TWS true wireless earphones - $50 to $100
4.5 STARS - With clear calls, multipoint connectivity and a sound quality that is a step up from its predecessors, the SoundPEATS Air5 are the brands best half-in-ear earbuds to date - but you can forget about the Active Noise Cancelling.
SoundPEATS Air5 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and AptX codec
IP54 waterproof rating (dust and water proof)
3,5 - 5 hours playtime on a single charge (ANC on and AptX codec - ANC off and AAC codec)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Has: ANC, app support, multipoint connection
Doesn't have: wireless charging
Comes with USB-C cable, English manual
$80 - Buy on Amazon US, on your Amazon country or AliExpress
In and underneath this SoundPEATS Air5 review, you will find comparisons of the SoundPEATS Air5 vs SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS, AirPods 4, Oppo Enco Air3, and Xiaomi Buds 5.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The SoundPEATS Air5 comes in white, black, shiny purple or the colour tested here: beige-gold.
Design-wise, it sets itself apart from the previous SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS, SoundPEATS Air4 Lite, and SoundPEATS Air4 with a longer shiny part on the sides of the stems.
SoundPEATS held onto a earpiece with a small speaker opening, made from smooth plastic. It sits loosely in your ears and feels comfortable to wear, but doesn't always cling into (my) averaged-sized ears enough. It doesn't always fall out when I run or shake my head with them, but they often have the feeling they could.
Competitors like the Apple AirPods 4, Huawei Freebuds 2 SE, Oppo Enco Air3 and Xiaomi Buds 5 have a better and more secure fit - without giving in on comfort much.
They withstand rain and sweat thanks to the IPX5 waterproof level.
The battery life isn't as convincing. While you cab maybe reach SoundPEATS’ advertised 6 hours playtime on a single charge, activating the ANC and using the earbuds on Android with the automatically activated AptX codec, reduces the playtime to 3,5 - 4 hours per charge. That's less than average
The charging case feels sturdier and better than on previous SoundPEATS Air's. It's easy to take the earbuds out, once you've pushed the top of the case backwards. The charging magnets are also strong enough.
A single LED-light right underneath the lid shows the remaining battery capacity of the earbuds, by turning from green to red.
While it seems polished with its shiny finish, the colour-beige case is prone to fingerprints and often seems used. It resists scratches well.
While the SoundPEATS Air5 is comfortable to wear, the earbuds don't feel as safe in your ears as in some competitors. The battery life is disappointing too.
Controls, connectivity and app support
The SoundPEATS Air5 comes with a dual-device multipoint connection, meaning you can connect it to two devices at the same time. Pause music/ a video on one device and start playing on the other to switch. Switching happens automatically when you receive a phone call.
It supports Google Fast Pair, which comes with a nice pop-up on Android, but sometimes prevents connections from being established when you want to use the earbuds on an iPhone and Android phone.
The standard connectivity is great, with a strong Bluetooth connection a bit more than 10 meters away from your device, and no experienced sound hiccups.
Music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out. That's not an option here.
The free PeatsAudio app for iPhone and Android phones feel faster and more reliable than the last time I tested it - with the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+. You can still lose the connection, however, requiring to restart the apps to operate your earbuds again.
With the app, you can:
Check the battery status of the earbuds (vaguely)
Select from 5 sound optimisations for different ear canals
Disable touch controls
(De)activate the gaming mode
Change the controls completely for single-taps, double-taps, triple-taps and hold
Update the firmware
Reset the earbuds
Select the voice prompt (‘Connected!’) volume
Choose between 9 equalizer presets
Take a hearing test and apply the Adaptive EQ
Create and save your own equalizer
The touch panels on top of the stems respond quickly and as they can be adjusted completely, it's no problem to change tracks, change volume or switch from ANC on to off. Great work.
While the app can lose its connection sometimes, controlling the earbuds and using the multipoint on them, is a breeze.
Phone and video calls
The SoundPEATS Air5 has sufficient call clarity, both inside and outdoors.
The microphones put your voice through natural and clear. The volume could have been a tad louder perhaps.
