True Wireless
Huawei FreeBuds 4
52Average
$190
Full review dataHuawei FreeBuds 4 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.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Huawei FreeBuds Neo leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- Huawei FreeBuds 4
- Huawei FreeBuds Neo
HearWiki score
52
85
Sound
5.7
8.0
Noise cancelling
3.0
8.0
Battery
3.1
8.0
Calls
5.4
8.0
Value
-
9.0
Price (USD)
$190
$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 Huawei FreeBuds 4 (2021). The Huawei FreeBuds Neo is the newer platform here: Top codec LDAC against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Custom EQ and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.
- FreeBuds 42021
- FreeBuds Neo20265 yr newer
What differsFreeBuds 4FreeBuds Neo
- Top codec
- AAC
- LDAC
- ANC type
- Hybrid
- Adaptive
- Custom EQ
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
FreeBuds 4FreeBuds Neo
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $190
- $110
- HearWiki score
- 52
- 85
- Released
- 2021
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 14.3 mm driver
- dynamic
- Driver type
- -
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 14.3 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- 10 Hz - 48 kHz
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Latency
- 90 ms
- -
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- -
- Battery life
- 4 h
- 10 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 2.5 h
- 6.5 h
- Battery incl. case
- 22 h
- 40 h
- Full charge time
- 60 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 15 min → 2.5 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- hybrid
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- No
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 4.1 g
- 4.8 g
- Case weight
- 38 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IPX4
- IP55
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- USB-C
- -
- Microphones
- 2
- 4
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
What reviewers said
Huawei FreeBuds 4
The Huawei FreeBuds 4 are open-fit true wireless earbuds that prioritize lightweight comfort and modern connectivity, featuring a 14.3 mm driver, Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, and hybrid active noise cancellation. While they offer decent sound and useful features like wireless charging and transparency mode, their battery life is modest—especially with ANC active—and their open design limits noise isolation, making them a niche choice for those who value breathability over endurance.
- Pro:Very lightweight and comfortable open-fit design
- Pro:Supports multipoint connection and quick charging
- Pro:Includes wireless charging and IPX4 sweat resistance
- Con:Battery life is short, especially with ANC on
- Con:Noise cancellation is weak due to open-fit style
- Con:Lacks custom EQ and offers only SBC/AAC codecs
Huawei FreeBuds Neo
The Huawei FreeBuds Neo are lightweight, adaptive-noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds designed for everyday comfort and travel. They offer a balanced, lively sound with LDAC support and a practical, understated design, making them a solid mid-range choice for most users. While they excel in fit and call quality, they may not fully satisfy audiophiles or Apple ecosystem loyalists.
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended wear
- Pro:Effective adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-resolution audio
- Con:Battery life with ANC is modest at 6.5 hours
- Con:May lack appeal for audiophiles seeking specialized tuning
- Con:Apple users might prefer AirPods Pro integration
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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