Apple AirPods 3 are often considered the gold standard when it comes to wireless earbuds, and for good reason. AirPods offer a cohesive experience that few other earbuds manage to replicate. While they may not deliver the absolute best sound quality on the market, the overall ease of use and ecosystem integration are what continue to appeal to the users.
I’ve been looking for something similar to complement my Android ecosystem for the past few months. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 came close to becoming my main pair of earbuds, but they don’t work well with an iPhone. I am also not a big fan of Galaxy Buds.
After testing the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 for the past couple of weeks, though, I think I may have finally found Android earbuds that can rival my AirPods Pro.
These earbuds sound far better than I expected
The most important thing about any pair of earbuds is audio quality. Not everyone loves the sound signature of the AirPods Pro 3, but I personally enjoy the slightly deeper, bass-heavy tuning they offer.
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 go a step further with a dual-driver setup that combines a dynamic driver with a planar diaphragm tweeter. The result is a full, detailed sound with clean vocals and strong low-end response that is genuinely enjoyable. Instrument separation is excellent, and the audio remains clear without distortion even at higher volumes.
In terms of design, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 look and feel quite similar to the AirPods Pro 3. They feature the same small stem-style in-ear design with silicone ear tips. The earbuds feel sturdy and well-built the moment you take them out of the box.
One thing I especially like about the design is that Huawei offers both touch and swipe controls. You can tap to control playback or volume, but you can also swipe along the stem to trigger different actions.
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ANC plus smart features seal the deal
One of the main reasons I have always liked the Apple AirPods Pro 3 is their ANC. The noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 3 is easily among the best I have used across any earbuds. I have been searching for a pair that works just as well with Android, and the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 come very close.
These earbuds use a dual-engine active noise cancellation system, meaning two separate systems work together to block different types of noise. They independently measure the surrounding sound and adjust accordingly. In practice, the performance is excellent.
There is a brief moment where the earbuds analyze the environment before applying noise cancellation, but once it kicks in, the suppression is impressive. You can also adjust ANC levels in the app, though I kept it on the default dual-engine mode and was very satisfied with the results.
In addition, you also get several smart features similar to those found on AirPods. For example, the earbuds support head gestures for answering calls or dismissing notifications. There is also support for the Find feature that emits a sound to help you locate the earbuds if they get lost under a couch cushion or somewhere nearby.
And they don’t fall apart outside the Huawei ecosystem
One of my biggest issues with the AirPods Pro 3 is how dependent they are on Apple’s ecosystem. They work perfectly with an iPhone or Mac, but accessing features on other devices often requires third-party apps just to check battery levels or adjust settings.
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, however, work well across multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and even smart TVs.
You can pair the earbuds directly through standard Bluetooth settings, and they also support multipoint connectivity. On a recent flight to Barcelona, I switched between my iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra without needing to disconnect or re-pair the earbuds. Most features remain accessible across platforms through Huawei’s companion app.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed using the FreeBuds Pro 5 as my main earbuds over the past couple of weeks. I’ll probably switch back to my AirPods Pro 3 when I am using my iPhone, but whenever I return to Android, these will likely be my go-to pair.
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 retail for £180, though they are currently available for around £150 thanks to a limited offer, which makes them a fairly compelling alternative to the AirPods Pro 3.
