TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
THREE STARS - With ANC active noise canceling and app-support, the Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i seems to be excellent value for money, but it doesn't wow in any aspect.
Specs of the Huawei Freebuds 3i/ Honor Magic Earbuds:
Bluetooth 5.0
3,5 - 4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 4 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$90 on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores - check current price!
As the Honor Magic Earbuds and Huawei Freebuds 3i are the same model, this is a review of both. Below, you will find comparisons of the Honor Magic Earbuds vs Xiaomi AirDots ANC, Boltune ANC BH023, and Edifier TWS NB.
Design, comfort and battery life
The Honor Magic Earbuds or Huawei Freebuds 3i (this text will contain both names, as they are the same model) look pretty straightforward for wireless earphones. They share the shiny white plastic of Apple's AirPods and have a slight metallic circle underneath the stem, giving them a bit of a premium look - even though almost all terrible AirPods clones copy this exact look.
The earpiece differs from the AirPods, as the Magic Earbuds has an actual in-ear design, and the rubber ear tips disappear in your ears entirely. It makes for a steady yet comfortable fit, further helped by the compact round part that leans in your ears. Four sizes of ear tips should get you your ideal fit.
The Magic Earbuds aren't the lightest wireless earbuds to carry in your ears, however, and the same applies to the case. While it isn't overly powered with 410 mAh and can recharge the earpieces only three times before needing a recharge itself, it feels a tad heavy. Recharging the case can be done via USB-C.
Each full charge gives the earphones up to 4,5 hours with ANC off, and about an hour less with noise cancelling on. Not the best battery specs.
Connectivity and controls
You control the earpieces of the Huawei Freebuds 3i/ Magic Earbuds with touch panels on the top-end of the stem. While you can change the setup via the Android-app, there aren't too many control options.
In the standard setup, you play and pause the earpieces by double-tapping either of the sides. Hold the right earpiece to activate the voice assistant on your phone; hold the left to activate or deactivate the ANC active noise cancellation. The latter is announced with a clear English prompt, happily - but the lack of volume controls and changing tracks isn't beneficial.
Connectivity on the Freebuds 3i/ Magic Earbuds is robust, with reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity up to ten meters. The connection holds when you're walking or cycling as well. It's also possible to switch seamlessly between one and two earpieces.
Calling and watching movies
The call quality of the Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i is disappointing. It's promoted for having noise cancellation during calls, and that part works okay. Both surrounding noises from traffic and even wind are nicely reduced.
There's a lot of processing going on in calls, however. The result? There can be instances when you will hear sound switching from the left to the right bud. Other people can hear you loud and clear in one moment in a call or Google Meet session, but you can sound distant and robot-like in others.
Surprisingly, the firmware update of the app, which states to improve call quality, seems to make the problems worse. Before installing the update, an outside call was doable, with your voice sounding more clear and loud than surrounding noises. After the update, you will probably rapidly switch to your phone to continue your call.
Watching videos is a pleasant experience, with minimal audio-delay on the YouTube-app on iPhone, and effortless audio-video synchronisation on the whole of Android and other iPhone apps.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Review: ANC on Freebuds 3i/ Magic Earbuds
The ANC active noise cancellation of the Honor Magic Earbuds and Huawei Freebuds 3i isn't the strongest. It does reduce traffic, construction sites, electronic humming, and buzzes in the background, and covers them up in a relaxing white noise. The ANC reduces sounds and puts some calm on your head - but there's always a few sounds you can still hear.
While traffic may be reduced, the first vehicle accelerating even remotely nearby will still come through. The same applies to voices around you: they still are loud and clear when you have ANC on - and even when you're listening to music at average volumes.
Due to the small round part that goes in your ears and the thin ear tips Honor/ Huawei opted for, there's a lot of sound coming in - by design. There are plenty of wireless earbuds without noise cancellation, such as the Bomaker Sifi II, which block out noise much better when listening to music at even low volumes.
Via the Android app, you can activate a third ANC-setting, next to 'on' and 'off'. It's a heartrough-mode that puts trough noises from your surroundings loud when you need it a moment. It is a very natural effect, with voices sounding clear - without metallic side-effects. Impressive, but it doesn't save the fact that the ANC noise cancellation itself is pretty weak.
Looking for the best noise cancelling audio on a budget? Try the OneAudio A9 headphone.
App review of Freebuds 3i/ Magic Earbuds
One of the best features of the Huawei Freebuds 3i or Honor Magic Earbuds, is its premium-looking and feeling app for Android. Once connected to Huawei AI Life, you can update the firmware for the earbuds and can see the battery status of the earpieces and the case. The first available firmware states to optimize the sound and call quality of the earpieces.
