Huawei FreeBuds 3i vs Technics EAH-AZ100: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Technics EAH-AZ100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Technics EAH-AZ100 - Outstanding overall at around $250.

True Wireless

Score breakdown

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

Technics EAH-AZ100 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

Huawei FreeBuds 3i
Technics EAH-AZ100

HearWiki score

Sound

5.5

9.2

Noise cancelling

5.2

8.6

Battery

2.3

8.7

Calls

5.5

7.8

Value

8.1

Price (USD)

$160

$250

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

Technics EAH-AZ100 (2025) against Huawei FreeBuds 3i (2020). The Technics EAH-AZ100 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, Top codec LC3 against AAC and LE Audio (LC3). It also adds Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, Custom EQ and Companion app.

FreeBuds 3i2020
EAH-AZ10020255 yr newer

What differsFreeBuds 3iEAH-AZ100

Bluetooth: 5.0; 5.3
Top codec: AAC; LC3
LE Audio (LC3): No; Yes
Multipoint pairing: No; Yes
Wireless charging: No; Yes
Custom EQ: No; Yes
Companion app: No; Yes

Level on: ANC type, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Water resistance.

Specifications

FreeBuds 3iEAH-AZ100

Type: True Wireless; True Wireless
Price (USD): $160; $250
HearWiki score: 47; 86
Released: 2020; 2025
Availability: Still sold new; Sold new
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 - 40 kHz
Impedance: -; 16 Ω
Bluetooth: 5.0; 5.3
Codecs: SBC, AAC; SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing: No; Yes
Wireless range: -; 10 m
Battery life: 3.5 h; 12 h
Battery life (ANC on): 2.5 h; 10 h
Battery incl. case: 14.5 h; 28 h
Full charge time: 115 min; 120 min
Quick charge: -; 15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging: No; Yes
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: hybrid; hybrid
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: No; Yes
Custom EQ: No; Yes
Wear detection: Yes; Yes
Controls: both; touch
Voice assistant: Yes; Yes
Weight: 5.5 g; 11.8 g
Case weight: 51 g; 42 g
Water resistance: IPX4; IPX4
Foldable: No; -
Detachable cable: No; -
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Microphones: 3; 2
Microphone type: -; MEMS
Call noise reduction: Yes; -

Specification comparison of Huawei FreeBuds 3i vs Technics EAH-AZ100
Spec	Huawei FreeBuds 3i	Technics EAH-AZ100
Type	True Wireless	True Wireless
Price (USD)	$160	$250
HearWiki score	47 / 100 Weak	86 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2020	2025
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 - 40 kHz
Impedance	-	16 Ω
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.0	5.3
Codecs	SBC, AAC	SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing	No	Yes
Wireless range	-	10 m
Battery
Battery life	3.5 h	12 h
Battery life (ANC on)	2.5 h	10 h
Battery incl. case	14.5 h	28 h
Full charge time	115 min	120 min
Quick charge	-	15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging	No	Yes
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	hybrid	hybrid
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	No	Yes
Custom EQ	No	Yes
Wear detection	Yes	Yes
Controls	both	touch
Voice assistant	Yes	Yes
Design
Weight	5.5 g	11.8 g
Case weight	51 g	42 g
Water resistance	IPX4	IPX4
Foldable	No	-
Detachable cable	No	-
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Calls
Microphones	3	2
Microphone type	-	MEMS
Call noise reduction	Yes	-

What reviewers said

Huawei FreeBuds 3i

The Huawei FreeBuds 3i offer a budget-friendly route into active noise cancellation, with hybrid ANC and a transparency mode for awareness. They deliver a balanced feature set for the price, though their compact size and IPX4 rating make them portable and sweat-resistant. However, their short battery life and lack of app support or multipoint connectivity may limit their appeal for heavy users.

Pro:Effective hybrid ANC for the price
Pro:Lightweight and comfortable fit
Pro:Includes transparency mode for situational awareness

Con:Short battery life, especially with ANC on
Con:No app support or custom EQ
Con:No multipoint pairing

Technics EAH-AZ100

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver rich, detailed sound through a 10mm dynamic driver, with support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They combine effective hybrid active noise cancellation with a comfortable, IPX4-rated design, plus smart features like multipoint pairing and wireless charging for versatile daily use. With up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, they are built to last through long listening sessions.

Pro:Excellent sound quality with LDAC support
Pro:Strong hybrid ANC and transparency modes
Pro:Long battery life with wireless charging case

Con:Premium price point
Con:Touch controls may be overly sensitive
Con:No aptX codec support

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

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