Apple AirPods Max vs Huawei FreeBuds Studio: which headphones are best?
- We compare the first over-ear headphones from Apple and Huawei in terms of design, audio, noise cancelling, transparency mode, battery life and special features
- With such a large difference in price, are the more expensive AirPods Max worth the money?
The AirPods Max, Apple’s first over-ear headphones, have been the talk of the consumer tech space over the past few weeks for both their eye-watering price tag and because they are actually an excellent product.
But they aren’t without competition. Huawei, too, released its first pair, the FreeBuds Studio, in November. Which one is better? We put them to the test.
Design
Looks are usually subjective, but in this specific comparison we can say objectively that Apple’s AirPods Max have a unique, distinct look while Huawei’s FreeBuds Studio follow a more traditional path.
From the large aluminium earcups, to the rotatable crown taken straight from the Apple Watch, to the see-through mesh headband that Apple calls a “canopy”, the AirPods Max are unlike any other pair of headphones on the market. The Huawei FreeBuds Studio, meanwhile, look and feel similar to other high-end noise cancellation headphones from Sony and Bose – mostly matte black plastic with some leather and aluminium.
The AirPods Max, due to their mostly metallic construction, are heavy for headphones, weighing 384g (0.8lb). Huawei’s headphones tip the scales at 268g, a similar weight to those from Bose and Sony, but due to the open-air mesh band on the AirPods Max, I find the weight to be a non-issue except when I’m walking fast. Still, the FreeBuds Studio are likely to be more comfortable for more people due to their lighter weight.
