True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5: 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 Pro 5
82Outstanding
$200
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 3 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5
HearWiki score
86
82
Sound
8.6
8.6
Noise cancelling
9.3
8.7
Battery
7.3
8.2
Calls
7.4
8.7
Value
8.3
8.3
Price (USD)
$180
$200
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 Pro 5 (2026) against Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025). The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.3 and Top codec LDAC against AAC.
- AirPods Pro 32025
- FreeBuds Pro 520261 yr newer
What differsAirPods Pro 3FreeBuds Pro 5
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 6.0
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
Platform
Level on: Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app, Water resistance.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3FreeBuds Pro 5
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $200
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 82
- Released
- 2025
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 2-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 11 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 10 Hz - 48 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 6.0
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 12 m
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 9 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- 5 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 33 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 40 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 3 min → 1 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- 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
- 5.5 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 43 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IP57
- Detachable cable
- -
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Pad material
- -
- silicone
- Microphones
- 3
- 3
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- MEMS
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
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 Pro 5
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 are high-end wireless earbuds that combine strong active noise cancellation with robust IP57 water resistance. They deliver a long 9-hour playback per charge, extendable to 33 hours with the case, and support high-resolution audio via LDAC and L2HC codecs. With Bluetooth 6, multipoint connectivity, and a hybrid dual-driver setup, they aim for versatile, premium sound and seamless device switching.
- Pro:Excellent battery life of 9 hours per charge and 33 hours with the case
- Pro:IP57 water resistance makes them suitable for workouts and rain
- Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC and L2HC codecs for detailed audio
- Con:ANC reduces battery life to just 5 hours per charge
- Con:Relatively expensive at around $199
- Con:Touch controls may require a learning curve
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.