The best feature is the option to change the controls. You can choose all kinds of options for the double-tap and the long press, but unfortunately, adjusting the volume isn't one of them. An option to add extra controls is also unavailable. At the moment of writing this review, it isn't possible to change the sound via an equalizer.
As stated, the app gives another neat option, which is to switch to a heartrough-mode in your ANC-on and ANC-off cycle. A welcome addition, but since there isn't a shortcut to reach the function, chances are you won't use it very often.
Surprisingly, after the first firmware update, the earbuds don't automatically pause anymore when taking one out of your ears.
Sound quality of Magic Earbuds/ Freebuds 3i
The Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i delivers a balanced sound, that seems to be tuned not to offend anyone. It fairs well in all music genres but doesn't spark in any.
The sound signature is somewhat comparable to that of the Samsung Galaxy Buds. On that model, a lot of users complained about a lack of bass - and many people may do the same with this model. After the first firmware update, the bass can deliver a steady thump in pop and dance songs, but it doesn't do so very forward. The bass has a laidback, sluggish sound to it, and isn't very active. It's purely supportive here, instead of dominant and uplifting.
Instead, the sound is mainly centered around the mid-tones. Instruments like guitars, violins, and the piano, sound crisp and come with good clarity. Especially rock and acoustic pop can sound very straightforward, very natural on these. Drums and claps can have a bit of an emphasized ss-sound, however, making them sometimes too loud in the music. Happily, usually both female vocals and higher-pitched male vocals take the prominent role in musical pieces.
That doesn't mean the Magic Earbuds/ Freebuds 3i actually places vocals center stage. That doesn't apply because the soundstage is limited. Music always feels close to you, and while instrument separation is good, it misses the lovely airiness of a competitor like the Boltune ANC BT-BH023. There's a slight lack of directional sense in the sound - it's hard to place instruments and details.
While the music sounds balanced all the time, the Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds 3i doesn't wow you with vividness or detail. It misses a bit of a spark.
Selected comparisons
Huawei Freebuds 3i vs Edifier TWS NB
The Edifier TWS NB may be a bit off-putting thanks to its large earpieces and big protrusion out of your ears, but it is the absolute best value for money when it comes to ANC on wireless earbuds. The Edifier TWS NB has a much stronger noise cancelling than the Honor/ Huawei, with more mechanical sounds, background noises, and more voices depleted to the background - or even totally inaudible. The Edifier outlasts the battery life of the Magic Earbuds around 4 hours, too. The Freebuds is more comfortable. Soundwise, the Honor/ Huawei puts more emphasis on the mids and sounds more balanced, whereas the Edifier has a heavy bass thump and a smooth, warm sound.
Honor Magic Earbuds vs Boltune ANC BH023
The Boltune ANC BT-BH023 outperforms the Honor/ Huawei on several aspects. It feels almost as comfortable in your ears, but has a 1-2 hours stronger battery life and is around $30 cheaper at the time of writing this. The noise cancelling of the Boltune blocks out engine and traffic noises better, and voices too - although the Honor/ Huawei has a more relaxing white noise to cover-up noises. The Boltune BH023 has a more engaging sound, with stronger bass and a bigger emphasis on upper-mids and vocals, making music feel more vivid and giving it a wide soundstage. The Honor sounds more balanced but flatter in comparison.
Huawei Freebuds 3i vs Xiaomi AirDots ANC
Xiaomi was one of the first Chinese brands to release wireless earbuds with noise cancelling. The original AirDots Pro ANC show their age now - with a comparable white noise effect, but even less effective noise cancellation than the Huawei/ Honor Magic Earbuds. It has a standard heartrough-mode on the buttons, and it's easier to take an indoor call. The Freebuds 3i is more compact and comfortable in the ears. Highs are further extended in the Xiaomi-sound, which emphasizes vocals and higher tones, rather than the more mid-centric and flatter sound of the Huawei/ Honor.
No Xiaomi AirDots ANC review available
Verdict
The Honor Magic Earbuds/ Huawei Freebuds Lite 3i is a premium-feeling package, but it misses its mark for nearly $100. Its sound isn't spectacular, its active noise cancelling isn't strong enough, and its call quality and battery life disappoint.
THREE stars - worth considering
Buy Honor Magic Earbuds/ check current price:
Buy Honor Magic Earbuds on Amazon Europe (Germany)
Buy Huawei Freebuds 3i ANC on Amazon Europe (Germany)
I bought the Honor Magic Earbuds myself to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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