Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Huawei FreeBuds 5i to the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro buys you 18.9 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. On paper: bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4, battery incl. case 28 h to 30 h and microphones 2 to 6. Worth checking: case weight goes 33.9 g to 46.5 g. That costs $156 more, or about $8 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 | Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery incl. case | 28 h | 30 h | |
| Microphones | 2 | 6 | |
| Case weight | 33.9 g | 46.5 g | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 15 min → 4 h | 5 min → 1 h | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | 10.5 mm driver | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds 5i to Galaxy Buds3 Pro". 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.