Huawei FreeClip 2 test – Great all-round headphones

My summary

How do you use the Huawei Freeclip 2?

These headphones are designed for everyday use (music, podcasts, calls…), but also for outdoor sports enthusiasts (especially runners), who want headphones that allow them tohear surrounding noise , and are looking for very compact, lightweight, versatile and comfortable headphones.

Technical specifications

• Weight: 5.1g per earphone and 48g for the case with earphones inside
• Format: Open-ear “clip-on” headphones
• Autonomy: Approx. 8 h with earphone / 38 h with case.
• Water resistance: IP57 certified (water and dust resistant).
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Multipoint connection.
• Application: Audio Connect

Our full Huawei Freeclip 2 review

A surprisingly comfortable design

I’m not going to lie to you: I was very skeptical when I received the product. My ears are “difficult” and I almost always end up in pain with conventional headphones. So I was worried that this “pinching” system would trigger a quick discomfort, especially as when I put them on they actually pinch my ear a bit, as you can see from the photos (I must have big ears!).

The pleasant surprise is that I don’t feel them at all in my daily use. Huawei seems to have corrected the comfort shortcomings of the first version, of which I had read some mixed reviews.

The material is silicone , and it seems to adapt to the shape of the ear as it goes along. Well, this point isn’t blatantly obvious, but in any case it was only after very prolonged use (around 4 hours straight on the train) that I finally felt a pinch. For a 1 or 2-hour sports session, I don’t feel them, which is very pleasant.

What’s more, the case is small, pleasant to the touch and fits in any pocket.

A word of advice: take the time to find the right position for your headphones. For my part, I feel they’re a little lower than the official recommended position, but that’s how they’re most comfortable, while maintaining excellent sound quality.

Stability: the running test

My second fear concerned the outfit. We’ve all lost an Airpod-type earphone while running, or by removing a layer of clothing or a headband.

On Freeclip 2s, stability is excellent. I tested it while running, making sudden movements: it doesn’t move at all. You can remove your headband or buff without worrying about your earphones flying off (unless you’re really going all out, that is!).

Another crucial point for us sportswomen: they are totally compatible with glasses, as the clip is placed on the lower/lateral part of the ear, leaving the temples free.

Sound quality and environment

As for the sound, even though I’m not an expert in acoustics, I found the rendering particularly clear, both for music and calls. When telecommuting to make calls, the voice is clear.

The “open” concept means you’re not isolated from the sounds of your environment. In the city or on the subway, you ‘ll hear ambient noise, even though the Free Clip 2 is equipped with technology that enhances voice clarity and adapts the volume to the surrounding noise (it works well, by the way).

For me, it’s also a major safety advantage not to be totally “in a bubble”: I can listen to music while hearing a car coming up behind me.

Connection, recharging and automatic operation

Bluetooth connection is automatic as soon as they are placed on the ear.

Autonomy is one of the strong points of these earphones. Huawei claims around 8 hours listening time per charge and up to 38 hours with the case. In the field, I haven’t measured this very precisely, but these figures seem to me to be totally in line with reality. I have the impression of never having to recharge them, which is really nice!

Freeclip 2s feature a high-performance fast charge : in just 10 minutes in the case, you recover around 3 hours of autonomy, enough to save any impromptu running outing when you thought you’d run out of power.

For a full refill of the case and wired headphones (USB-C), allow just under an hour.

Touch controls

If there’s one thing I don’t find practical, it’s the ergonomics of the controls:

• Volume: Adjusted by sliding your finger over the clip. It’s far from easy when you’re working hard. Personally, I end up taking out my phone, which is quicker.
• Tapping: 2 taps to play/pause, 3 to change track. Here too, when you’re running and sweating, precision is sometimes uncertain.

In the end, it doesn’t bother me that much for my use, but it’s good to know all the same…

App

The dedicated Audio Connect application lets you personalize the sound and set controls according to your gestures or head movements. It can also be used to update the headset software.

Conclusion

The Huawei Freeclip 2 is an excellent surprise. If you’re fed up with earphones that fall out or hurt in the ear canal, this is a good product. It combines the security of open sound with total lightness. I’ve adopted them!