Is the OnePlus Buds Pro 4 worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The OnePlus Buds Pro 4 scores 8.0 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 battery (6.5 to 8.5), value (7.0 to 9.0) and sound (7.5 to 8.5). On paper: battery life 7 h to 13 h, weight 11.6 g to 4.7 g and bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4. Worth checking: drivers per side goes 2 to 1 and microphones goes 4 to 3. It's also $78 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. 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 cancelling8.08.0
- Battery6.58.5
- Calls7.07.5
- Value7.09.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Pro 4 | Buds Pro 4 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 7 h | 13 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LHDC | |
| Weight | 11.6 g | 4.7 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP55 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 4.5 h | 7 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 33 h | 54 h | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 4 | 3 | |
| Driver | 2-driver hybrid | 11 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 14 Hz - 48 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Pro 4 to Buds Pro 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.