Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 4?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 4 to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 18.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (5.0 to 9.5), battery (5.5 to 8.0) and calls (6.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 4 h to 8 h, bluetooth BT 5.2 to 5.3 and battery life (anc on) 2.5 h to 8 h. Worth checking: weight goes 4.1 g to 10.1 g and driver size goes 14.3 mm to 10.7 mm. That costs $77 more, or about $4 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. 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.
- Sound6.58.5
- Noise cancelling5.09.5
- Battery5.58.0
- Calls6.08.5
- Value6.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds 4 | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 4 h | 8 h | |
| Weight | 4.1 g | 10.1 g | |
| Bluetooth | BT 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 2.5 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 22 h | 24 h | |
| Driver size | 14.3 mm | 10.7 mm | |
| Case weight | 38 g | 43.99 g | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min = 2.5 h | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | 14.3 mm | dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 4 to AirPods Pro 3". 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.