The Huawei FreeBuds 3 are the latest AirPod rival you need to know

Since Apple unveiled its beloved and much-mocked AirPods, tech companies around the world, from Samsung to Chinese startups, are producing their own rivals with wireless headsets. Huawei has its own rival AirPod and Friday presented to IFA the latest version of this helmet: the FreeBuds 3.

Huawei opted for an open ear tip with stems, stowed in a circular and shiny black and white case. The FreeBuds 3 has four hours of autonomy and 20 hours of overtime with the case. Huawei says that FreeBuds load 100% faster than AirPods 2 or 50% faster when they are wirelessly charged.

The most notable feature of FreeBuds is adaptive noise cancellation (ANC), an unusual feature in helmets of this size. Huawei says FreeBuds are able to reduce ambient noise by 15 decibels. Bone conduction technology lets you know when you're talking and, combined with a new microphone duct, can block the wind and allow you to continue your conversation even if you're traveling 20 kilometers at the time.

The FreeBuds also offer the recently announced Huawei A1 notebook chips. This is 5% smaller than any chip already used by Huawei, which does not seem to please, but significantly increases the flexibility of what can be integrated into a headset of this size. The combination of Bluetooth 5.1 and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 chip technologies should enable faster sound transmission (for Ultra HD quality sound) and reduce power consumption.

The chip should also appear inside other Huawei wearable devices, including other headsets, smart watches, neckloops and glasses.