Accessories

Huawei FreeBuds 4i Hands-On: Sound in a capsule

Is it the best set of ANC wireless earphones out there?

Published

April 19, 2021

Gab Orlina

I’m no hardcore audiophile, but I regularly use earphones along with my devices to listen to my playlists and podcasts. From my smartphones to laptops, a decent pair of earphones is simply a must-have for everybody at this point. Some companies even go as far as making the sound experience a little better, even for mere earphone users.

Two years ago, I finally opted to buy wireless earphones because the wired life was not for me. Admittedly, I picked up the Huawei FreeBuds Lite when it first came out, and it was a decent first pair to say the least. Fast forward to the year 2021, Huawei comes out with their latest iteration: the Huawei FreeBuds 4i.

This iteration of Huawei’s own wireless earphones supposedly brings more technologies designed to give you a better sound experience. It’s the kind you can bring with you anywhere, and use at any time without interruption. Well, let’s actually see for ourselves, shall we?

Out of all the colors to choose from

When the FreeBuds 4i first arrived, I immediately looked at the label to find out what color it was. In the past, Huawei offered only black and white variants of their FreeBuds, with the black as an exclusive in some markets. I thought that I would be getting either one of the two colors, until apparently a third option was available: the Red edition.

Objectively speaking, it’s a great color accent for the FreeBuds 4i. I mean, they did it in a simple yet glossy way, plus it somehow resembles an MnMs chocolate piece when zoomed in. Personally, it wasn’t my preferred color; in fact, I actually wanted the black one because of how sleek it looked. Well, to compensate, they also managed to sneak in a cute case for your FreeBuds.

For the cases, you have four options to choose from, and mine just so happened to be a bear case. Eventually, I figured that since I wasn’t that big of a fan of the red color, I’ll slap on the case and it’s quite great. In fact, it’s such a cute case that I even took the time to think of a name for it.

Everyone, meet Seulgi (if you follow Red Velvet, I’m pretty sure you’ll understand the reference):

An auditory set up in some detail

Upon opening it up for the first time, I noticed that the design is quite similar to another popular set of wireless earphones out there. For me, that’s not a bad thing, and I think it’s something you’ll just brush aside with prolonged use. Also, it comes with the medium-sized ear caps already attached, with the other options tucked in the box.

Pairing it was quite seamless, like I literally just popped the cap and it connected to my phone. Of course, the intended way was to press the tiny button at the side to pair your phone or laptop to pair it successfully. For me, it’s great that I could just connect to the earphones by simply opening it up. It saves time configuring your Bluetooth settings, plus you already know it works.

Also, normally I don’t like downloading more apps on my phone just to properly set up a good pair of earphones. In the Freebuds 4i’s case, I was compelled to do so through Huawei’s AI Life app. Not only does it show the device’s battery levels, but it also shows you nifty settings to apply to both earbuds. Furthermore, you can use it to turn the active noise cancellation on and off, which is pretty great.

The initial sound trip

At first, the FreeBuds 4i surprised me for a bit mostly because of the active noise cancellation. Like most gaming headsets I own, it does a great job of blocking out a ton of noise when you’re at a distance from them. Of course, I kept turning the ANC on and off to test this, and the difference is staggering.

As for the sounds that this device produced, it’s quite great. Now, you don’t get an equalizer in the AI Life app to adjust any bass or treble levels to suit your ears. However, I felt it didn’t really need one since I had a fun time going on a full sound trip at night. Also, I mean Wendy’s “Best Friend” featuring Seulgi sounded incredibly soothing using the FreeBuds 4i, so I have no complaints.

In one of the updates for the earphones’ software, it mentioned that it has reduced sound latency when playing games. Honestly, I haven’t given this a full go just yet, but it’s quite nice that they added that in.

Was this the play all along?

Initially, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i seemed to be — what I would consider — a great option for wireless earphones. In the short time I’ve used it so far, it manages to tick all the boxes just for listening to your Spotify playlist non-stop. Also, it comes in a variety of colors that will suit your style whenever you bring it around.

While I rave about the initial experience, I am looking forward to seeing how this device fairs in my day-to-day activities. With all the optimizations each software update brings, I want to see if the FreeBuds 4i can truly be one of the best options out there, and not just a great one.

The Huawei Freebuds 4i retais for PhP 3,599. It is available for pre-order from April 19 to 29 and comes with a free Bluetooth Speaker (worth PhP 1,499) during the pre-order period.

Accessories

New AGON gaming monitor features up to 1000Hz refresh rate

New level of speed, flexibility for competitive gaming

Published

September 10, 2026

GadgetMatch

AGON by AOC has released the new AGON Pro AGP277QK dual-mode gaming monitor for the competitive segment.

