Whether you like to talk walks around your complex to keep fit, or long jogs, or you are simply in the market for a wireless/Bluetooth headset for your work commutes on the bus, Gautrain, or carpool, the HUAWEI FreeLace waterproof hanging neck sports in-ear Bluetooth headset may be the solution to all your audio needs. Packing a neckband design that is sleek and comfortable, these wireless earphones bring good sound quality that remains clear, plus a good dollip of bass frequencies, at an affordable pricetag.
The different neckband style design along with the magnetic backs on the earpieces result in earphones that naturally keeps its shape without getting tangled like other headsets or earphones often do when they are scrounged up in your pocket or laptop bag. You simply put these earphones in your pocket as much as you like, before taking them out and giving them a shake, which enables the FreeLace earphones to quickly unravel into its proper form, ready to be placed around your neck and into your ears – very engenius from our perspective. Furthermore, the FreeLace earphones are also rated at IPX5, which is a reasonable level of certification against water damage – whether that is your own sweat from running, walking, working out at the gym or being caught unawares in a Gauteng thunderstorm.
If you have a HUAWEI smartphone (running EMUI 9.1 or later) like our HUAWEI nova 12i you pair your smartphone to these earphones by simply plugging the FreeLace into a Huawei device to go straight to the Bluetooth menu and complete the no fuss pairing process. For an iPhone or any other Android smartphone like our recently reviewed Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, you connect by enabling Bluetooth on both devices and pairing the normal way.
Once you do pair it, Bluetooth 5 connectivity allows you to stay connected without stutters or drops.The Huawei FreeLace earbuds features 9.2mm dynamic drivers which produce a fairly neutral sound, albeit one that delivers a good level of bass tones, which bass-heavy music lovers will appreciate including hip hop heads, electronic dance music, jazz, and fans of R&B. Volume levels are also good though not as loud as similarly priced over the ear wireless headphones.The integrated microphone also works a treat as it transmits a pleasantly clear sound for a headset mic and the mic’s noise cancelling technology attenuates background noise, including low-speed winds so people on the other side of calls will hear you even in windy conditions outside.
In terms of battery life, HUAWEI says you will get around 18 hours from a single charge, but the most we managed was about 14 hours – admittedly playing music at the highest volumes to the dismay of our 40 year old ears. Once flat, you can quick charge the FreeLace earphones and its compact 120 mAh battery to the tune of 4-hours of music playback from a 5-minute charge using its USB-C connection. The latter by the way also allows for PLUG & CHARGE capability since you can use your own smartphone to refuel the FreeLace earphones’ battery on the go anytime anywhere.
You can get the HUAWEI FreeLace earphones from local retailers such as Makro for approximately R600 which is a steal for such a fully featured wireless headet in our opinion.