Constant and darker noise around you, like running car engines, are mostly left out of the call.
Lighter noises like door slams and laughter can come through.
Others can hear it when you're on the move. It's clear when you're walking, and wind noise is also audible. Happily, both don't attack the clarity and output of your voice that much.
Video and games playback
The SoundPEATS Air5 has flawless video playback in video apps like YouTube and Netflix on both iPhone and Android.
The gaming mode you can activate from the app or earbuds directly, does a great job of synchronizing the sounds with the action on your screen. The sound could have been more dynamic, however - it feels a bit flat.
ANC QUALITY of the SoundPEATS Air5
The Active Noise Cancellation of the SoundPEATS Air5 doesn't convince.
The ANC reduces higher sounds somewhat, such as female voices on a background radio, distant chatter or laughter. Wet tire noise of traffic is also reduced a bit.
Middle sounds are reduced subtly as well. People walking around in an office and keyboard typing appear a bit softer - but you'll still hear them.
You'll still hear lower sounds, including basses, running engines, and even constant electronic humming - like that of a fridge.
Using the ANC increases the wind noise when you're running or cycling, but it's easy to turn the function off, by pressing an earbud for 1,5 seconds. It therefore isn't a big issue.
After the SoundPEATS Air4, the Xiaomi Buds 5 and QCY AilyBuds Pro, this is the next pair of half-in-ears that promises ANC, but doesn't deliver.
The ANC helps to focus you on the music, but the effect isn't strong enough to bring rest to your head without playing anything.
Sound quality of SoundPEATS Air5
It's hard to review the sound of the SoundPEATS Air5 as there are some strange variables at play here. When you've found the right setting that works for you, the sound does entertain.
Out of the box, the SoundPEATS Air5 has a vivid sound character, with gentle mid-bass thumps, slightly boosted lower mid-tones, recessed center-tones, and a strong vocal presence on soft or moderate volume.
When you turn up the volume beyond moderate listening levels, treble gets too peaky and too tiring. The SoundPEATS Air5 can go very (!) loud, and this occurs from halfway the volume bar on the Android test device.
But.. you may not have this sound for long.
As soon as you click on any equalizer preset or even open the EQ page on the PeatsAudio app, the sound changes drastically and there's no way to turn back - except resetting the earphones entirely.
The sound after using the app is more dampened. The sound reverts to the SoundPEATS Classic preset that's duller and less outspoken.
Most of all, lower-mids are boosted further and create a warm and smooth sound. Also, treble is cut off before it becomes harsh. It's more comfortable to listen to music on higher volumes.
On the downside, the fullness of the lower frequencies make the sound dark and congested on lower volumes. Lower male vocals have a hard time outweighing darker instruments and electronic tones.
Like me, you'll probably end up trying all the equalizer options to gain back some of the original vividness.
Such as the Adaptive EQ feature, which lets you take a hearing test and increases the higher frequencies you didn't hear as clearly as others. It helps a little, but it can't shake off the dullness of the Classic preset. The custom 8-band equalizer didn't get me any convincing improvements as well.
As one of the eight presets available, I found that the Pop EQ preset improves the sound the most. It untangles the lower-mid jungle a bit and clears up air for vocals and higher instruments, which are pushed more to the front.
What you get with the Pop EQ? Well, the entire picture feels a bit echo-y - but it does entertain. There's a gently thumping mid-bass, a sub-bass that doesn't reveal itself easily but can shake controlled in James Blake's test track Limit to Your Love, and the remaining (still boosted) lower-mid presence is often pleasant instead of overbearing.
Vocals have a warm, even slightly dark undertone, but lower vocals are separated well enough from instruments, and higher vocals gain good clarity and forwardness to stand out - but not so much they become harsh. Higher instruments like violins and cymbals are controlled well. Center mid-tones like guitars and piano play are a bit in the back, and they lean toward the lower-mids warmth; showing less naturalness.
The Air5 doesn't have the most spacious, airy or precisely placed sound, and while some lower tones clutter a bit on low volume, the sound feels articulated. Individual instruments have their own space and impact.
