Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Neo?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro actually scores 16.7 points below the Huawei FreeBuds Neo, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on battery (8.0 to 4.6) and noise cancelling (8.0 to 6.3). Worth checking: battery life goes 10 h to 8 h and battery life (anc on) goes 6.5 h to 5 h. And it costs $48 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.
- Sound8.07.7
- Noise cancelling8.06.3
- Battery8.04.6
- Calls8.06.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Neo | Galaxy Buds Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 10 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | LDAC | SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable | |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IPX7 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 6.5 h | 5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 40 h | 28 h | |
| Microphones | 4 | 3 | |
| Driver | dynamic | 2-driver hybrid | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 48 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Neo to Galaxy Buds 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.