HUAWEI FreeBuds SE are affordable TWS earphones that offer everything you need: good sound, noise-canceling microphones, long battery life and a sleek design with a comfortable fit. Read more about the model in our review below.
Characteristics
- Driver size: 10 mm
- Earpiece size (h x l x w): 38.1 x 20.6 x 20mm
- Case size (h x l x w): 27.5 x 70 x 35.5mm
- Case weight: 35.5 grams
- Earpiece weight: 5.1 grams
- Case battery capacity: 410 mAh
- Headphone battery capacity: 37 mAh
- Headphone autonomy (talk/music): 4 hours/6 hours
- Case autonomy (talk/music): 16 hours/24 hours
- Charging time (headphones/case): 1.5 hours/2 hours
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.2
- Control: sensor
- Peculiarities: wear sensor, splashproof IPX4, call noise reduction
Packing and kit
The packaging of HUAWEI FreeBuds SE is a small white cardboard box with a picture of the device on the front side and a list of key features on the back.
Inside there are headphones in a charging case, instructions, interchangeable ear pads (sizes S and L), as well as a short USB-C to USB-A charging cable.
Appearance and ergonomics
The HUAWEI FreeBuds SE headset is an inexpensive model, but not without charm. The device was released in two colors – white and mint blue. I got the second option for review. Looks fresh and cute.
The body of the case is made of plastic. It’s glossy, but luckily it doesn’t get smudged or scratched. And this despite the fact that I carried it in my pocket with my keys and wallet, that is, not very carefully.
It is compact and lightweight, takes up almost no space, fits in the palm of your hand or pocket. This is convenient, especially in the summer, when there are not as many clothes as there are pockets where you can put all the things you need for a walk.
The case has an oval shape. The brand name is printed on the top of the lid. There is a status indicator on the front, USB-C on the back for charging. The technical information is at the bottom.
The lid flips up. Despite the fact that it opens easily, when closed, it is securely held by a magnet, and therefore there is no danger that it will spontaneously open somewhere in the backpack.
The earbuds fit with the ear pads down, it’s easy to remove them, and it’s impossible to mix them up and put them in the wrong socket. In addition, each of them has the mark “R” and “L”, that is, “right” and “left”. Between them is a button to reset the settings and activate the pairing mode. In the landing slots, two contacts are visible that provide charging.
The model is made in the form factor of in-ear headphones. At first glance it seems that they have a classic form, but if you look closely, the differences are still visible. The stem tapers towards the bottom, and the capsule has a pronounced drop-shaped shape, and the sound guide, ending in a mesh and an ear cushion, is slightly bent inward.
HUAWEI claims that the design is designed to fit the contour of the outer ear. This ensures a comfortable fit and reduces pressure on the ear canal.
I am not strong in anatomy, but I can testify that the headphones sit very comfortably in my ears, they are not felt at all and do not cause discomfort during the entire listening time. Several times I even “lost” the headphones, forgetting that they were already in my ears.
If you continue to study the design, then on the outside of the top and bottom of the leg you can see the hole. Between them is a touch zone that serves to control. On the inside of the leg there are charging contacts, technical information and side designations with the letters “R” and “L”.
On the inside of the capsule, you can see the wearing sensor, a hole on the bottom and another hole under the ear cushion. The ear pads themselves have a rather unusual shape. They are small and slightly flattened. Inside they have a size designation. By default, the middle option is “M”. As mentioned above, the kit also includes nozzles in sizes “L” and “S”.
HUAWEI FreeBuds SE features dual-mic beamforming technology that cuts out unnecessary sounds and focuses on the user’s voice when they are in noisy environments. Accordingly, a total of four holes can be found on the headphone case, two of which are microphones, and two serve to reduce sound pressure.
My overall impression of the HUAWEI FreeBuds SE is positive. They are lightweight, comfortable, stylish and ergonomic. In my memory, this is one of the most comfortable in-ear headsets in terms of fit.
Connection, control and configuration
The HUAWEI headset is paired with smartphones using Bluetooth 5.2. Traditionally for the company’s audio devices, headphones provide support for AAC and SBC codecs.
