Is the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro worth the upgrade from the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5?
Verdict
Downgrade
The OnePlus Buds 2 Pro actually scores 9.0 points below the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. The gains are concentrated in battery (6.0 to 8.5), value (5.0 to 7.5) and noise cancelling (7.0 to 8.0). Worth checking: bluetooth goes 6.0 to 5.3 and full charge time goes 90 min to 100 min. It is at least $155 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.
- Sound7.07.5
- Noise cancelling7.08.0
- Battery6.08.5
- Calls6.07.0
- Value5.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | FreeBuds Pro 5 | Buds 2 Pro | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, L2HC 4.0 | SBC, AAC, LHDC, LC3 | |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.3 | |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IP55 | |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 100 min | |
| Wireless range | 12 m | 10 m | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| Quick charge | 3 min = ~1 h | 10 min = 2 h | |
| Driver | hybrid | 11mm + 6mm dual drivers | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 48 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "FreeBuds Pro 5 to Buds 2 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.