I did not count on these Android earbuds to problem AirPods Professional 3, however right here we’re

Apple AirPods 3 are sometimes thought of the gold commonplace on the subject of wi-fi earbuds, and for good purpose. AirPods supply a cohesive expertise that few different earbuds handle to copy. Whereas they could not ship the best possible sound high quality in the marketplace, the general ease of use and ecosystem integration are what proceed to attraction to the customers.

I have been searching for one thing just like complement my Android ecosystem for the previous few months. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 got here near changing into my foremost pair of earbuds, however they do not work nicely with an iPhone. I’m additionally not an enormous fan of Galaxy Buds.

After testing the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 for the previous couple of weeks, although, I believe I’ll have lastly discovered Android earbuds that may rival my AirPods Professional.

These earbuds sound much better than I anticipated

An important factor about any pair of earbuds is audio high quality. Not everybody loves the sound signature of the AirPods Pro 3, however I personally benefit from the barely deeper, bass-heavy tuning they provide.

The Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 go a step additional with a dual-driver setup that mixes a dynamic driver with a planar diaphragm tweeter. The result’s a full, detailed sound with clear vocals and robust low-end response that’s genuinely gratifying. Instrument separation is superb, and the audio stays clear with out distortion even at larger volumes.

When it comes to design, the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 feel and look fairly similar to the AirPods Pro 3. They characteristic the identical small stem-style in-ear design with silicone ear suggestions. The earbuds really feel sturdy and well-built the second you are taking them out of the field.

One factor I particularly like in regards to the design is that Huawei presents each contact and swipe controls. You’ll be able to faucet to regulate playback or quantity, however you can too swipe alongside the stem to set off completely different actions.

Associated

This app makes AirPods work great on Android – but there’s a serious catch

LibrePods is a free and open-source software for Android and Linux that goals to liberate AirPods from Apple’s iron-clad ecosystem grip.

ANC plus good options seal the deal

One of many foremost causes I’ve all the time preferred the Apple AirPods Professional 3 is their ANC. The noise cancellation on the AirPods Professional 3 is definitely among the many finest I’ve used throughout any earbuds. I’ve been looking for a pair that works simply as nicely with Android, and the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 come very shut.

These earbuds use a dual-engine energetic noise cancellation system, which means two separate methods work collectively to dam various kinds of noise. They independently measure the encompassing sound and modify accordingly. In apply, the efficiency is superb.

There’s a transient second the place the earbuds analyze the setting earlier than making use of noise cancellation, however as soon as it kicks in, the suppression is spectacular. You can even modify ANC ranges within the app, although I saved it on the default dual-engine mode and was very happy with the outcomes.

As well as, you additionally get a number of good options just like these discovered on AirPods. For instance, the earbuds help head gestures for answering calls or dismissing notifications. There may be additionally help for the Discover characteristic that emits a sound that can assist you find the earbuds in the event that they get misplaced below a sofa cushion or someplace close by.

They usually do not crumble exterior the Huawei ecosystem

One in all my largest points with the AirPods Professional 3 is how dependent they’re on Apple’s ecosystem. They work completely with an iPhone or Mac, however accessing options on different gadgets typically requires third-party apps simply to verify battery ranges or modify settings.

The Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5, nonetheless, work nicely throughout a number of platforms, together with Android, iOS, Home windows, and even good TVs.

You’ll be able to pair the earbuds immediately by way of commonplace Bluetooth settings, and so they additionally help multipoint connectivity. On a latest flight to Barcelona, I switched between my iPhone 16 Professional and Galaxy S26 Ultra while not having to disconnect or re-pair the earbuds. Most options stay accessible throughout platforms by way of Huawei’s companion app.

Total, I’ve actually loved utilizing the FreeBuds Professional 5 as my foremost earbuds over the previous couple of weeks. I will most likely swap again to my AirPods Professional 3 when I’m utilizing my iPhone, however every time I return to Android, these will seemingly be my go-to pair.

The Huawei FreeBuds Professional 5 retail for £180, although they’re at present accessible for round £150 because of a restricted supply, which makes them a reasonably compelling various to the AirPods Professional 3.