To pair, you need to put the headset into search mode by pressing the button on the case for a couple of seconds. The LED will start flashing quickly. Next, we find the headphones on the smartphone, give them the necessary permissions and make the connection. With HUAWEI smartphones, the process is even easier: just bring the headphones to the phone, after which the latter will prompt you to pair.
To set up the headset and update the software, you need to install the Ai Life application already familiar to many, where all connected HUAWEI devices are displayed in the main window. By clicking on the necessary, you will go to its direct settings.
HUAWEI FreeBuds SE does not have many installations. The window that opens displays the device with the remaining charge for each earbud and case. A software update, help on the model, as well as the Gestures tab, where you can change the control, are also available here.
Since the model is inexpensive, its management is simple. The headset supports double-tap, which, depending on the settings, perform certain actions. By default, a double tap on the headphone leg stops and starts the music, but you can choose to switch songs forward / backward or assign activation of the voice assistant.
Since I don’t use assistants, and the headset has a wearing sensor that automatically stops or resumes playback when the earpiece is removed or placed in the ear, it seemed logical to me to assign the track switch forward to the right earpiece, and back to the left.
In general, with the setup, connection and management of HUAWEI FreeBuds SE, everything is as simple and clear as possible. The sensor is sensitive, accurately responds to touch. I like the ease of operation, since basic operations can be performed directly through the headset and do not need to memorize a million combinations to do something. The only thing that could be added is the ability to control the volume.
User Experience
In the headphone design section, I mentioned that they have a slightly custom design that improves ergonomics, and the fit is really top notch.
However, the model is no less interesting inside. Firstly, it has a fairly large dynamic driver 10 mm, and, secondly, a titanium membrane based on composite materials is used. All this should provide tight bass, highlighted vocals, as well as clear mids and highs.
I’m not an audiophile, but I’ve used a lot of different headphones to form some idea of how music genres and specific compositions should sound.
As for the HUAWEI FreeBuds SE, I would like to note that the headset, in my opinion, is more focused on bass and voice, while the rest of the instruments are a little “retracted” back, supporting and complementing the overall picture, but getting lost against the background of the selected frequencies. Based on this, I especially liked how electronic music sounds in these headphones, rap (with an emphasis on recitative and beat) and its heavy offshoots in the spirit of nu-metal. You can also listen to other genres, but the above ones are revealed especially well.
I repeat that the shape of the headphones also provides for a well-thought-out microphone arrangement that provides high-quality voice transmission in noisy environments. I tested it next to a busy road and on a train. The interlocutors confirmed that the voice is heard perfectly, extraneous sounds are almost completely absent.
HUAWEI FreeBuds SE are connected via Bluetooth 5.2, which brings many advantages, one of which is the absence of delays. You can check this when playing videos and in games. I watched a concert on YouTube in the headset, a series on Kinopoisk, and also played PUBG Mobile and Call Of Duty. I did not notice any desynchronization between the picture and sound, while the headphones performed well during these classes, providing a good immersion in what is happening, and therefore the model can also be recommended to gamers.
One of the strengths of the headset is declared autonomy. According to the manufacturer, the case should be enough for 16 hours of talking and 24 hours of listening to music, and one charge of the headphones is enough for 4 hours of communication and 6 hours of audio playback.
I always listen to music at maximum volume, and with this use, the headset lasted about 5 hours in music playback mode. This is less than the stated time by an hour, but, as a rule, battery life values are given for medium volume, and therefore, I believe, HUAWEI FreeBuds SE may well work for the promised 6 hours. The case honestly charges the headset 4 times, which is indicated in the specifications.
Conclusion
HUAWEI FreeBuds SE is an inexpensive TWS headset without unnecessary options, but with excellent sound, cool design, thoughtful ergonomics, good battery life and clear voice transmission. Also on its side is the compact size of the case, audio transmission without delay, convenient control with the ability to customize it, as well as a wearing sensor.
I was not able to single out serious disadvantages, but if I really carp too much, I would like to see a longer cable in the kit, and in the control settings one could add volume control. But, I repeat, these are just nitpicks that do not have any meaning against the background of the advantages of the device.
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