Is the OnePlus Buds Z worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Neo?
Verdict
Downgrade
The OnePlus Buds Z actually scores 31.2 points below the Huawei FreeBuds Neo, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on battery (8.0 to 4.3) and calls (8.0 to 5.0). Worth checking: battery life goes 10 h to 5 h and active noise cancelling goes Yes to No. It is at least $59 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. 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.
- Sound8.06.1
- Battery8.04.3
- Calls8.05.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Neo | Buds Z | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 5 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Codecs | LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 20 h | |
| Microphones | 4 | 2 | |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No | |
| Companion app | Yes | No | |
| Custom EQ | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | adaptive | none | |
| Driver | dynamic | 10 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 48 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Neo to Buds Z". 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.