Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 5.4 points above the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (8.0 to 9.5), battery (6.5 to 8.0) and calls (7.0 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 7 h to 8 h, weight 11.6 g to 5.5 g and bluetooth 5.2 to 5.3. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC and drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $24 more, or about $4 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
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 cancelling8.09.5
- Battery6.58.0
- Calls7.08.5
- Value7.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Pro 4 | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 7 h | 8 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Weight | 11.6 g | 5.5 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 4.5 h | 8 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 4 | 3 | |
| Driver | 2-driver hybrid | 10.7 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 14 Hz - 48 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Pro 4 to AirPods Pro 3". 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.