Huawei has announced that making a debut in Malaysia soon is its latest entry-level TWS audio product, the FreeBuds 5i. Much like its predecessor, the newer device comes with high-end features such as active noise cancelling (ANC), Hi-Res certified audio, touch controls and so on, but at a very affordable price point.
Design-wise, the Huawei FreeBuds 5i and its accompanying case is almost identical to last year’s model, save for a shorter stem on both earbuds. In addition, the colour options for the entire package are completely different this time around, coming in either Nebula Black, Isle Blue, or Ceramic White. Apart from that, the buds themselves are rated at IP54 in terms of splash, water and dust resistance, and included in the box are additional ear tip sizes for users who prefer a different fit than the ones that are already equipped.
Internally, each side of the FreeBuds 5i features 10 mm dynamic drivers and a polymer composite diaphragm, which is claimed to offer Hi-Res certified audio at low, medium and high frequencies. Other onboard features include the aforementioned ANC capabilities that are available in low to high sensitivity settings, call noise cancellation, transparency mode, low gaming latency mode, and Bluetooth 5.2 with dual device simultaneous connection support. Meanwhile, controls are handled by integrated touch pads on each earbud’s stem.
Huawei promises that the new buds are capable of providing a total of up to 28 hours of usage with ANC off when used together with the accompanying charging case. With ANC enabled, it is claimed to offer a combined total of up to 18.5 hours instead. On their own, the FreeBuds 5i is said to last up to 6 with ANC enabled via a single charge, or 7.5 hours with the feature disabled. Regardless, these figures are a significant improvement over last year’s model.
For charging, each bud will take around 60 minutes for a full top up when stored, whereas the charging case itself is said to take around 110 minutes to be fully charged via USB-C. Huawei notes that a mere 15-minute charge via the case is enough for the FreeBuds 5i to provide users with up to 4 hours of usage.
The upcoming Huawei FreeBuds 5i is slated to launch in Malaysia next week on 25 January 2023. Even though its pricing has not been revealed at this time, the company promises that the product will retail as low as RM 450 or less once it officially debuts for the local market. On that note, last year’s FreeBuds 4i launched at RM 379, which serves as a good point of reference.
(Source: Huawei press release / official website / Facebook)
