In early June, Huawei introduced their new wireless earbuds, the FreeBuds 6i. Certified under the Hi-Res standard, this model offers up to 8 hours of playback, enhanced bass, improved noise cancellation, and a modern yet classic design. What more could one wish for? Will the Huawei FreeBuds 6i become a true bestseller? We’ll find out in our review.
Read also: HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2 Wireless Headphones Review
Positioning and price
The new model succeeds the popular FreeBuds 5i from early 2023. Positioned in the mid-range price segment, the FreeBuds 6i feature an improved frequency response and larger drivers compared to the 5i, ensuring better sound quality.
The price of the Huawei FreeBuds 6i is $97 / €90. The earbuds are available in three color options: white, black, and a non-standard violet. The white ones have a glossy finish on the case, making them prone to scratches. The other versions are more practical, with a matte finish.
HYUNDAI FreeBuds 6i specifications:
- Type: in-line
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.3
- Audio codecs: AAC, SBC, LDAC, L2HC 2.0
- Transducers: 11mm dynamic driver with triple magnets
- Certification: Wireless Hi-Res
- Operating time: 8 hours without ANC and 35 hours with charging in the case
- Frequency range: 14 Hz – 40 kHz, AAC, SBC, LDAC, L2HC 2.0
- Microphones: 3 microphones and DNN algorithm
- Battery capacity: each headphone 55 mAh, case 510 mAh
- Charging time: fully charge the headphones in the case – 40 minutes, charge the case – 60 minutes
- Protection certificate: IP54
- Noise cancellation: active (Intelligent Dynamic ANC 3.0)
- Colors: purple, black, white
- Dimensions: 31.4 × 21.3 × 23.7 mm, case – 48.2 × 61.8 × 27.0 mm
- Weight: headphones – 5.4 g, case – 34 g
Package complete
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 6i package includes everything necessary for comfortable use. It comes with a Type-C charging cable, ear tips in various sizes – S, M, and L, documentation, and of course, the earbuds themselves.
Design and ergonomics
Huawei tends to keep the design of products within the same lineup relatively unchanged for extended periods. For example, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i (which I’ve been very satisfied with for several years) and the FreeBuds 6i are practically identical – they share the same elongated casing, similar dimensions, button placements, and LED indicator positions on the casing. The FreeBuds 5i look much the same, with the notable exception of an interesting blue color on the casing that resembles stone.
However, I wouldn’t say that the lack of innovation in design is a significant drawback. Despite the similarities, it’s still possible to distinguish which model belongs to which lineup. Yet, some users may indeed feel that more variety in device design would be welcome.
The Huawei FreeBuds 6i come with a long, round white case. The case is made of quality plastic, which may get scratched over time, although looking at my FreeBuds 4i earphones, they’re in nearly perfect condition after 2 years of use. So, plastic doesn’t necessarily mean cheap and fragile. On the right side of the case, there’s a button for pairing and a Type-C charging port. At the front, there’s a charging indicator for the case and earbuds. At the bottom, there’s another Type-C port.
The build quality is flawless – there are no creaks, looseness, or unwanted sounds when opening the lid. With dimensions of 48.2×61.8×27.0 mm and weighing 34 g, the earbuds are ergonomically designed, lightweight, and not bulky, making them easy to carry in your pocket, backpack, or purse.
The ear tips are made from a new material that is softer, enhancing sound isolation and ensuring a more stable fit in the ears.
We recommend trying and selecting ear tips according to the shape of your ears, as the medium size may not fit everyone. I can say that during extended wear, I didn’t feel any discomfort, and nothing fell out or felt tight. So, with the Huawei FreeBuds 6i, you can stay active – whether running, doing yoga, cycling, or walking.
It’s worth noting that the earbuds have an IP54 rating, which means they are dust resistant and protected against water splashes.
Read also: HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 flagship headphones review
Connecting and controlling Huawei FreeBuds 6i
You can connect the Huawei FreeBuds 6i either through the HUAWEI AI Life app or using Bluetooth. Both methods are effective, with the app offering many additional features. If you prefer a quick setup without adjustments, simply hold the button on the case, wait until the LED indicator in the middle starts flashing white, find it in your list of available devices, and connect to the earbuds – it couldn’t be simpler. However, if you opt for a more advanced connection method, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Log in to the application
- Select “Add device”
- Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
- Find FreeBuds 6i and pair it with your phone
We will talk more about the app’s capabilities later.
