Huawei FreeBuds 6i Review – Full potential at a reasonable price

• Huawei recently introduced the attractive FreeBuds 6i headphones
• It reached our editorial office, where we of course tested them
• How good is her listening, what can she do and how did she do overall?

Company Huawei has proven many times that the production of wearable electronics is its own. It now adds FreeBuds 6i headphones to its repertoire, which are the continuation of the successful model series. Thus, we received ambitious headphones for testing, which, thanks to their price of around 2,500 crowns, try to target a wide range of customers.

Also thanks to the success of the previous generation FreeBuds 5i but they are expectedly high. Can the new headphones stand up to the tough competition and do they have something to tip the scales in their favor?

Huawei FreeBuds 6i Review – No Surprise Packaging

Huawei didn’t think twice and packaged the new FreeBuds 6i headphones in exactly the same way as the previous generation. After the purchase, the customer will receive a box with the headphones shown. The advantages of the product are written on the back. Finally, inside the package you will find a charging box with headphones, accompanying documentation, spare silicone plugs and a USB-A / USB-C cable. The packaging is standard and won’t surprise, but won’t offend either.

Nice workmanship

A high-quality product is no obstacle for Huawei. With last year’s generation, he already chose a matte-finished plastic for the production of the charging case, which he has used even now. The box itself has an oval shape. Due to its dimensions, the case is pleasant and not too heavy (34 grams). It definitely won’t get in the way in your pocket.

The joint for opening the lid is excellently processed. Of course, it is impossible to evaluate how it will be in a few months, but after a few weeks of experience, I am not afraid to say that the joint is of very high quality. The opening has a slight resistance, but it is absolutely ideal for comfortable opening. On the contrary, the closing is rougher for my taste. The magnets are strong and the lid always snaps firmly when closed.

The case as a whole does not offer any distinctive features and everything is beautifully smooth. On the front, there is a Huawei inscription and a small LED to inform the user about the battery status. Another element is inconspicuous and easily overlooked at first glance. It is located on the right side and is the button used for pairing with a new device. The USB-C connector is hidden on the bottom.

Withstands even rougher handling

Although at first glance the headphones don’t look very durable, especially in the light purple version we tested, you definitely don’t have to worry about them. The headphones boast IP54 certification. The problem is not increased dustiness or splashing water. You can therefore comfortably use the new FreeBuds 6i for sports activities or manual work.

Plugs with great ergonomics

Already last year’s FreeBuds 5i boasted a design that was very close to my ear. The new generation then picks up exactly where the predecessor left off. Headphones with a so-called plug design with a relatively long “stem” are hidden in the charging box. The headphones hold firmly in the box thanks to the magnets. Maybe too much for some individuals. If you have larger fingers, pulling it out of the case is slightly uncomfortable. The glossy finish, which makes the plugs slightly slippery, doesn’t help either.

But back to ergonomics. The body, in which the necessary technology is hidden, has small dimensions. From the inside, a sensor is visible that captures the presence of the earphone in the ear. There is also a vent hiding the microphone, which is used for phone calls, but also helps improve the ANC function. I also have to stop at the “stop sign”. Both ends offer interesting elements. There is a microphone in the upper part and two magnets for charging in the lower part. From the front, there is again a vent for the microphone and the company logo.

The headphones are very comfortable in the ear. They are not pressed and rather just lie in the ear. Nevertheless, they are firmly here and hold on to any occasion. It fits beautifully during sports and, thanks to the low weight of 11 grams, it does not press even after several hours of listening.

Don’t forget spare plugs

However, if you feel that the FreeBuds 6i do not hold too well in your ears or are not comfortable, definitely try to choose a different size of earplugs. Not only can this help ergonomics, but choosing the right plugs can affect other aspects as well. For example, the permeability of sound to the outside and to the inside. The AI ​​Life application can also help you choose the ideal plugs. We’ll talk more about it later, but the app offers a fit test that can detect the optimal size.

Top sound without significant flaws

The most important component of wireless headphones is, of course, the sound. The new FreeBuds 6i continue the successful generations, which have always been among the best in their category with their sound performance. The new model then moves the sound component a little further. The headphones can handle any style of music.

