Is the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 buys you 15.4 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. On paper: battery life 7.5 h to 9 h, bluetooth 5.2 to 6.0 and battery incl. case 28 h to 33 h. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to LDAC and battery life (anc on) goes 6 h to 5 h. That costs $105 more, or about $7 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.
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds 5i | FreeBuds Pro 5 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 7.5 h | 9 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 6.0 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 33 h | |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 40 min | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 11 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Microphones | 2 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 33.9 g | 43 g | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 4 h | 3 min → 1 h | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | 2-driver hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 48 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 5i to FreeBuds Pro 5". 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.