The device is controlled by touch – there are touch panels on the body of each headphone. The following gestures are available:
- Double tap: play/pause/end call
- Triple tap: previous / next song
- Press and hold: ANC on / ANC off / Inform mode
- Swipe up/down: volume control
The headset instantly responds to your touch and performs its intended functions. It’s nice that now we can adjust the volume with a gesture without having to search for the phone.
Huawei Al Life application
The Huawei AI Life app is a great complement to the earbuds. With it, you can adjust sound effects, sound quality, and change gesture controls. The app includes features for checking the fit of the earbuds, selecting active noise cancellation modes, sound presets, an equalizer, and a “Find earbuds” function.
The boosted bass and high frequencies in the app definitely enhance the music experience. Each musical instrument in symphony mode is wonderfully emphasized.
The noise cancellation modes are useful and vary in the level of noise reduction – dynamic mode adjusts noise cancellation depending on the surrounding environment, comfort mode is ideal for places with low noise levels, and general and highest modes provide the highest level of noise cancellation. I have no complaints about this.
Work with two devices
The Huawei FreeBuds 6i support simultaneous connection with two devices. Here’s how it works: simply connect the earbuds to a second device (like a TV, laptop, etc.), and they will automatically maintain a connection with both. It’s important to note that audio can only be played from one device at a time. The sound priority is as follows: calls > music/movies.
I connected to both my phone and laptop without any problems. I was playing a game on my laptop, and when I received a call, I automatically heard the caller. As soon as the call ended, I resumed playing the game. The switching wasn’t instantaneous, but the whole process didn’t take much time.
Sound, ANC, microphones
As I mentioned before, I have the older version 4i, so I can compare. The sound has become more saturated and clear. However, there were also drawbacks, but let’s go through everything in order.
On the one hand, the baseline sound is excellent, rich, voluminous, and well-balanced. Equipped with an 11-millimeter ultra-magnetic dynamic driver, the earbuds deliver strong bass down to 14 Hz. With support for the LDAC HD audio codec and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, they provide high-quality sound no matter what you’re listening to – music, podcasts, movies, and more.
In addition, we have very effective noise cancellation in any conditions (new version Intelligent Dynamic ANC 3.0 + three efficient microphones in each earbud) – almost flagship-level. The system can optimize noise cancellation parameters in real-time, creating ANC models using an algorithm specially programmed for 34 different scenarios. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 6i monitors noise levels every 2.6 microseconds and adjusts settings within seconds to optimize noise cancellation according to the surrounding environment. Noise cancellation parameters can be continuously adjusted. The effectiveness of noise cancellation depends on specific factors such as how the earbuds are worn and where they are used. There’s also a transparency mode available.
However, there were nuances that unfortunately are not only a weak point of these earbuds. Specifically, this concerns how your voice sounds in recordings or how well you can be heard during phone calls – your voice sometimes seems to fade, while ambient sounds are very audible.
I’ll add that the Smart Wear feature ensures that the earbuds automatically pause music when removed and resume playback when worn again.
Read also: Honor Earbuds X6 TWS Headphones Review: Good Sound for $35
Battery life
According to the manufacturer, the Huawei FreeBuds 6i have a battery capacity of 55 mAh for each earbud and 510 mAh for the case. The company also claims a runtime of 8 hours without ANC and up to 35 hours with the case. Of course, these figures are approximate as actual results can vary depending on usage scenarios.
I won’t talk about the number of hours, but rather about the number of days, because in my case, I didn’t aim to wear the earbuds “as long as possible.” I simply stretched out the period of use, occasionally trying out the new features of the earbuds—and managed to use them actively for 5 days.
However, if we’re talking about hours, the maximum possible usage time for the 6i, with ANC on, is approximately 4.5-5 hours out of the claimed 8 hours.
Regarding the charging of the case – it’s lightning fast, taking 43 minutes from 0 to 100%. Just 10 minutes in the case is enough for the earbuds to play music for up to 4 hours.
Conclusions
We all know that headphones, like any device, can’t be perfect and certainly have their weaknesses, such as a need for longer battery life, for example. However, upon closer inspection of the HUAWEI FreeBuds 6i, I’ve come to the conclusion that they are an excellent choice for people who value good sound and classic design, all at an affordable price. Thanks to Hi-Res audio certification, powerful bass, and effective ANC noise cancellation, the FreeBuds 6i provide comfortable listening in any environment.
The most obvious competitors are last year’s HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i, which also provide consistently good quality and have become slightly cheaper. You could also consider the Jabra Elite 4, Jabra Elite 5, Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, and JBL Live Flex.
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