Is the Huawei FreeBuds 4 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Neo?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Huawei FreeBuds 4 actually scores 33.7 points below the Huawei FreeBuds Neo, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on noise cancelling (8.0 to 3.0) and battery (8.0 to 3.1). Worth checking: battery life goes 10 h to 4 h and battery life (anc on) goes 6.5 h to 2.5 h. And it costs $85 more for a lower score, which is hard to justify on the data alone. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.05.7
- Noise cancelling8.03.0
- Battery8.03.1
- Calls8.05.4
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Neo | FreeBuds 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 4 h | |
| Codecs | LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX4 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6.5 h | 2.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 22 h | |
| Microphones | 4 | 2 | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Driver | dynamic | 14.3 mm driver | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 48 kHz | 20 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Neo to FreeBuds 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.