Huawei is expanding its FreeBuds line with the introduction of the FreeBuds 6i, which is now available for pre-sale in China. Although the final price hasn’t been announced yet, the company is offering a 100 yuan (approximately USD 15) discount during the pre-sale period, which runs from July 29th to August 6th, 2024.
Specifications and Features
The FreeBuds 6i comes in three familiar colorways: Streamer Purple, Sky White, and Phantom Night Black. Emphasis is placed on improved noise cancellation, with Huawei claiming a 100% improvement over the previous generation. This translates to a maximum noise reduction depth of 27dB, aligning it with current flagship offerings.
The earbuds achieve this through a combination of adaptive noise reduction algorithms that adjust in seconds, a “resonance silencer cavity” designed to target human voices, and triple-microphone AI noise reduction. Huawei notes that the earbuds have secured A+ CAIA wireless headset noise reduction capability certification.
Audio quality is provided by an 11mm quad-magnet dynamic driver, with Huawei touting 10-band equalizer custom sound effects for user personalization.
Design and Battery Life
The earbuds also support three-microphone AI noise reduction for calls, making them a potential option for those working in noisy environments. Design-wise, the FreeBuds 6i reportedly sees a 6% reduction in the volume of the in-ear portion compared to prior models.
Battery life is rated at 35 hours for music playback with the charging case included. A 10-minute quick charge provides enough juice for 4 hours of listening, a decent offering for users on the go. The FreeBuds 6i also boasts IP54 dust and water resistance, making them suitable for workouts or light rain.
HarmonyOS Features
One interesting feature is the support for audio streaming and audio sharing between multiple HarmonyOS devices. This could be a boon for Huawei users invested in the company’s ecosystem, but its usefulness for those outside that circle remains limited.