Now, there's one more thing. The main page of the PeatsAudio app shows five presets for different ear canals, which is nifty as the fit of half-in-ears varies heavily. These five buttons offer minor optimisations for your ears, subtly tweaking the fullness and brightness of the sound. These nuances are welcome on future half-in-ears too.
The SoundPEATS Air5 are the brands best-sounding half-in-ears to date. It's an entertaining and pleasant listen on background and moderate volumes especially. If only it showed a little less strange behaviour.
—> These are the best sounding wireless earbuds from $25 to $100
SoundPEATS Air5 comparisons
SoundPEATS Air5 VS SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
As the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS has a better-balanced sound than the brighter and harsher SoundPEATS Air4 and Air4 Lite, I'm comparing the older model to the SoundPEATS Air5.
The SoundPEATS Air5 is a good step up in sound quality. Frequencies are separated better from each other; bass and lower mids have more body, individual instruments have more impact. Both vocals and mid-tones have a warmer tonality, while the Air3 Deluxe HS sounds flatter and perhaps more natural as well. The Air3 sound feels wider, but it doesn't weigh up to the perceived detail retrieval of the Air5.
While its ANC doesn't add much, the Air5 is a more comprehensive package with around 1,5 hours longer battery life per charge, multipoint connection that the Air3 lacks, and clearer calls. The Air5 is SoundPEATS' best pair of half-in-ears.
$50 - See price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
SoundPEATS Air5 vs Xiaomi Buds 5
The Xiaomi Buds 5 is a direct competitor to the SoundPEATS Air5 with ANC, multipoint connection, and clear calls. Xiaomi's earbuds feel safer in your ears, and its ANC is slightly more suitable when you want to use the function without playing music. The SoundPEATS controls easier, with taps instead of pinches.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 sounds clearer. It has tighter lower frequencies, clearer mid-tones and more pronounced treble. Vocals are more upfront, higher instruments are brighter as well. The SoundPEATS Air5 feels warmer, has fuller lower-mids and is a more comfortable background listen as a result.
$100 - See price on your Amazon country
SoundPEATS Air5 vs Oppo Enco Air3 ($60)
The Oppo Enco Air3 costs anywhere between $35 and $60 is a strong competitor to the SoundPEATS Air5.
The Oppo lacks ANC, but doesn't miss it compared to SoundPEATS’ weak offering. The Oppo Air3 does offer multipoint connection, clear calls, controls well and has a safer, more secure fit - as the equally small speaker openings are placed in a slightly different corner.
Oppo's HeyMelody app gives less sound options than SoundPEATS’, but the great thing is that you don't need to fiddle with the sound. The Air5 has a warmer tonality, but the Enco Air3 gives a more spacial feeling and immerses more with it. The mid-bass is stronger, lower-mids are more defined, and vocals and upper-mids are clearer.
$40 - $60 on your Amazon country or AliExpress
SoundPEATS Air5 vs Apple AirPods 4 ANC
The SoundPEATS Air5 costs less than half of Apple's AirPods 4 ANC, and apart from marketing, that price difference shows in the strength of the Active Noise Cancelling. Apple's noise reduction is stronger, dampening and reducing both darker and lighter sounds. While the SoundPEATS Air5 ANC helps you focus on music, the AirPods 4 actually brings rest to your head when you're not playing any.
Both earbuds have multipoint connection - although only the SoundPEATS works well with non-Apple devices. The AirPods 4 handles outdoor calls with wind better and has longer battery life as well. Its fit is also sturdier and safer.
The SoundPEATS Air5 sounds better than the AirPods 4. The Air5 has a more balanced sound, with more clarity, more openness and a more natural tonality. The AirPods 4 leans more on the lower frequencies, and vocals have more trouble to stand out than on the Air5.
$170 - $200 - See price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Verdict: SoundPEATS Air5
With clear calls, multipoint connectivity and a sound quality that is a step up from its predecessors, the SoundPEATS Air5 are the brands best half-in-ear earbuds to date.
If you're looking for strong ANC and sound that immediately rocks out of the box, however, it's best to look further.
4.5 STARS - Great
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