Introduction.
Vopmart.com has reviewed some weird-looking headphones over the years-most recently the Dyson Zone, whose air-cleaning mask made the wearer look like a Batman villain. Now Huawei has made a pair of earbuds that are almost as distinctive. The Huawei FreeClip are the audio equivalent of a Hot Topic ear piercing; they're worn around your ears instead of in them, for a unique take on open-fit technology.
As a 30-something dad, I don't think I'm really the target market. Next it'll be earbuds with built-in Bluetooth, mark my words. Beyond the looks, though, there's a lot here that should interest fitness fanatics, like increased awareness of your surroundings and a fit that won't quit even when you're working out. Does that mean they deserve your attention over a pair of traditional in-ears?
Design & construction: Put a ring on it
The FreeClip's pebble-like charging case doesn't look much different than any other: a flip-top lid, a USB-C port on the bottom, and a pairing button on the side. It's small and light enough to fit comfortably in my pocket, and the matte finish doesn't pick up fingerprints at all. Open it up, though, and you get your first glimpse of what a departure from the norm these 'buds are.
Each one has two parts. The spherical part contains the dynamic driver and sits in your ear concha (without actually blocking your ear canal), while the chunkier part sits behind your earlobe. A flexible bridge holds the two parts together and looks undeniably like an earring.
The black model I tested isn't exactly subtle, but the purple version is truly in-yer-face. Or on-yer-ear, if you prefer. Either way, from a distance it looks like you're wearing giant earrings. It's sure to divide opinions and probably put some people off trying them altogether.
These buds are a lot less chunky than the Shokz OpenFit true wireless open-fit earbuds, which are the FreeClip's closest competitor and cost almost the same. I found them to be quite comfortable to wear, with minimal pressure on any part of the ear, but a secure enough fit that they didn't move around while I was walking. I could even run at a brisk pace without them falling out. The fact that they're IP54 rated also bodes well for wet weather exercise.
Features & battery: the way you want it
The FreeClip earbuds are identical, so they can be charged in either side of the case and worn in either ear; Huawei's software detects which way they're in and automatically adjusts the stereo arrangement, much like the Huawei Watch Buds I tested in early 2023. It worked pretty flawlessly for me, with an audible alert letting me know the arrangement had shifted.
Like most wireless earbuds, you get gesture controls for playing, pausing, and skipping tracks - but Huawei ditched any sort of single tap option. You have to double-tap to play/pause, to avoid accidentally stopping your tracks while adjusting the fit.
In my testing, the buds lasted up to eight hours of listening before needing a trip to the charger, which is in line with Huawei's claims. That number dropped to under six with a lot of voice calls, but is still a respectable performance for non-ANC earbuds. The case itself contains enough juice for a maximum of 32 hours. Wireless charging is also supported.
Interface: Not essential
Huawei's AI Life has all the usual settings I'd expect to find in a companion app, with configurable EQ modes, dual device connectivity, and a low-latency Bluetooth option if you have a supported device. The app clearly displays the remaining battery for the buds and the case, which is handy since there's no audible indicator when you first put them in your ears.
It supports L2HC 3.0, Huawei's proprietary lossless codec, which is unique to Huawei smartphones - which aren't exactly big sellers in the West anymore. The open fit means these aren't audiophile-grade earbuds, so it's debatable whether anyone with a third-party phone in their pocket is missing out.
Of course, this all comes with a now-familiar Huawei caveat. The AI Life app must be downloaded directly from Huawei's website and side-loaded onto your Android device, rather than found in the Play Store, due to the US trade embargo. There's a handy QR code on the box that links directly to the download, so you don't have to Google it, but that's something rival headphones don't have to worry about.
There's very little difference between the available EQ modes, and few options for customizing the gesture controls, so aside from the odd firmware update, I'm not convinced you're missing out by skipping the download.
Sound quality: brings the bass
Huawei says that the FreeClip has a "private acoustic design", which is supposed to reduce sound leakage compared to other open earbuds. In practice, it does a decent job at moderate volumes; I could listen while sitting on the same sofa as my wife and not disturb her. Above 60%, though, and she should be able to hear them over the sound of the TV.
There's more than enough volume to drown out passing cars, which admittedly defeats the purpose of open-fit earbuds. I mostly stuck to 40-50% for at-home listening, and only turned it up a bit when I was outdoors.
Because the buds aren't inserted directly into your ear canals, there's a natural openness and airiness to any music-more than you'd get from a pair of (non-professional) Apple AirPods or Nothing Ear Stick, but without the bass penalty you get from a pair of open-fit bone conduction earphones. There's actually a surprising amount here, giving tracks a full-bodied feel with no obvious dip in any part of the frequency range.
Vocals are pretty clear, hi-hats have bite, and I could even detect the sub-bass in heavy electronic tracks. They're by no means the last word in detail or definition, but I was pleasantly surprised by their overall sonic ability; the only reason to relegate them to "second pair" status would be because you're not sold on the styling, not because the sound can't cut the mustard.
Huawei FreeClip Verdict
A big thumbs up to Huawei for doing something new in the headphone world; the FreeClip are a unique take on true wireless earbuds, bringing open fit awareness into a much smaller form factor than I've seen before. They actually sound pretty decent, too, though serious music lovers are better off sticking with traditional in-ear or IEMs.
I don't think having to jump through a few extra hoops to get the companion app on your phone is a deal-breaker, but the styling might be. The FreeClip will certainly have its fans, especially if you're determined to make your tech stand out from the crowd, but for everyone else, there are less visually distinctive alternatives for similar money.
