Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 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

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5

82Outstanding

$200

Full review data

True Wireless

Score breakdown

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

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 leads on 4 of 7 measures.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5
Technics EAH-AZ100

HearWiki score

Sound

8.6

9.2

Noise cancelling

8.7

8.6

Battery

8.2

8.7

Calls

8.7

7.8

Value

8.3

8.1

Price (USD)

$200

$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?

Mixed generations

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 (2026) against Technics EAH-AZ100 (2025). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 brings Bluetooth 6.0 against 5.3, while the Technics EAH-AZ100 answers with LE Audio (LC3). The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 answers on convenience features: it adds Water resistance IP57 against IPX4.

FreeBuds Pro 520261 yr newer
EAH-AZ1002025

What differsFreeBuds Pro 5EAH-AZ100

Bluetooth: 6.0; 5.3
LE Audio (LC3): No; Yes
Water resistance: IP57; IPX4

Level on: Top codec, Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

FreeBuds Pro 5EAH-AZ100

Type: True Wireless; True Wireless
Price (USD): $200; $250
HearWiki score: 82; 86
Released: 2026; 2025
Availability: Sold new; Sold new
Driver: 2-driver hybrid; 10 mm dynamic
Driver type: hybrid; dynamic
Driver size: 11 mm; 10 mm
Drivers per side: 2; 1
Frequency response: 10 Hz - 48 kHz; 20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance: -; 16 Ω
Bluetooth: 6.0; 5.3
Codecs: LDAC; SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; Yes
Wireless range: 12 m; 10 m
Battery life: 9 h; 12 h
Battery life (ANC on): 5 h; 10 h
Battery incl. case: 33 h; 28 h
Full charge time: 40 min; 120 min
Quick charge: 3 min → 1 h; 15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging: Yes; Yes
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: -; hybrid
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; Yes
Wear detection: Yes; Yes
Controls: touch; touch
Voice assistant: Yes; Yes
Weight: 5.5 g; 11.8 g
Case weight: 43 g; 42 g
Water resistance: IP57; IPX4
Detachable cable: No; -
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Pad material: silicone; -
Microphones: 3; 2
Microphone type: MEMS; MEMS
Call noise reduction: Yes; -

Specification comparison of Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 vs Technics EAH-AZ100
Spec	Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5	Technics EAH-AZ100
Type	True Wireless	True Wireless
Price (USD)	$200	$250
HearWiki score	82 / 100 Outstanding	86 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2026	2025
Audio
Driver	2-driver hybrid	10 mm dynamic
Driver type	hybrid	dynamic
Driver size	11 mm	10 mm
Drivers per side	2	1
Frequency response	10 Hz - 48 kHz	20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance	-	16 Ω
Wireless
Bluetooth	6.0	5.3
Codecs	LDAC	SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	Yes
Wireless range	12 m	10 m
Battery
Battery life	9 h	12 h
Battery life (ANC on)	5 h	10 h
Battery incl. case	33 h	28 h
Full charge time	40 min	120 min
Quick charge	3 min → 1 h	15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging	Yes	Yes
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	-	hybrid
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	Yes	Yes
Wear detection	Yes	Yes
Controls	touch	touch
Voice assistant	Yes	Yes
Design
Weight	5.5 g	11.8 g
Case weight	43 g	42 g
Water resistance	IP57	IPX4
Detachable cable	No	-
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Pad material	silicone	-
Calls
Microphones	3	2
Microphone type	MEMS	MEMS
Call noise reduction	Yes	-

What reviewers said

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 are high-end wireless earbuds that combine strong active noise cancellation with robust IP57 water resistance. They deliver a long 9-hour playback per charge, extendable to 33 hours with the case, and support high-resolution audio via LDAC and L2HC codecs. With Bluetooth 6, multipoint connectivity, and a hybrid dual-driver setup, they aim for versatile, premium sound and seamless device switching.

Pro:Excellent battery life of 9 hours per charge and 33 hours with the case
Pro:IP57 water resistance makes them suitable for workouts and rain
Pro:Supports high-quality LDAC and L2HC codecs for detailed audio

Con:ANC reduces battery life to just 5 hours per charge
Con:Relatively expensive at around $199
Con:Touch controls may require a learning curve

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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