For example, in rap songs, bass components are emphasized. But not at the expense of the artist’s expression. The voice is beautifully clear and not overpowered by musical instruments. Of course, the headphones can handle other styles as well. For example, rock, jazz or pop. Even in these cases, you will come to your own. Individual elements are optimally balanced. A correctly selected plug size will also significantly help for quality music performance.

Thanks to the excellent ergonomics, the headphones are also optimal for listening to long podcasts. The voice is clear and without any interference. Suppression of ambient noise can also help pleasant listening, which will rid you of all unwanted surrounding subjects and you can concentrate only on the spoken word.

Last but not least, I must of course praise the volume range. In my case, the headphones were ideally loud in about half of their options. But if you enjoy a louder speech, the FreeBuds 6i will certainly not disappoint you. The sound quality is always the same across the adjustable range.

Convenient and effective gestures

Wireless headphones can be controlled in several ways. In the case of the FreeBuds 6i, Huawei chose touch gestures that the headphones will guide you through the first time you put them in your ears. And how do gestures work? The earphones have built-in touch sensors in their stems. They are fast and reliable. Double tap to pause and play music. Once you tap the stopwatch three times, you will skip a track.

Long press to switch between ambient noise transmission modes. The volume adjustment works great afterwards. To increase or decrease the volume, simply stroke the stem of the handset. A downward stroke decreases the intensity, while the opposite stroke increases it. The touchpad is ideally sensitive and responds smoothly. You will learn the gestures in a few minutes.

Noise cancellation has its limitations

An important component of the headphones is the suppression of ambient noise (ANC), which the FreeBuds 6i can regulate themselves. There are four basic modes working with ambient sound. The headphones reliably switch between modes and try to choose the right intensity for each situation. But it doesn’t always work out. For example, when riding a tram, the sound is only partially suppressed.

I also have a problem with outdoor walks. None of the default modes can reliably filter passing cars. But it does well with the wind, which often disturbs listening. FreeBuds 6i can effectively eliminate it in most cases. Of course, you can turn off the noise cancellation and activate the opposite mode, in which the headphones let in the sound from the surroundings. In this mode, the headphones can also deal with your voice – either they muffle it, or you can hear yourself normally. The first option is useful if you’re just listening to your surroundings, while voice enhancement is more practical when engaging in a conversation.

Average durability

In terms of durability, the FreeBuds 6i are no slouch. The earplugs themselves can play for about five hours, while the durability is greatly influenced by the selected sound mode. It is of course weaker with ANC. At that moment, the headphones last for about four hours. The charging case will give the headphones another three full cycles.

Charging takes place via the USB-C connector and takes about one hour. You can forget about wireless charging. In short, Huawei has to make some concessions in the given price range.

Clever app

Pairing the headphones works via Bluetooth and you don’t need anything else. However, in order to get the most out of FreeBuds 6i, I recommend the AI ​​Life application. Here you unlock the potential of the headphones to the maximum. After connecting the product to the phone, the percentage charge of the individual plugs and the box itself can be seen in the application.

You can also switch the ambient sound modes here. You can filter out the noise or, on the contrary, let it into your ears. There are also different sound modes. These focus on accentuating bass, vocals or treble. It’s a shame that Huawei doesn’t offer an equalizer and you have to rely only on the preset modes.

In the application there is also a detailed manual for gestures, other settings or a test of the headphones. This is used to select the optimal silicone attachment. And if you happen to lose the plugs, you can ring them. Just be careful, the headphones must be within Bluetooth range. Last but not least, the application deserves praise for its optimization and modern design.

Fulfilled potential at a reasonable price

Huawei FreeBuds 6i continue the great work done by the previous models. For a very pleasant price, around 2,500 crowns, the customer is offered headphones with a great sound, which you can partly fine-tune yourself. Thanks to their shape, the plugs are very comfortable even when worn for a long time. However, the issue of ergonomics is complex and not everyone will find the chosen shape suitable. Other advantages include a great application or useful and well-functioning gestures.

Suppression of ambient noise works slightly inconsistently. The automatic mode does not always choose the right intensity and at some moments the headphones let in more sound than would be appropriate. I could imagine even a hair better endurance or wireless charging. As a result, the FreeBuds 6i are balanced headphones with great features.

What do we like?	What don’t we like?
great sound with customization options	out of tune ANC
design and comfort	worse endurance
ergonomics	wireless charging is missing
application
visitors

Source: mobilizujeme.cz