Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i to the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 buys you 13.5 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (7.0 to 8.5), sound (7.5 to 8.5) and noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.0). On paper: battery life 7.5 h to 13 h, bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4 and battery life (anc on) 6 h to 7 h. Worth checking: full charge time goes 60 min to 70 min and case weight goes 33.9 g to 50.6 g. It's also $6 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.
- Sound7.58.5
- Noise cancelling7.08.0
- Battery7.08.5
- Calls6.57.5
- Value8.59.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds 5i | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 7.5 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP55 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6 h | 7 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 54 h | |
| Full charge time | 60 min | 70 min | |
| Driver size | 10 mm | 11 mm | |
| Microphones | 2 | 3 | |
| Case weight | 33.9 g | 50.6 g | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 4 h | 10 min → 11 h | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | 11 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 5i 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.