True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Huawei FreeBuds 5i: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.
True Wireless
Huawei FreeBuds 5i
70Good
$94
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Huawei FreeBuds 5i
HearWiki score
86
70
Sound
8.6
6.8
Noise cancelling
9.3
6.8
Battery
7.3
4.6
Calls
7.4
6.5
Value
8.3
-
Price (USD)
$180
$94
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?
Mixed generations
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Huawei FreeBuds 5i (2023). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Apple AirPods Pro 3 brings Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.2 and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid, while the Huawei FreeBuds 5i answers with Top codec LDAC against AAC. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 answers on convenience features: it adds Wireless charging and Water resistance IP57 against IP54.
- AirPods Pro 320252 yr newer
- FreeBuds 5i2023
What differsAirPods Pro 3FreeBuds 5i
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- Hybrid
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IP54
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3FreeBuds 5i
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $94
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 70
- Released
- 2025
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 10 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- 110.8 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 7.5 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- 6 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 28 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 60 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 4 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- hybrid
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Yes
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 4.9 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 33.9 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IP54
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 2
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a comfortable, secure fit. They deliver clear calls, robust battery life, and a balanced sound profile, all wrapped in an IP57-rated design that handles water and dust. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging, they offer a polished experience for Apple and non-Apple users alike.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality with beamforming mics
- Pro:Strong battery life of 8 hours with ANC on
- Con:Fit may be tricky for some ears
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)
Huawei FreeBuds 5i
The Huawei FreeBuds 5i deliver a surprisingly rich feature set for their budget price, including hybrid ANC, LDAC support, and multipoint connectivity. They offer a balanced sound profile and a premium feel, though their noise cancellation and battery life are decent rather than class-leading. Overall, they are a compelling value pick for those seeking versatile wireless earbuds without breaking the bank.
- Pro:Excellent value for money with premium build feel
- Pro:LDAC support and multipoint pairing enhance versatility
- Pro:Effective hybrid ANC and transparency mode for the price
- Con:ANC performance is not top-tier compared to pricier rivals
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Best experience requires using Huawei's dedicated app
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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