Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 4?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 4 to the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 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 8.0), battery (5.5 to 8.5) and value (6.0 to 9.0). On paper: battery life 4 h to 13 h, codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 and bluetooth BT 5.2 to 5.4. Worth checking: full charge time goes 60 min to 70 min and driver size goes 14.3 mm to 11 mm. It's also $25 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.
- Sound6.58.5
- Noise cancelling5.08.0
- Battery5.58.5
- Calls6.07.5
- Value6.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds 4 | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 4 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC 5.0 | |
| Bluetooth | BT 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IP55 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 2.5 h | 7 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 22 h | 45 h | |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 70 min | |
| Latency | 90 ms | 47 ms | |
| Driver size | 14.3 mm | 11 mm | |
| Case weight | 38 g | 50.62 g | |
| Custom EQ | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min = 2.5 h | 10 min = 11 hours playback | |
| Driver | 14.3 mm | dual drivers; 11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter | |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-40kHz | 10Hz-40kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 4 to Buds Pro 4". 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.