Is the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 3?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 3 to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 buys you 38.4 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in value (2.2 to 9.6), battery (3.4 to 8.5) and noise cancelling (3.5 to 7.8). On paper: battery life 4 h to 11 h, codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC and bluetooth 5.1 to 5.4. Worth checking: driver size goes 14.2 mm to 10 mm and wear detection goes Yes to No. It's also $109 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound6.69.0
- Noise cancelling3.57.8
- Battery3.48.5
- Calls6.68.0
- Value2.29.6
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds 3 | Melomania A100 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 4 h | 11 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.4 | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX5 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 4 h | 6.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 20 h | 39 h | |
| Driver size | 14.2 mm | 10 mm | |
| Case weight | 48 g | 38.7 g | |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes | |
| Companion app | No | Yes | |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| Driver | 14.2 mm dynamic | 10 mm dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 3 to Melomania A100". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.