Tiny Huawei Earbuds Surprise With Big Sound

Huawei's FreeBuds Neo have arrived, offering a compact audio solution that aims to mimic the success of Apple's designs while subtly improving them. These earbuds are notably small, both in their charging case and the buds themselves, making them incredibly portable. The design features shortened stems and a lightweight build, ensuring a secure and comfortable in-ear fit.

Sound quality is a highlight, featuring an 11mm driver that produces a V-shaped sound profile with emphasized bass and treble, pleasing average listeners, though audiophiles might note a lack of mids. Support for LDAC playback on compatible Android phones is a bonus for high-resolution audio.

A significant drawback for Android users is the challenging software installation. Huawei's Audio Connect app is not on the Google Play Store, requiring users to sideload the Huawei AppGallery and then download the app from there—a process that proved difficult and sometimes impossible during testing.

Battery life is rated at 6 hours with ANC on and 9 hours with it off, with the case providing up to 22 hours of additional listening time. While not class-leading, these figures are acceptable given the earbuds' small size. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is functional but not exceptional, effectively reducing ambient noise on transport but less so for speech.

Released on September 2, 2026, and available in October, the Huawei FreeBuds Neo are priced at £119.99/AU$290. A US release is not anticipated. Despite the software woes and middling battery and ANC performance, their standout compact design and enjoyable sound make them a strong contender in the small earbud market.