This new offering features up to 1000Hz refresh rate at HD and 540Hz at QHD so gamers have the flexibility to prioritize either clarity or speed.

The 27-inch IPS gaming monitor comes with NVIDIA G-SYNC, synchronizing the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU to help minimize screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag.

This is combined with 0.3ms MPRT and 1ms GtG response times for fast-moving action that is sharp and responsive, giving competitive players a clear visual advantage.

Moreover, the AGON Pro AGP277QK features VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification for enhanced contrast and more vivid, lifelike visuals.

Delta E < 1 color accuracy also provides precise color reproduction not just for gaming but even other scenarios like content creation.

For even smoother high frame-rate gameplay, MBR Sync combines motion blur reduction with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology. This helps maintain clarity during rapid movements.

The monitor also includes Low Input Lag, customizable Light FX ambient RGB lighting, Gaming Mode presets, and Shadow Control.

The display comes with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity, along with a height-adjustable stand and G-Menu support.

Accessories

CASETiFY upgrades iPhone 18 cases, teases iPhone Duo lineup

Duo case waitlist is live.

Published

September 10, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

CASETiFY is launching a new collection of cases and accessories for the iPhone 18 series, updating some of its most popular designs with refined finishes, new protection features, and expanded customization options.

Impact Case

The collection is led by the Impact Case, CASETiFY’s best-selling case with more than 19 million units sold worldwide. It uses an internal EcoShock™ design and Duo-Lock by CASETiFY™ bonding for impact absorption and dispersion. The case is tested for drops of up to 8.2 feet and 4x Military Standard 810G. It also features a scratch-resistant Glaze finish, raised bezel, precision-engineered camera control button, and MagSafe and wireless charging compatibility.

The Ultra Impact Case builds on the same family with redesigned, more rounded corners and reinforced structures with internal air cells. It is tested for drops of up to 11.5 feet and 6x Military Standard 810G. It also has a slimmer profile, multiple design options, and MagSafe compatibility.

Both cases are available in Ring Stand variants. These feature a built-in metal camera ring stand that adjusts up to 150 degrees, with a screwless hinge designed for durability and stable hands-free viewing. Select models are also available with Glitter and Mirror finishes.

Ripple Case

CASETiFY is also bringing its Ripple Case to the iPhone 18 lineup. The soft-touch silicone case features rippled edges and puffed corners, with protection tested for drops of up to 6.6 feet and 3x Military Standard 810G. New colorways include Banana, Dusty Blue, Blush Pink, and Fig, alongside Black and White.

For users who want more protection, the Bounce Case offers CASETiFY’s highest level of drop protection in the collection. Its Expanded Bounce Corners, TesseLock™ design, and enhanced Duo-Lock bonding support drop protection of up to 21.3 feet and 7x Military Standard 810G.

Alloy Ripple Case

The lineup also includes the Alloy Ripple Case, which reworks the Ripple’s sculptural design in aluminum with an EcoShock™ design and Duo-Lock bonding. It is tested for drops of up to 8.2 feet and 4x Military Standard 810G. The Cloud Case uses a quilted soft-touch design with pillowy bumpers and up to 6.6 feet of drop protection.

Beyond cases, CASETiFY is expanding its accessories with the Ripple Wallet, Grip Stands, Loop Grips, Jelly Wristlets, Bow Charm Wristlets, and other charm-compatible straps. The iPhone 18 cases range from USD 50 to USD 90 , while accessories range from USD 25 to $USD 45.

The collection is available beginning September 10 through CASETiFY. The company is also preparing a case lineup for the upcoming iPhone Duo, with its waitlist already live.

Accessories

AirPods 5 boasts better ANC and sound quality for the same price

Published

September 10, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Right after the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max series, Apple dropped another bombshell for fans. Complementing the latest iPhone generation, the new AirPods 5 features a bunch of the most impressive improvements for the wearable.

Most importantly, the AirPods 5 will boast 50 percent better noise cancellation than the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. With Adaptive Audio, the wearable can sense your surroundings and adapt accordingly so you don’t miss the important bits happening around you.

It also features Live Translation for talking with others speaking in a different language. Plus, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume if the wearable detects that you’re talking.

For sound quality, the new wearable has a new acoustic architecture and an adaptive equalizer. It promises more detailed sound coming from the entry-level AirPods.

The new AirPods 5 will start at US$ 129. Preorders are already open, but the wearable will ship out on September 18.

Meanwhile, if you’re hankering for a bit more from your wearable, another variant, which starts at US$ 149, adds a Wireless Charging Case, on-stem swipe controls, and longer battery life. This model can reportedly last five more hours with active noise cancellation enable.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Duo is real!