Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5

Tested: 31 Bluetooth headphones, including special models such as the open-ear Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro. It can also be used as an in-ear model with noise cancellation – we’ll tell you how well that works. Also exceptional: With the Fairphone Fairbuds XL 2025 and Beyerdynamic Aventho 200 over-ear headphones, anyone can easily replace the battery themselves...

With the FreeBuds Pro 5, Huawei once again offers a solid alternative to the flagship models from Apple, Samsung and others for anyone who doesn’t want to commit entirely to a single brand’s ecosystem. The FreeBuds Pro 5 can hold their own against the industry’s best, particularly when it comes to call quality, whilst sound, ANC and other features are also of a high standard...

With the FreeBuds Pro 5, Huawei is treading water and missing out on an opportunity. Whilst the earbuds deliver better sound quality than their predecessors, their battery life is shorter. In terms of usability and noise-cancelling, they maintain the high standard. For better sound or longer battery life, music fans will need to spend a bit more and opt for something like the Sony WF-1000XM5.

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 impress in the test as all-round strong in-ears with great sound quality. The deep, powerful bass and clear treble are fun to listen to. The equaliser in the companion app allows you to adjust the sound to your own taste. The active noise cancellation works reliably, especially at low and medium frequencies, but high-pitched noise can penetrate comparatively easily...