Huawei FreeBuds 3i vs Apple Airpods 2: wireless earphones compared [Sponsored]

Huawei’s newly launched FreeBuds 3i bring a premium audio experience to South Africa, along with active noise cancellation and a redesigned fit for extra comfort.

But how do these new wireless earbuds compare to others on the market?

Here’s a quick look at the Huawei FreeBuds 3i versus the Apple AirPods 2.

FreeBuds 3i vs AirPods 2: design

The Huawei FreeBuds 3i and Apple AirPods 2 both offer wireless audio solutions that allow you to enjoy music when working on the go.

You can use your earphones without having to worry about cables tangling, while both products offer carry cases that provide charging.

The FreeBuds 3i differ from the AirPods 2 in terms of their fit, however.

The FreeBuds 3i have an in-ear fit with silicone tips to create a seal in the ear. This helps create an ergonomic and secure fit when you’re on the move.

The AirPods 2 use an open-fit design.

Noise-cancelling technology

One of the biggest differences between the two sets of wireless earbuds is their support for active noise cancelling.

The Huawei FreeBuds 3i come with active noise cancellation (ANC), including two-microphone hybrid ANC.

The FreeBuds 3i’s outward-facing microphone can detect surrounding noise and actively cancel it out with anti-noise.

You can also long-tap to enter Aware Mode, which allows the sound of the outside world in and facilitates your communication with others without taking out the earbuds.

Meanwhile, the inward-facing microphone picks up other noises in your ear for extra noise cancellation.

This helps protect your hearing and remove background distractions.

In terms of audio call noise cancellation, the FreeBuds 3i use three-microphone call noise cancellation to remove audio interference.

The Apple AirPods 2 do not have active noise cancellation, but it does use two-microphone call noise reduction with a voice sensor.

Earbud controls

Both pairs of earphones have capacitive sensors that enable touch controls, allowing you to interact with the earphones with a simple tap.

The Huawei FreeBuds 3i have two-tap or double-tap controls to interact with music and calls. The long tap helps you activate noise cancellation. You can also access your voice assistant with the earbuds.

Meanwhile the Apple AirPods 2 have a two-tap plus voice assistant control.

FreeBuds 3i vs AirPods 2: battery life

The two products also differ in terms of their battery life.

In total, the FreeBuds 3i have 14.5 hours of playback time with the charging case.

Meanwhile, the Apple AirPods 2 have 24 hours of playback with the charging case.

You can see more differences between the Huawei FreeBuds 3i and the Apple AirPods 2 in the table below:

The Huawei FreeBuds 3i are now available from multiple retailers and Huawei’s online store for R1 999.

 This article is sponsored by Huawei.