Huawei FreeClip 2 S Review: A Take a look at the Open-Ear Headphones (2026)

With the FreeClip 2, Huawei has top-of-the-line open-ear headphones at the moment in its lineup. Back in early 2026, the second era of those trendy earbuds impressed us in our overview. Now, about half a yr later, the producer is stepping it up a notch and introducing the Huawei FreeClip 2 S—a successor that not solely refines the design but additionally takes the sound high quality to the subsequent degree. Find out extra in our Huawei FreeClip 2 S overview.

Technical Specifications of the Huawei FreeClip 2 S

FreeClip 2 S Review: Design and Build Quality

As quickly as you unbox it, you’ll discover that the FreeClip 2 S is probably the most visually hanging mannequin within the sequence. While the usual FreeClip 2 incorporates a sq., very clear charging case, the S variant comes with a strikingly spherical, virtually spherical case that Huawei markets because the “Luminous Charging Case.” The NCVM coating offers it a shimmering look harking back to a small jewellery field, and opening it really feels a bit like opening a jewellery field each time. Available in Metallic Blue and Silver, the case appears elegant and closes securely and exactly—right here you may actually respect the over 100 manufacturing steps Huawei has put into the end.

The earbuds themselves proceed to depend on the tried-and-true trio of the Acoustic Ball (within the entrance of the ear) and the Comfort Bean (behind the ear), linked by way of the “Airy C-bridge.” This bridge is made from skin-friendly liquid silicone and, in accordance with the producer, is about 25 % softer than within the first FreeClip era. This is noticeable throughout put on testing: Weighing about 5.1 grams per earbud, the FreeClip 2 S are among the many lightest open-ear earbuds in the marketplace, and after a number of hours, you merely overlook you’re carrying them in any respect.

The match continues to be safe sufficient that nothing slips misplaced whereas jogging or nodding your head rapidly—a steadiness that not many open-ear fashions handle so nicely. The construct high quality is impeccable, and since there’s no devoted left or proper earbud, it doesn’t matter which one goes during which ear. A comparability with the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro (our overview) illustrates how clip-on designs stack up in opposition to over-ear fashions.

Features of the Huawei FreeClip 2 S

In phrases of options, the FreeClip 2 S leaves little to be desired. It contains Multipoint for simultaneous connection to 2 units, complemented by a cross-OS connection that works between iOS, Android, and Windows. Users throughout the Huawei ecosystem may even swap between greater than two units. For audio playback, the high-resolution L2HC codec is accessible, which delivers a noticeable enchancment in sound high quality.

At the guts of the system is as soon as once more the ten.8 mm dual-diaphragm driver, which controls two diaphragms individually, delivering larger quantity and extra highly effective bass. This is complemented by Unlimited Spatial Audio with head monitoring by way of a six-axis movement sensor, which is activated by way of an OTA replace and works throughout platforms on each iOS and Android. Another new function is Adaptive Audio, which robotically adjusts the amount to the setting and could be fine-tuned throughout three sensitivity ranges.

The IP57 certification supplies dependable safety in opposition to sweat and water splashes, so you may simply wipe the earbuds down after they get moist. Due to their design, lively noise cancellation (ANC) will not be out there, which is to be anticipated with an open-ear design. However, these on the lookout for traditional high-performance earbuds will probably discover what they’re on the lookout for in TWS in-ear headphones.

Reliable Touch Controls

Controls are operated by way of contact and movement gestures and labored completely reliably in our take a look at. Double and triple faucets could be triggered anyplace on the earbud—whether or not on the Acoustic Ball, the C-bridge, or the Comfort Bean. By default, double-taps management playback and calls, whereas triple-taps skip to the subsequent monitor—and all of those capabilities could be remapped within the app.

The swipe gesture on the Comfort Bean is especially helpful—it enables you to alter the amount with a swipe, a function that was utterly lacking from the very first FreeClip. There are additionally head gestures: nodding solutions calls, and shaking your head rejects them. This works rapidly and reliably. Another actual innovation in comparison with the common FreeClip 2 is the bodily button contained in the charging case: holding it down for 2 seconds begins pairing, whereas holding it down for ten seconds resets the earbuds to manufacturing unit settings. A small however well-thought-out element that makes pairing noticeably simpler.

Battery Life: Still Impressive

When it involves endurance, the FreeClip 2 S ranks among the many long-distance runners in its class. Huawei specifies as much as 9 hours of pure playback time, and mixed with the charging case, that provides as much as round 38 hours—a formidable determine that simply lasts a full week of reasonable use in on a regular basis life. This places the S variant on par with the usual FreeClip 2 and a superb bit forward of the primary era, which supplied 8 and 36 hours, respectively.

The fast-charging function will get the earbuds prepared for about three hours of playback in simply 10 minutes within the case—splendid in the event you understand the buds are useless proper earlier than you head out. With 60 mAh per earbud and 537 mAh within the case, the case additionally provides sufficient capability for a number of full charging cycles.

App Connectivity by way of Audio Connect

The companion app is Huawei Audio Connect, out there for iOS 13.0 and later and Android 8.0 and later. The app acknowledges the FreeClip 2 S instantly and incorporates a clear, uncluttered interface. Here, you may remap gestures, alter the sound utilizing equalizer presets or customized settings, and allow options like Adaptive Audio together with its three sensitivity ranges.

