Huawei FreeBuds SE 5 Max claim 80 hours of playback for $56
Budget earbuds with a huge battery number are easy to sell, and Huawei's new FreeBuds SE 5 Max leans on one: 80 hours. The figure comes with conditions.
Japan first, then Germany
The model debuted in Japan on November 6, 2026, at a suggested ¥8,580, roughly $56. Yodobashi Camera and other retailers carry the white version now. Black and blue arrive on November 20.
In Germany the earbuds sell for €79, with a €49 promotional price announced for November 10 to 30. Huawei has also listed the model on its UK website.
What the earbuds offer
Huawei advertises up to 52dB of noise reduction and four selectable ANC modes. The drivers are dynamic units of about 10mm and support the LDAC codec, a higher-bitrate Bluetooth audio format.
A 10-band equalizer in the Huawei Audio Connect app lets listeners adjust the sound.
Where 80 hours comes from
Huawei's official announcement puts total playback at up to 80 hours with the charging case. The earlier FreeBuds SE 4 ANC was advertised at 50 hours.
That total assumes active noise cancellation (ANC) is off and adds up several recharges from the case. Per the official specifications, the buds alone run up to 10 hours per charge, or seven with ANC on.
With ANC on, the total including the case is 57 hours. A 10-minute charge reportedly adds four hours of listening.
What is still unproven
The ANC and battery claims are Huawei's own and still need independent verification. Multipoint connectivity is listed alongside LDAC, which makes the spec sheet long for the price.
Source: Notebookcheck