Huawei FreeArc Headphones Review: Decent Sound at a Great Price

Explore the Huawei FreeArc headphones, a unique blend of comfort and sound quality without breaking the bank.

Overview of Huawei FreeArc Headphones

When you think of Huawei, “premium audio products” might not be the first thing that comes to mind. While Huawei has certainly released headphones in the past, they often felt a bit bland compared to the company’s experimental, high-end smartphones, especially the latest foldable models.

So, when Huawei introduced the FreeArc headphones, our curiosity was piqued. Are they any good?

The Huawei FreeArc headphones are a pair of on-ear headphones with open ear cups. This means they sit on top of your ear canal, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying your music. They’re designed for workouts or office use when you want to hear your colleagues, or for casual everyday wear, ensuring you remain alert without being totally isolated from the world. So, how do they perform?

Key Features of Huawei FreeArc

• Driver Size: 17 mm x 12 mm
• Control: Touch-sensitive controls
• Ear Design: Fully open cup
• Weight: Ultra-lightweight
• Eyewear Compatibility: Does not conflict with glasses
• Case Design: Large and somewhat bulky
• Water Resistance: IP57 rating for the earbuds only

Technical Specifications of Huawei FreeArc

Design and Comfort

The Huawei FreeArc headphones come in a large, square plastic case that may look a bit cheap but does its job well. The size can be one of the drawbacks when using in-ear headphones, as there’s no other way to store and charge them. At least, nothing has an elongated flat case for its Ear (Open) model, which is more versatile for fitting into various pocket types. The Huawei FreeArc case is definitely bulkier.

The headphones themselves are quite lightweight and comfortable. The hooks are covered with soft silicone, and the battery is located at the end, providing a counterbalance. Overall, you can wear them all day without discomfort. In our experience, they don't interfere with wearing glasses either. They stay securely in place, not falling out even when shaking your head—ideal for workouts.

Control is done via taps and swipes. Swipe forward or backward to adjust the volume, double-tap to play/pause or answer a call, long press to decline a call, and triple tap to skip to the next song. It’s straightforward!

The earbuds have an IP57 rating, meaning they can withstand splashes and brief water immersion. However, the case isn’t water-resistant, so be cautious!

The speakers are positioned just above the ear canals, producing sound directly into them. We found that the headphones are quite sensitive to positioning—if you wear a hoodie or a hat that slightly shifts one of the earbuds, the sound can become unbalanced. It’s something to keep in mind.

Aside from that, they’re great for jogging, skating, and even everyday wear while working or doing household chores.

Sound Quality

The sound of the Huawei FreeArc headphones is… decent. Credit where it's due—it's tough to compete when the headphones don't deliver sound directly into the ear canal.

Huawei has made considerable efforts to amplify the bass, which is crucial when tiny speakers sit outside your ears. And when it comes to bass, we have no complaints. However, as you climb the frequency spectrum, they don't sound perfect. The upper mids can sound a bit scratchy, and there's a noticeable lack of air in the highs, making them sound strangely thin and nasal at times.

Not to the point where they sound outright bad; don’t get us wrong. Their audio is acceptable, especially considering their purpose and niche—they're for people who want to hear their surroundings. So, pristine sound quality isn't a top priority. As a result, they’re great for background music, your favorite podcast, or YouTube videos.

Huawei claims that they minimize sound leakage, but there's still some. If you crank up your favorite tune to a “moderately loud” level, people sitting next to you in the office will definitely hear it. Again, this is a characteristic of open-cup headphones.

There’s an app called Huawei AI Life available for download in the App Store, though not in the Play Store. It provides access to three extra equalizer profiles, but they don’t sound significantly better, and we preferred to stick with the default profile.

The microphone quality is on par with other Bluetooth headphones. It’s slightly muffled but generally clear without many digital artifacts. Callers could usually understand us and didn’t complain about sound issues more than they would with other Bluetooth headphones.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the battery life of the Huawei FreeArc headphones compare to others?
  The FreeArc offers about 7 hours of use from the earbuds alone and an additional 21 hours with the case, which is competitive in this category.
• Are the Huawei FreeArc headphones suitable for sports?
  Yes, they’re lightweight and designed to stay in place, making them ideal for workouts and active use.
• Do the headphones offer noise cancellation?
  No, the FreeArc headphones do not feature active noise cancellation but are designed to keep you aware of your environment.
• Can I use these headphones for taking calls?
  Absolutely, they have decent microphone quality for calls without many digital artifacts.
• What is the sound quality like for music?
  The sound is generally decent, with good bass response, though they may lack clarity in the higher frequencies.

Shop for your favorite album cover poster at our store for a perfect addition to your music experience! Check out our collection here.