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Huawei FreeBuds Neo vs Sennheiser CX True Wireless: 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 6 of 7 measures.

  • Huawei FreeBuds Neo
  • Sennheiser CX True Wireless
HearWiki score
85
63
Sound
8.0
6.7
Noise cancelling
8.0
-
Battery
8.0
6.0
Calls
8.0
5.3
Value
9.0
-
Price (USD)
$110
$80

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 Sennheiser CX True Wireless (2021). The Huawei FreeBuds Neo is the newer platform here: Top codec LDAC against aptX and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Transparency mode and Water resistance IP55 against IPX4.

  • FreeBuds Neo20265 yr newer
  • CX True Wireless2021
What differsFreeBuds NeoCX True Wireless

Platform

Top codec
LDAC
aptX
ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

Transparency mode
Yes
No
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4

Level on: Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

FreeBuds NeoCX True Wireless
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$110
$80
HearWiki score
85
63
Released
2026
2021
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
dynamic
7 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
-
7 mm
Drivers per side
-
1
Frequency response
10 Hz - 48 kHz
5 Hz - 21 kHz
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Sensitivity
-
110 dB/mW
Bluetooth
-
5.2
Codecs
LDAC
SBC, AAC, aptX
Multipoint pairing
-
No
Battery life
10 h
9 h
Battery life (ANC on)
6.5 h
-
Battery incl. case
40 h
27 h
Full charge time
-
90 min
Quick charge
-
15 min → 1 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
adaptive
none
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
No
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
4.8 g
6 g
Case weight
-
37 g
Water resistance
IP55
IPX4
USB-C
-
Yes
Model code
-
CX200TW1
Microphones
4
2

What reviewers said

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

Sennheiser CX True Wireless

The Sennheiser CX True Wireless earbuds deliver a balanced, neutral sound signature that suits listeners who prefer accurate tuning over a bass-heavy or overly bright presentation. They offer a solid feature set for the price, including aptX support, Bluetooth 5.2, touch controls, and an IPX4 rating, though they lack active noise cancellation and multipoint connectivity. Battery life is respectable on paper, but real-world performance may vary slightly from the manufacturer's claims.

  • Pro:Balanced, neutral sound profile
  • Pro:Good codec support (SBC, AAC, aptX)
  • Pro:Compact and lightweight design with IPX4 water resistance
  • Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
  • Con:No multipoint connectivity
  • Con:Battery life may fall short of the advertised 9 hours in real-world use

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

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New comparisonHuawei FreeBuds NeoSennheiser CX True Wireless