Huawei's FreeBuds copy the AirPods, double the battery life

The innovation doesn't stop with the #HuaweiP20… We've also launched a whole new range of accessories including HUAWEI FreeBuds, HUAWEI Active Noise Cancellation Earphone, HUAWEI Moonlight Selfie Stick, and the HUAWEI Band 2 Pro. pic.twitter.com/ESHFQ7ukPa

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) March 27, 2018

 

Say what you will about Huawei, but it is determined to walk the fine line between imitating Apple's design, and altering it just enough so as not to get into legal trouble. It's a hotch-potch of feelings, though, as the new P20 and P20 Pro sport a notch and vertical cameras, but at the same time carry unique features, especially in the camera department, so it's not exactly blatant copycatting that Huawei engages in, bur rather going with the trend flow, and enhancing it in the process.

Case in point - the company announced truly wireless earphones called FreeBuds, which is as suggestive of a name as it can be for Bluetooth buds sans wires. Huawei promises 10 hours of playback on a charge, and extra charges from the supplied case. This is almost twice as long as current truly wireless earphones; even Apple's AirPods which are some of the best in that respect. The thing is, however, that the FreeBuds look very, very similar to the AirPods, sticking stems and all, which can startle the initiated a bit when they see the two models next to each other. 

Still, the FreeBuds offer a black option, which Apple doesn't, a silicon tip for more secure fit, and, did we mention the 10-hour playback promise? There must be some new Qualcomm chippery and Bluetooth 5.0 tech inside to hit that mark, but we'll have to take them for a spin before we reach a verdict on performance and real battery life. The price? Why, at €159, it undercuts the AirPods in Europe by a twenty, but rights their wrongs, so the FreeBuds might find a decent market acceptance when Huawei lets them out in the open.

source: Huawei via TheVerge