The “Find earbuds” mode, which helps you to find the earbuds by way of a ringtone, can be helpful, as are the controls for handy playback options. This is the place Adaptive Audio actually shines: When you progress from a quiet condo to a crowded subway automobile, you’ll respect that the amount adjusts robotically with out having to succeed in on your smartphone. This additionally helps stabilize the generally wildly fluctuating quantity ranges of assorted apps and movies.

Audio and Microphone Quality

In phrases of sound, the FreeClip 2 S seamlessly builds on the superb efficiency of the usual FreeClip 2, which comes as no shock, because it options the identical 10.8 mm dual-diaphragm driver. This driver controls two diaphragms by way of an built-in dual-magnet circuit, which particularly addresses the traditional weak point of many open-ear headphones: “too quiet, not enough bass.”

In follow, that is clearly noticeable: The FreeClip 2 S delivers a full, energetic sound that will get impressively loud for an open-ear design. Huawei claims that the amount and bass efficiency have doubled in comparison with the primary era, and certainly, the sound high quality surpasses that of the FreeClip 2. And it will get fairly loud—too loud for some, I’d say. If you flip the amount down a bit, you’ll take pleasure in a sound that unfolds pleasantly.

The bass efficiency is especially pleasing. For an open-ear mannequin that intentionally leaves the ear canal open, the bass is surprisingly highly effective, dynamic, and well-defined. Beats and drum kicks have noticeable punch, so even listeners of hip-hop, digital music, or bass-heavy pop productions will get their cash’s value. Naturally, the bass doesn’t fairly attain the extent of closed-back in-ear headphones, which seal off the ear canal and thus lure considerably extra power contained in the ear, however throughout the open-ear class, the FreeClip 2 S clearly ranks among the many prime performers. The transition between high and low frequencies feels clean and pure, and the soundstage positive aspects total spaciousness and depth.

The largest benefit of the open-ear design is its airiness: the sound is pleasantly broad and free within the area, with out feeling confined in any manner—a high quality that closed-back headphones can hardly match. On the opposite hand, the everyday limitations of this design additionally change into obvious. One optimistic side is that Huawei has considerably mitigated the harshness in vocals and “s” sounds—which I had beforehand criticized within the FreeClip 2—with the Huawei Free Clip 2 S. The sound is now rounder, extra nice, and fewer fatiguing.

Of course, as a result of their design, there’s one factor it’s good to find out about open-ear headphones: absolutely the degree of element stays audibly inferior to that of excellent in-ear fashions; refined nuances and microdynamics get considerably misplaced within the open soundstage. The new Adaptive Audio function is a nice shock and performs a noticeable function within the sound expertise. Instead of getting to regulate the amount manually, the earbuds intelligently adapt their quantity to ambient noise whereas concurrently normalizing the usually wildly fluctuating ranges of assorted apps and movies.

If you progress from a quiet setting to a crowded subway automobile, you’ll profit from the music remaining clear with out being startled by your personal quantity later if you go away the noisy space. Optionally, Unlimited Spatial Audio with head monitoring provides an additional spatial dimension, which is especially beneficial for motion pictures and multichannel content material the place the sound follows the motion of your head.

Huawei FreeClip 2 S with glorious microphones

When it involves microphones, the FreeClip 2 S depends on a 3-mic system consisting of two microphones and a VPU bone conduction microphone, which captures the voice immediately by way of vibrations on the ear and is thus much less inclined to ambient noise. This is supported by a multichannel DNN algorithm and the highly effective NPU, which separate speech from background noise in actual time. In follow, this delivers clear, simply intelligible voice replica in each instructions: each your personal voice and that of the individual you’re talking with are transmitted clearly and intimately. Even in noisier environments—reminiscent of on the road, in a café, or on the practice—you stay clearly audible, because the algorithm reliably filters out ambient noise.

Huawei FreeClip 2 S microphone take a look at recording:

Huawei FreeClip 2 microphone take a look at recording:

Huawei FreeClip microphone take a look at recording (1):

At most quantity, adaptive voice enhancement kicks in, preserving conversations intelligible even when the environment get notably loud. The system doesn’t fairly match the recording high quality of the most costly premium in-ear headphones—the best particulars of speech sound a contact much less pure—however for cellphone calls and video calls on the go, the efficiency is greater than strong and ranks among the many finest you may count on on this system class.

Huawei FreeClip 2 S Review: Conclusion

At their core, the Huawei FreeClip 2 S are basically the FreeClip 2 in a extra refined design: identical driver, identical battery specs, identical high-performance microphones, however with the eye-catching Luminous charging case and the colours Metallic Blue and Silver. If you worth most fashion and look at the earbuds virtually as a chunk of jewellery, that is probably the most trendy choice within the sequence.

Functionally, nevertheless, Huawei takes the already spectacular sound high quality to an entire new degree on this re-creation and addresses what was, for me, one of many largest criticisms of its predecessor: specifically, the marginally harsh vocals and sibilance at excessive volumes. That alone makes the FreeClip 2 S the higher and extra attention-grabbing alternative. Overall, they continue to be excellent open-ear headphones with glorious consolation, lengthy battery life, and wealthy sound that leaves little room for criticism.

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