True Wireless
Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW
65Good
$79
Full review dataAudio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW 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.
- Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW
- Huawei FreeBuds Neo
HearWiki score
65
85
Sound
7.7
8.0
Noise cancelling
-
8.0
Battery
5.4
8.0
Calls
5.6
8.0
Value
-
9.0
Price (USD)
$79
$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 Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW (2020). The Huawei FreeBuds Neo is the newer platform here: Top codec LDAC against SBC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Custom EQ, Companion app and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.
- ATH-SQ1TW2020
- FreeBuds Neo20266 yr newer
What differsATH-SQ1TWFreeBuds Neo
- Top codec
- SBC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
- Custom EQ
- No
- Yes
- Companion app
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Transparency mode.
Specifications
ATH-SQ1TWFreeBuds Neo
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $79
- $110
- HearWiki score
- 65
- 85
- Released
- 2020
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 5.8 mm dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 5.8 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 10 Hz - 48 kHz
- Impedance
- 16 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- -
- Codecs
- SBC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- -
- Battery life
- 6.5 h
- 10 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 6.5 h
- Battery incl. case
- 19.5 h
- 40 h
- Full charge time
- 90 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 15 min → 1 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- No
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- No
- Yes
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Weight
- 5.2 g
- 4.8 g
- Case weight
- 34.2 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- USB-C
- -
- Microphones
- 1
- 4
- Microphone type
- MEMS
- -
- Mic sensitivity
- -38 dBV
- -
What reviewers said
Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW
The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW are budget true wireless earbuds that deliver a lively, engaging sound in a compact, well-built shell. They rely on a secure fit for passive noise blocking rather than active cancellation, offering a straightforward feature set with touch controls and IPX4 water resistance. While they lack premium extras like app support or multipoint, their comfortable design and solid battery life make them a dependable everyday option.
- Pro:Comfortable and secure fit
- Pro:Solid build quality
- Pro:Lively, engaging sound
- Con:Only SBC codec support
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:No companion app
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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