HUAWEI FreeBuds 6 Review: Finally an Open-Fit Buds with Actual Bass?

Huawei’s latest FreeBuds 6 might look like your typical open-fit earbuds, but they’re packing quite a few surprises under that water-drop shell. As the follow-up to the FreeBuds 5, they’re lighter, smarter, and more powerful across the board — especially in the sound department. I’ve been using them for a couple of weeks now, and honestly? They’ve got me rethinking what open-fit buds are capable of.

Design & Fit: Lightweight, Sleek, and Secure

The FreeBuds 6 continue Huawei’s unique “water-drop” design, a signature aesthetic inherited and refined from the FreeBuds 5. While looks are subjective, I personally like how clean and modern it feels, which looks more like a fashion piece on your ears. More importantly, they’re super comfortable. The semi-in-ear, open-fit approach means they rest gently in your outer ear rather than going deep into your ear canal, so it gives you a perfect blend of comfort and environmental awareness. With each earbud at just around 4.9g alongside a 12% smaller stem, this improvement contributes significantly to long-term wearability. After a few hours of wear, you kind of forget they’re there.

Compared to in-ear models, they do sit a bit looser, but I never felt like they were going to fall off, even when walking around or lightly jogging. And they’re also IP54-rated, so sweat and light rain are no problem, making it a reliable companion for users with active lifestyles. Just don’t drop the charging case into a puddle as there's no water resistance there.

Audio Quality: Dual Drivers Deliver Rich Sound

Here’s where the FreeBuds 6 really pulled ahead of expectations. Open-fit buds usually struggle with bass, but Huawei’s dual-driver system changes the game. This is the first time HUAWEI implement this dual-driver setup in their open-fit earbuds, where it pairs an 11mm dynamic driver with four magnets for deep, punchy bass and a planar diaphragm driver for crisp, detailed highs and mids. This results in a remarkably rich and vibrant sound profile that truly impresses for an open-fit design. To my ears, the bass is definitely present, not muddy, not overwhelming, just well-tuned. Vocals are clear, instruments are separated nicely, and there’s real depth to music playback.

Huawei’s Triple Adaptive EQ also intelligently adjusts the sound in real-time based on your ear canal shape, wearing status, and listening volume, ensuring a consistently optimized experience. Pretty smart.

High-resolution audio enthusiasts will appreciate the support for LDAC, AAC, and Huawei's own L2HC 4.0 codecs, enabling lossless audio transmission up to 2.3Mbps. Certified by HWA Lossless and Hi-Res Wireless Audio, these earbuds deliver exceptional fidelity, especially when paired with compatible Huawei devices running EMUI 15 or later.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Call Quality: Surprising Performance for Open-Fit

Here’s the thing, open-fit earbuds can’t fully block out noise like in-ear ones do. But for the FreeBuds 6, the ANC performance is surprisingly effective, thanks to Huawei’s Intelligent Dynamic ANC 3.0. While it won't offer the complete isolation of in-ear earbuds, it can significantly reduce up to 95dB of ambient noise. Yes, you’ll still hear some background chatter, but stuff like aircon hum or light traffic gets toned down nicely. The system intelligently adapts cancellation parameters using multiple microphones and a bone conduction sensor, making it suitable for various environments from offices to cafes.

Calls were also super clear. The triple mic setup at each earbuds, including a bone conduction microphone, combined with a deep neural network (DNN) algorithm helps make your voice come through clearly, even when you’re in very noisy settings. And bonus, you can nod or shake your head to answer/reject calls. Small detail, but a fun touch to enhance the hands-free experience.

Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power

The FreeBuds 6 offer solid battery performance. You can expect up to 5.5 hours of music playback on a single charge with ANC off, extending to 4.0 hours with ANC activated. When factoring in the charging case, the total listening time stretches to an impressive 36 hours without ANC and 27 hours with ANC on.

For those on the go, fast charging is a welcome addition, providing 2.5 hours of music playback from just a 5-minute charge. Overall it takes around 45 minutes to bring the charging case back to full. The charging case also conveniently supports wireless charging, which is a nice bonus.

Connectivity and Smart Features: Seamless Integration

Bluetooth 5.2 keeps things stable, and I didn’t experience any major dropouts during gaming or binge-watching. The multipoint connection is super useful too. I had it paired to both my phone and laptop, switching audio smoothly between them.

The gesture controls are also intuitive, covering standard functions like play/pause, track skipping, volume adjustment (swipe), and ANC mode toggling. For deeper customization and control, it can be customized in the Huawei AI Life app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. It provides options for EQ settings, ANC adjustments, wear detection, and even a "Find My Earbuds" function for locating misplaced buds.

And if you're on a Huawei phone, the integration with HarmonyOS AI and Celia assistant further expands functionality for users within the Huawei ecosystem, offering features like live translation and voice commands.

Pros and Cons: A Balanced View

TLDR, here's a summary of what I feel great and meh about the FreeBuds 6.

Pros:

• Exceptional Audio Quality

  The dual-driver system delivers rich, detailed sound with strong bass and clear highs.

• Effective ANC for Open-Fit

  Surprisingly good noise cancellation for a semi-in-ear design.

• Superior Call Quality

  Clear voice pickup even in noisy environments.

• Comfortable and Lightweight Design

  Ideal for extended wear.

• Solid Battery Life

  Good endurance on a single charge and with the case.

• Fast and Wireless Charging

  Convenient power-up options.

• Multipoint Connectivity

  Seamless switching between two devices.

• Intuitive Touch Controls & AI Life App

  Customizable and user-friendly.

Cons:

• ANC Still Not as Potent as In-Ear

  While good for open-fit, it can't match the isolation of true in-ear earbuds with a complete seal.

• Some Advanced Features are Huawei-Ecosystem Dependent: 

  Features like L2HC 4.0 and certain AI assistant functions work best with Huawei devices.

• Modest Battery Life with ANC On While decent, 4.0 hours on a single charge with ANC might be limiting for very long sessions without the case.

Verdict: A Strong Contender in Open-Fit Earbuds

If you’ve always preferred open-fit earbuds because they’re more breathable, but hated sacrificing sound quality or ANC — the HUAWEI FreeBuds 6 might be the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. They deliver a premium audio experience with their innovative dual-driver system, surprisingly effective ANC for their design, and excellent call quality. The comfortable, lightweight build and convenient smart features make them a compelling choice for users who prioritize comfort and situational awareness without compromising too much on sound or noise cancellation.

They’re not going to beat flagship in-ears when it comes to pure noise isolation, but they come close enough, with way better comfort and surprising audio chops. Add in Huawei’s smart features and a slick charging case, and you’ve got a solid all-rounder — especially if you’re in the Huawei ecosystem.

The FreeBuds 6 is priced at RM 699, and for this price point, it stands out as an excellent option for those seeking a balanced, high-quality audio experience in a uniquely comfortable form factor. If you're looking for earbuds that allow you to stay connected to your surroundings while enjoying great sound and clear calls, the FreeBuds 6 are definitely worth considering.

Still worth checking out even if you’re not!