Accessories

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

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

Published

on

Freebuds 4i

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.

Freebuds 4i

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):

Freebuds 4i

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

Jabra launches PanaCast Room Kit for simpler hybrid meetings

The function room setup that doesn’t need an IT guy

Published

on

By

and
Jabra PanaCast Room Kit

Jabra is expanding its hybrid work ecosystem with the new PanaCast Room Kit.

It’s a video conferencing solution built for meeting rooms. But it skips the usual complexity. No tangled cables, no custom programming, and no need for IT on standby.

The kit is designed for teams of three to 15 people. Setup takes minutes: Connect the cameras, place the speakers and microphones, and link everything with a single cable.

That’s it. A standard room becomes a smart collaboration space without the usual friction.

Built for inclusive meetings

At the center of the experience is the PanaCast 55 VBS.

It uses a 180-degree multi-camera system powered by onboard AI. Jabra’s Virtual Director technology tracks speakers and reframes the view in real time.

Everyone stays visible. Even those seated at the far end of the table.

The goal is simple. Make remote participants feel like they’re in the room.

Audio keeps up with that promise. The PanaCast SpeakerMic extends coverage up to 11 meters. Every voice comes through clearly and at a consistent volume. No need to raise your voice just to be heard.

No-fuss by design

The system adds a Huddly L1 camera for a secondary angle. This gives meetings a more complete and inclusive view.

There’s also the Jabra Control IP touch controller. It handles meetings with simple, one-touch controls.

Everything works together with minimal input. No manual pan-tilt-zoom adjustments. No audio balancing. The AI handles it.

Enterprise-ready, plug-and-play simple

The PanaCast Room Kit is fully UC-certified. It works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.

It also runs on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), bringing enterprise-grade security and reliability.

The idea is straightforward. High-end meeting tech shouldn’t be hard to use.

From small huddle spaces to larger boardrooms, the kit scales without added complexity. It removes the usual barriers to hybrid collaboration.

Whether it’s a quick team sync or a full boardroom discussion, the PanaCast Room Kit aims to give everyone a front-row seat.

Continue Reading

Accessories

Sony announces open-back INZONE H6 Air

Deeper and tighter bass, more immersive gaming soundscape

Published

on

Gamers are set to get another immersive headphones from Sony with the launch of the INZONE H6 Air.

This latest offering features an open-back acoustic structure and custom drivers for deep and tight bass, thanks to back ducts integrated into the drivers.

The open-back structure also helps with a realistic immersive sound field, making gamers feel they are in the game space.

This design minimizes internal reflections by leaving the housing unobstructed. The result is accurate sound field reproduction exactly as game creators intended.

The Sony INZONE H6 Air also features precision-tuned driver units engineered with the same technology as Sony’s renowned MDR-MV1 open-back studio monitor headsets. It is specially adapted for this particular wearable.

Back ducts integrated into the driver unit help deliver deep and controlled bass reproduction, while maintaining clear separation of mids and lows. This detail is helpful especially for titles where rich sound detail matters.

Crafted with premium aluminum, the INZONE H6 Air is also one of Sony’s lightest gaming headsets at just 199 grams. The headset uses the same spring hinge headband design seen on the INZONE H9 II.

Furthermore, the headset features an “RPG/Adventure” equalizer profile as it is developed with sound engineers from PlayStation Studios.

This specific profile is optimized for RPG and adventure titles, recreating the acoustic experience of a sound studio and delivering an immersive listening experience.

An additional cardioid boom mic focuses on voice angled towards the user’s mouth, eliminating unnecessary side noise.

Fnatic Edition devices, INZONE Buds Glass Purple

In addition to the Sony INZONE H6 Air, Sony has launched the Fnatic Editions of the INZONE Mouse-A, INZONE Mat-F, and INZONE Mat-D.

This next step in the collaboration between Sony and Fnatic makes the professional esports club even more present in fans’ daily gaming experience.

Rounding out the new releases is the INZONE Buds in Glass Purple colorway. This joins the previous black and white options, giving owners plenty of choices to suit their styles.

Continue Reading

Accessories

Bellroy expands in the Philippines with retailer partnerships

Products now available at Beyond the Box, Digital Walker

Published

on

Australian carry brand Bellroy has expanded its footprint in the Philippines, striking partnerships with retailers Beyond the Box and Digital Walker.

This shall enable Filipino customers to experience the brand’s award-winning, protective tech kits firsthand at select physical stores and even online.

Bellroy has befome a global favorite since its inception in 2010 for its design-led minimalism and commitment to sustainability.

Some of the brand’s featured products readily available in-store include MagSafe-compatible phone cases and the best-selling Desk Caddy and Tech kit.

The latter is designed to organize chargers and cables seamlessly.

Meanwhile, the Venture and Lite series bags are also available. These are crafted from durable, water-resistant fabrics made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.

Furthermore, exclusive editions featuring INNOVERA, a high-performance plant-based leather alternative with 80% renewable carbon content, are also on display.

Customers can visit select Digital Walker and Beyond the Box branches nationwide to check Bellroy’s offerings.

They are present at flagship locations in Bonifacio High Street, Uptown Mall, and Glorietta. Alternatively, customers can also shop online via digitalwalker.ph and beyondthebox.ph.

Continue Reading

Trending