Open-Ear
Baseus Inspire XC1
78Great
$115
Full review dataBaseus Inspire XC1 vs Huawei FreeArc: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Baseus Inspire XC1 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Baseus Inspire XC1 - Great overall at around $115.
Open-Ear
Huawei FreeArc
76Great
$109
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Baseus Inspire XC1
Sound8.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value8.5
Huawei FreeArc
Sound7.5
Battery6.5
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Baseus Inspire XC1 | Huawei FreeArc |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-Ear | Open-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $115 | $109 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 76 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2026 | 2024 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Hybrid 2-way: dynamic + balanced armature | 17 mm × 12 mm |
| Driver size | 10.6 mm | 17 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Latency | 60 ms | - |
| Wireless range | 10 m | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 8 h | - |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 28 h |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 40 min |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2.5 h | 10 min = 3 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | No |
| ANC type | none | - |
| Transparency mode | No | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | yes | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 5 g | 8.9 g |
| Case weight | - | 67 g |
| Water resistance | IP66 | IP57 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 4 | 4 |
What reviewers said
Baseus Inspire XC1
The Baseus Inspire XC1 are affordable open-ear earbuds that deliver surprisingly solid audio for their class, featuring a hybrid dual-driver setup with LDAC support. They offer a comfortable, lightweight fit with IP66 durability and a practical 8-hour battery life, making them a compelling pick for those seeking an open-ear design without breaking the bank.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality for open-ear design, especially bass
- Pro:Very lightweight and comfortable for extended wear
- Pro:Strong IP66 water and dust resistance
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Charging case can be slippery and easy to drop
- Con:Companion app has some software quirks
Huawei FreeArc
The Huawei FreeArc are open-ear wireless earbuds designed for active use, boasting a comfortable fit and a robust IP57 water-resistance rating. They deliver solid audio quality for their type, but their niche design means they lack active noise cancellation and have a battery life that trails some rivals. They are a good value for those specifically seeking open-ear options, provided you accept the trade-offs.
- Pro:Very comfortable for extended wear
- Pro:Strong IP57 water and dust resistance
- Pro:Good sound quality for open-ear design
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Battery life is shorter than some competitors
- Con:Open-ear design may not suit all listeners
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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