FreeBuds 3 and FreeBuds 3i

FreeBuds 3 and FreeBuds 3i are wireless earphones sold by HUAWEI.

Since FreeBuds 3i came out after FreeBuds 3, it might seem like the 3i is more powerful, but it feels more like a power-down in features other than noise cancellation.

The price also reflects this; as of writing this article, the 3 costs around 20,000 yen on Amazon, while the 3i is around 13,000 yen. This also suggests that more effort was put into making the FreeBuds 3.

I had been using FreeBuds 3 for a long time, but I recently purchased FreeBuds 3i, so I compared them to the FreeBuds 3 I had been using.

Comparisons of various features and specs have been done in many places, so it feels a bit late, thus this comparison is based on my personal impressions.

For details on the two products, please see the official pages below.

HUAWEI FreeBuds 3, HUAWEI Kirin A1 Chipset, Intelligent Noise Cancelling | HUAWEI Japan

HUAWEI FreeBuds 3i - HUAWEI Japan

Comfort

First is the difference in wearing comfort when put in the ear.

In this regard, FreeBuds 3 was a complete victory for me.

Please note that this aspect is highly dependent on the individual, so take it as a reference.

First, there is a major difference between these two models: open-fit and in-ear canal type. Therefore, their appearance is also significantly different, as shown below.

Because of this, the FreeBuds 3 fit gently into the ear, whereas the FreeBuds 3i need to be pushed in firmly.

Putting on the 3 after wearing the 3i feels really light, with less burden on the ear and a gentler feel.

However, this might change depending on the ear shape, so not everyone might have the same impression.

Looking at various reviews, some people say the 3 “falls out of the ear easily,” but I can use them even when running without them falling out at all, so they seem to fit my ears quite well.

Case Portability

A point that bothers me quite a bit is carrying the case.

In the photo below, the left is FreeBuds 3 and the right is FreeBuds 3i.

As you can see, the 3i is thicker.

I usually put it in my left pants pocket, and the thickness of the 3i is quite noticeable then.

My impression is that I wish they had reduced the thickness even if it meant making it a bit wider.

Noise Cancelling

Both of these models have active noise cancelling features.

Comparing the noise cancelling, the in-ear 3i wins hands down.

Comparing the rattling sound on a train, FreeBuds 3 reduces the sound by about 20% subjectively, whereas FreeBuds 3i reduces it by about 60-70%.

Given that the 3 manages to put noise cancelling on an open-fit design is amazing in itself, so this difference is understandable.

For the 3i, the noise cancelling effect changes considerably depending on the angle it’s worn in the ear, so it’s best to test which angle is quietest initially for better use.

Also, a minor point: the 3 resets to noise cancelling OFF each time you use it, but the 3i remembers the previous ON/OFF state, which is another difference.

However, I’ve come to think that it’s not necessarily clear which is better.

This is because if some time has passed since the last use, I might not remember if I ended with noise cancelling ON, and I’ve already found myself wondering which state the 3i is in (noise cancelling ON or ambient sound passthrough) several times after putting them on.

With the 3, it’s always OFF, so you just need to perform the routine of double-tapping the earphone to turn it ON, eliminating any confusion.

Also, the 3 requires adjusting the noise cancelling via an app, but the 3i doesn’t need it, or rather, it wasn’t in the app menu.

Connection with Smartphone

I use a HUAWEI P30 Pro as my smartphone.

Personally, I find Bluetooth devices that frequently disconnect incredibly stressful, so I prefer to stick with the same manufacturer as much as possible, which is why both are HUAWEI now.

However, I felt there was a significant difference in connection stability between these two models.

First, I don’t feel any difference in the time it takes to connect to the smartphone after taking them out of the case. Both connect instantly.

However, while playing music, the sound cutting out abruptly is something I rarely encountered with FreeBuds 3, but with 3i, it happens about once during my daily commute.

This is quite noticeable and a minus point for the 3i.

Perhaps this is influenced by the fact that only the 3 uses the Kirin A1 chipset for Bluetooth?

Sound Quality

I’m not an expert on this, so I lack the knowledge and experience to comment in detail, and don’t have much to say.

Personally, I don’t think either is bad.

Charging

FreeBuds 3 supports wireless charging, but 3i does not.

This isn’t a problem as I carry a type-c charger anyway, but wireless charging is convenient, so it would have been nice if the 3i had it too.

(I once tried charging the FreeBuds 3 using the P30 Pro’s wireless reverse charging feature, and it was convenient!)

Final Verdict

For me, the FreeBuds 3 I bought first will likely be the one I use daily from now on.

Overall, they are more user-friendly, and I really like how gently they fit my ears.

So what about the 3i? My current workplace has quite a bit of noise from air conditioning and various machines, which significantly drains concentration. So, I’m thinking of using the 3i specifically when I want to concentrate at work, letting the noise cancelling help me.

Therefore, I want to utilize both effectively according to the situation.

Bonus

The day after I bought the FreeBuds 3i, a model called “FreeBuds Pro” was announced…

This one has even more powerful noise cancelling than the 3i, and its appearance is cooler than the previous two models.

However, the price is also Pro level (around 25,000 yen on Aliexpress), so I’m debating whether to buy it…