More than 40 years after the first introduction of portable audio, we’re now seeing people bringing their audio everywhere they go: from music and movies to podcasts and online classes, it’s clear that audio-visual entertainment has become an integral part of life, especially for young people.
In recent years, the rise of true wireless earbuds (TWS) and active noise cancellation technology presents yet another breakthrough in consuming audio-visual content. With all the choices on the market nowadays, everyone is looking for a higher-quality listening experience without breaking the bank.
Here’s what you should look for in your next pair of wireless earbuds.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
Audio Resolution
For most people, hi-res audio is a vague concept. Here’s a quick rundown on exactly Hi-Res audio: it’s officially defined as the capability to reproduce full-range sounds from better-than-CD sources. That means you’ll be able to hear more details and get the complete audio experience exactly the way it was intended!
It’s not exactly hard to find Hi-Res audio files, but it’s the hardware that is the biggest part of the problem. Even now, not all smartphones support hi-res playback, much less to say wireless earbuds. Devices that can play hi-res audio often come at a hefty price, and even so, the audio quality is still not truly “lossless”, as the audio will still undergo some form of compression during playback.
That said, there’s still hope out there. There are still affordable TWS earbuds that support hi-res playback, like the HUAWEI Freebuds 5i, for example. Equipped with a 10mm high-sensitivity dynamic driver unit and polymer composite diaphragm, these earbuds can deliver a varied range of sounds, from surging bass notes and sonorous human voices to crisp high-frequency details, making them ideal for music lovers. And most importantly, they’re retailing for less than RM400!
What sounds good to one person may not sound good to another. That’s because the listening experience varies depending on each individual’s ear canal structure and the fit of the earbuds. There are no one-size-fits-all earbuds, but some audio manufacturers have managed to bypass this issue using technology.
With a dual adaptive EQ algorithm, the HUAWEI Freebuds 5i monitors feedback from the ear canal using a high-sensitivity microphone and compensates for full-band audio effects to ensure consistently excellent sound quality.
Active Noise Cancellation
If you’re in the market for TWS earbuds, you’ve probably heard a lot about ANC. As its name suggests, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a feature that cancels out unwanted noise so that the user can enjoy a truly immersive audio experience even in noisy environments.
A pair of well-fitting earbuds may dampen a good amount of noise, but this passive form of noise cancellation only works with high-frequency noise. It won’t block out loud noises like fireworks or drilling, for example.
And that’s where the active in Active Noise Cancellation comes in. For most truly wireless earbuds, ANC is achieved by using well-positioned microphones that detect external noise and generate reverse sound waves to remove unwanted background noise. How much and how effective this noise cancellation depends on the hardware itself.
For example, the ANC feature on the HUAWEI Freebuds 5i can provide a maximum noise-cancellation depth of 42 dB. Plus, it’s also equipped with a hearing optimization algorithm, which allows the earbuds to identify and detect the wearing status and surrounding and generate appropriate sound effect parameters to produce a personalised listening experience.
ANC is a game-changer, but having your surroundings completely blocked out may not be the best in some scenarios. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your next TWS earbuds are versatile enough for all scenarios.
The HUAWEI Freebuds 5i has three noise cancellation modes that users can switch freely between according to their surroundings: Ultra, General, and Cosy. Say you’re on a train where the sound of the engine tends to drown out your music; Ultra mode will eliminate most of the noise so that you can enjoy your music while on your morning commute. If you’re in the office, General and Cosy mode is sufficient to drown out the drone of the AC, but still enables you to hear when your boss is talking to you.
Finally, if you’re walking on the street and truly need to be attentive to your surroundings, the Freebuds 5i also has an Awareness mode, which is the direct opposite of ANC: this feature amplifies outside noise so that you can still have conversations with people without having to take out your earbuds.
Battery Life
What’s more annoying than a drained phone battery? A pair of wireless earbuds that don’t last long enough for your road trip.
Wireless earbuds are superior to wired earphones in many ways, but battery life is not one of them. After all, earbuds battery isn’t something you need to worry about with wired earphones, since all they require is a device with a headphone jack.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a good pair of wireless earbuds, the battery life is something you must take into consideration. After all, you don’t want to end up musicless halfway through your long trip, do you?
The HUAWEI Freebuds 5i is one of the most affordable TWS earbuds that has a robust battery life. The earbuds alone can play music continuously for 7 and a half hours on a single charge, or up to 28 hours if you take into account the charging case. That’s more than enough for a round trip from KL to Singapore, traffic jams included!
Speaking of charging cases, a large charging capacity often means that the case is bulky and inconvenient. That’s not the case (haha) with the HUAWEI Freebuds 5i, though. Its charging case is 0.6mm thinner and lighter than its previous generation while managing to pack more power. Plus, you only need to charge the earbuds for 15 minutes to get 4 hours of music!
Trendy Design
Like it or not, design matters. It would be a pity if your perfectly curated OOTD was interrupted by your earphones, right?
For TWS earphones, the design isn’t so much for aesthetics as for comfort. From the charging case to the earbuds themselves, a good design means well-fitting, eye-pleasing, and comfortable earbuds that can be brought anywhere, anytime.
Back in 2021, these were exactly what the HUAWEI Freebuds 4i had, and it gained popularity amongst youngsters for its trendy and seamless design. Now, the Freebuds 5i has inherited the minimalist pebble-like design for its charging case, with a unique frosted texture that feels better in hand, and three stunning colourways: Isle Blue, Nebula Black, and Ceramic White.
As for the earbuds themselves, they’re incredibly lightweight at only 4.9g, which makes them almost weightless when worn. HUAWEI has crafted the Freebuds 5i into a sleek and elegant shape that is designed to fit ergonomically into human ears. Plus, both the body and the sound opening of the earbuds have been shortened, allowing them to be more adaptable to each user’s ear canal for a snugger fit.
With wireless earbuds getting more and more affordable, now is the best time to dive into the wonders of TWS. However, a pair of bad earbuds can really ruin your music experience, so make sure you check out these basic requirements before you get your next pair of wireless earbuds.
HUAWEI Freebuds 5i
The HUAWEI Freebuds 5i is one of the few TWS earphones that provide all of these requirements at a price of only RM399. And that’s not all: you can get Hi-Res audio, outstanding noise cancellation, long battery life, and a trendy pair of earphones at a special launch promotion price right now!
To celebrate the Freebuds 5i launch, HUAWEI will be holding a Sales Launch Special Rebate of RM50 on its official website on the 2nd - 15th of February 2023. During this period, the Freebuds 5i will be retailing at only RM349 — but that’s not all! Right now, users can log onto HUAWEI’s official online channels and grab an RM10 rebate voucher for an additional RM10 off on 2nd February, bringing the price down to only RM339!
Good music is awaiting you, so get ready to grab your HUAWEI Freebuds 5i soon!
[This article is made in collaboration with HUAWEI Malaysia]
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