposite hand, the workmanship may be very stable, and the case is closed securely with magnets. The lid of our take a look at pattern has some play and due to this fact wobbles a bit.

We discovered the FreeBuds SE comfy to put on, and the in-ears additionally maintain nicely sufficient for regular on a regular basis use. Huawei calls the design of the in-ears Half-in-Ear-Design, which implies that the headphones are inserted into the exterior ear canal. Three totally different silicone attachments permit particular person adjustment for the absolute best match. In on a regular basis use, Huawei’s headphones don’t stand out negatively resulting from their low weight of about 5 grams, even throughout longer use.

The IPX4-certified Huawei headphones promise adequate safety in opposition to splashing water, however not in opposition to mud or water penetration. The Huawei FreeBuds SE usually are not appropriate for customers who like to scrub their in-ears from sweat beneath operating water after sports activities. The charging case doesn’t provide safety in opposition to liquids.

Since the FreeBuds SE are fairly within the low-priced TWS mid-range class the gear options are fairly manageable. Active noise cancellation or Transparent Hearing, just like the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2, will not be supported by the SE mannequin. However, every headphone has two silicone microphones that may filter out annoying frequencies throughout calls.

Google Fast Pair will not be supported by FreeBuds SE, and the setup with an Android smartphone needs to be achieved “classically” – through the pairing button contained in the case; the identical applies to Apple telephones by the best way. It is less complicated with a Huawei smartphone, so long as at least EMUI 10 or Harmony OS 2.0 is put in. In this case, the FreeBuds SE is paired instantly when the case is opened.

The producer’s AI Life app is required for software program updates or settings. The QR code on the packaging might be scanned on iOS and Android gadgets, whereas a Huawei telephone downloads the app through HUAWEI’s AppGallery. However, the settings of the FreeBuds SE usually are not in depth. Users is not going to search for greater than an adjustment of the gesture management. And the gesture management can be a bit too small in comparison with different TWS headphones and really restricted. Huawei’s in-ears have touch-sensitive outer sides – Huawei calls this G-Sensor – however they solely assist a faucet gesture. Here, the person can resolve between pausing playback or accepting a name. We would have wished for extra contact or faucet gestures right here.

Playback is robotically paused when eradicating the Huawei TWS from the ear canal. This put on detection, which robotically stops each music and film playback, works very reliably within the FreeBuds SE in on a regular basis use.

The FreeBuds SE use 10 mm dynamic drivers with a polymer diaphragm for audio playback and canopy a frequency vary of 10 Hz to twenty okayHz, in response to the producer. Besides the Bluetooth codec AAC, solely the compulsorily supported SBC through Bluetooth 5.2 is accessible to be used. Huawei doesn’t report any latency for the FreeBuds SE within the spec sheet however we didn’t discover a important offset between the image and sound in YouTube movies or motion pictures – we used Galaxy S23 Ultra or Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, and never a Huawei smartphone.

The most essential function of a pair of headphones, particularly in mild of the FreeBuds SE’s lack of ANC, is the sound high quality. The half-in-ear design makes the headphones sit securely within the ear, however the passive shielding of the in-ears will not be very pronounced, which implies that ambient noise will not be actually muffled both. This is very evident because the silicone attachments usually are not flush with the casing and don’t present the mandatory energy, they usually usually overlap when the TWS are eliminated.

The frequency spectrum will not be as vast as within the FreeBuds 5i, however the FreeBuds SE’s harmonic distortions are simply as exemplary low in our measurements. The Huawei headphones provide a stable sound expertise with a clear focus within the mid-range that brings some boredom and randomness general. The 10-millimeter drivers don’t have a lot energy and ship a fairly flat sound picture with little current bass. The readability within the trebles can be not a energy of the FreeBuds SE. If the music playback is wealthy in bass and characterised by trebles, we discover different TWS on this price vary, just like the OnePlus Buds Z2, to be fuller. The Huawei in-ears lack an equalizer or at least sound tuning profiles to compensate for these shortcomings.

Frequency diagram (checkboxes might be checked and unchecked to check gadgets)

The Huawei FreeBuds SE are very low-noise in-ear headphones with a good runtime but additionally some shortcomings. The low pricing of the TWS can actually compensate for the shortage of options like ANC or spatial audio, however the FreeBuds SE’s primary options are too rudimentary for headphones. The working idea and the sound, specifically, may have used a bit extra fine-tuning. Those who get pleasure from bass-rich music will definitely not be satisfied by the Huawei TWS.

Those who don’t wish to spend a lot of cash on wi-fi headphones and use a Huawei gadget will discover a low cost companion for the on-the-go within the FreeBuds SE. However, a sound miracle within the TWS mid-range shouldn’t be anticipated.

We see a appropriate different in Huawei’s cosmos with the FreeBuds 5i. A extra in depth function set, higher sound, and above all stable ANC are provided for a price of nicely beneath 100 Euros. However, the identical can be true for headphones from different producers just like the OnePlus Buds Z2, or Nokia Clarity Earbuds+ the place a small surcharge entails a lot much less willingness to compromise than within the FreeBuds SE.