Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 vs Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 - Outstanding overall at around $99.

True Wireless

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

86Outstanding

$99

Full review data

True Wireless

Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC

47Weak

$51

Full review data

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC

HearWiki score

Sound

9.0

6.0

Noise cancelling

7.8

5.8

Battery

8.5

2.5

Calls

8.0

5.6

Value

9.6

5.4

Price (USD)

$99

$51

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

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 (2025) against Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC (2020). The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0, Top codec aptX Lossless against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.

Melomania A10020255 yr newer
Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC2020

What differsMelomania A100Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC

Bluetooth: 5.4; 5.0
Top codec: aptX Lossless; AAC
ANC type: Adaptive; Hybrid
Multipoint pairing: Yes; No
Wireless charging: Yes; No
Wear detection: No; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; No
Companion app: Yes; No
Water resistance: IPX5; Not rated

Level on: USB-C, Transparency mode.

Specifications

Melomania A100Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC

Type: True Wireless; True Wireless
Price (USD): $99; $51
HearWiki score: 86; 47
Released: 2025; 2020
Availability: Sold new; Discontinued
Driver: 10 mm dynamic; 10 mm dynamic
Driver type: dynamic; dynamic
Driver size: 10 mm; 10 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz; 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance: 25 Ω; -
Bluetooth: 5.4; 5.0
Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC; SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; No
Battery life: 11 h; 3.5 h
Battery life (ANC on): 6.5 h; 3 h
Battery incl. case: 39 h; 13 h
Full charge time: 66 min; 90 min
Quick charge: 10 min → 3.2 h; 10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging: Yes; No
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: adaptive; hybrid
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; No
Custom EQ: Yes; No
Wear detection: No; Yes
Controls: touch; touch
Voice assistant: Google Assistant, Siri; -
Weight: 9.4 g; 5.5 g
Case weight: 38.7 g; 51 g
Water resistance: IPX5; none
Detachable cable: -; No
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Pad material: silicone; silicone
Connector: -; USB-C
Balanced connection: -; No
Microphones: 6; 3
Call noise reduction: Yes; Yes
Call NR technology: -; beamforming

Specification comparison of Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 vs Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC
Spec	Cambridge Audio Melomania A100	Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC
Type	True Wireless	True Wireless
Price (USD)	$99	$51
HearWiki score	86 / 100 Outstanding	47 / 100 Weak
Released	2025	2020
Audio
Driver	10 mm dynamic	10 mm dynamic
Driver type	dynamic	dynamic
Driver size	10 mm	10 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance	25 Ω	-
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.4	5.0
Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC	SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	No
Battery
Battery life	11 h	3.5 h
Battery life (ANC on)	6.5 h	3 h
Battery incl. case	39 h	13 h
Full charge time	66 min	90 min
Quick charge	10 min → 3.2 h	10 min → 2 h
Wireless charging	Yes	No
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	adaptive	hybrid
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	No
Custom EQ	Yes	No
Wear detection	No	Yes
Controls	touch	touch
Voice assistant	Google Assistant, Siri	-
Design
Weight	9.4 g	5.5 g
Case weight	38.7 g	51 g
Water resistance	IPX5	none
Detachable cable	-	No
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Pad material	silicone	silicone
Connector	-	USB-C
Balanced connection	-	No
Calls
Microphones	6	3
Call noise reduction	Yes	Yes
Call NR technology	-	beamforming

What reviewers said

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 are true wireless earbuds that deliver a versatile feature set at a mid-range price. They combine adaptive active noise cancellation with high-resolution wireless audio support, including LDAC and aptX Lossless, along with a comfortable, water-resistant design. With a lengthy total battery life and convenient extras like wireless charging and multipoint, they aim to be a well-rounded daily companion.

Pro:Excellent codec support including LDAC and aptX Lossless
Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode for flexible listening
Pro:Long total battery life with wireless charging case

Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC enabled
Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Con:No mention of ear tips or fit accessories in specs

Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i with ANC

The Honor Magic Earbuds, also known as the Huawei Freebuds 3i, offer a polished design and hybrid active noise cancellation at a budget-friendly price. While they look and feel premium, their sound performance, noise reduction, call quality, and battery life fall short of expectations for the price point.

Pro:Premium build and design
Pro:Hybrid active noise cancellation
Pro:Touch controls and USB-C charging

Con:Unimpressive sound quality
Con:Weak noise cancellation
Con:Short battery life

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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