Short answer: the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3. It ranks #365 of 1253 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $219; the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 ranks #438, rated 4.0/5, and costs $249, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 75 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: Treble about 4 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Why pick the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: The rating reflects sound quality only; comfort, build and noise isolation are not part of the score.
Buy the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 75 against the Harman target.
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A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target.
Amazon $249 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 | HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 | $249 |
| Ranked | #365 of 1253 in In-Ear Headphones | #438 of 1253 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.85 dB standard deviation | 1.73 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Bluetooth | True Wireless |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Hybrid (dual driver: dynamic + planar tweeter) |
| Drivers | 1 x 11mm dynamic + 1 x planar | 1 x 11mm dynamic + 1 x planar tweeter (per ear) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, L2HC, AAC, SBC | - |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (earbuds), 31 hours (with case) | - |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 from dhrme, lown-fi and therollo9; the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 from boizoff, dhrme and regancipher, all via squig.link.
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