True Wireless
Apple AirPods 3
70Good
$84
Full review dataApple AirPods 3 vs Huawei FreeBuds Neo: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Huawei FreeBuds Neo comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Huawei FreeBuds Neo - Outstanding overall at around $109.
True Wireless
Huawei FreeBuds Neo
85Outstanding
$110
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Huawei FreeBuds Neo leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods 3
- Huawei FreeBuds Neo
HearWiki score
70
85
Sound
7.0
8.0
Noise cancelling
-
8.0
Battery
7.0
8.0
Calls
6.3
8.0
Value
-
9.0
Price (USD)
$84
$110
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
New platform
Huawei FreeBuds Neo (2026) against Apple AirPods 3 (2021). The Huawei FreeBuds Neo is the newer platform here: Top codec LDAC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Transparency mode and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.
- AirPods 32021
- FreeBuds Neo20265 yr newer
What differsAirPods 3FreeBuds Neo
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods 3FreeBuds Neo
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $84
- $110
- HearWiki score
- 70
- 85
- Released
- 2021
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- -
- 10 Hz - 48 kHz
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- -
- Battery life
- 6 h
- 10 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 6.5 h
- Battery incl. case
- 30 h
- 40 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- -
- Weight
- 4.3 g
- 4.8 g
- Case weight
- 37.9 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
- Foldable
- No
- -
- Detachable cable
- No
- -
- USB-C
- No
- -
- Connector
- Lightning
- -
- Microphones
- 3
- 4
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods 3
The Apple AirPods 3 deliver a noticeable step up in audio clarity, detail, and spatial sound compared to earlier models, alongside improved battery life and a more secure fit for many users. They offer solid call quality and seamless integration with Apple devices, but their open design and lack of active noise cancellation mean they won't suit everyone, especially in noisy environments. While the sound is a clear upgrade, it's not class-leading, and the fixed fit may not work for all ear shapes.
- Pro:Improved sound clarity and detail over previous AirPods
- Pro:Better battery life than AirPods 2
- Pro:IPX4 water resistance for workouts and light rain
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Open, non-customizable fit may not seal well for all ears
- Con:Sound quality is good but not outstanding for the price
Huawei FreeBuds Neo
The Huawei FreeBuds Neo are lightweight, comfortable true wireless earbuds with adaptive active noise cancellation and a robust feature set for their price. They offer solid call quality, a lively sound signature, and practical extras like transparency mode and app support, making them a versatile mid-range option for travel and daily use.
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight fit
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC
- Pro:Good call quality with 4 mics
- Con:Battery life with ANC is modest
- Con:May not satisfy audiophiles seeking specialized tuning
- Con:Touch controls may require adjustment
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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