TWS true wireless earphones - $50 to $100
FOUR STARS - Only two weeks after the release of the Apple AirPods 4, the Xiaomi Buds 5 also combines Active Noise Cancelling with a very comfortable fit. Can it beat Apple at a lower price?
Xiaomi Buds 5 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and AptX codec
IP54 waterproof rating (dust and water proof)
4,5 - 6,5 hours playtime on a single charge (ANC on/off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Has: ANC, app support, multipoint connection, spatial audio
Doesn't have: wireless charging
Comes with USB-C cable, English manual
In and underneath this Xiaomi Buds 5 review, you will find comparisons of the Xiaomi Buds 5 vs AirPods 4, Oppo Enco Air3, and Huawei Freebuds 2 SE.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Xiaomi Buds 5 has a square charging case much in line of the AirPods 4; it's square with rounded corners and slim enough to carry easily in a jeans pocket. It's easy to take earbuds out of the case and put them back in again.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 is available in black, grey or white. It carries the brand logo sophisticated on the case, with a metallic effect and bigger than earlier earbuds from the brand. The white case has a shiny finish that looks sleek, but attracts dust easily.
Side-to-side, the charging case is a tad bigger than the AirPods 4. It's more in line with highly affordable options like the Huawei Freebuds 2 SE and the more rounded Oppo Enco Air3 and QCY AilyBuds Pro+.
The earbuds itself have a more distinctive design than previous Xiaomi and Redmi earbuds. The stems have a metallic lining on the stems, that is filled in in the gray and black edition, and has a white inside on the white version. It also has a speaker-like pattern in the earpiece, and the filters show an L and R for the corresponding earbuds. The overall design feels slick.
The earbuds feel good too. The fit and comfort are close to the Apple AirPods 3, with a bigger speaker mount and slightly thicker earpiece to provide a snug fit in your ears. They feel quite secure as well - they don't fall out my average sized-ears during walks, cycling or rapid head shakes. I do want to press them every now and then to improve the fit, however.
The earbuds boast an IP54 waterproof rating, meaning these can withstand rain, dust and sweat - but you shouldn't shower with them.
The battery life is average, but as they last around 4,5 hours with ANC on and around 6,5 hours with ANC off, it scores better than the AirPods 4 with ANC.
A 10 minute recharge in the case is good enough for 2 hours more music. You can recharge the earbuds five times fully before the needs a new charge itself, via USB-C. The charging case doesn't support wireless charging,
With its slim charging case, comfortable earbuds and good waterproof level, the Xiaomi Buds 5 is a good daily driver - although battery life could have been better.
Controls, connectivity and app support
The Xiaomi Buds 5 has a solid feature set for 100 dollar earbuds. For starters, it automatically pauses when you take an earbud out, and resumes playback when you put it back in.
It's also possible to connect to the earbuds to two devices at the same time with the dual-device multipoint connection, after you've activated it in the app. it flawlessly switches when you get a call or pause on one device, and play on the other.
It does require you to setup your Android connection anew when you've put the phone in flight mode or off in the meantime, like on all earbuds that have Google Fast Pair.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 controls by pinching the sides of the stems but it doesn't really work well. You need quite a bit of pressure to squeeze them and still your input isn't always registered. Just like on the Nothing Ear (a), it can be really hard to squeeze multiple times. Even if it works, it feels lucky that it worked.
Unlike the AirPods 4, you can also change the volume by swiping the sides of the stems up and down. While it's great to have this option, the execution is hit-and-miss. I found out that it works mostly well when you push the top of the earbuds in your ears while you do it, but around half of the time, the volume swipes aren't picked up.
Happily, you can change the controls for one, two, three or hold-squeezes completely to your liking with the excellent free Xiaomi Earbuds app on iPhone and Android. It could save you some pinches.
The Xiaomi Earbuds App supports the Xiaomi Buds 5 on iPhone and Android
You can change the controls to your liking
The Xiaomi Earbuds app looks and feels good on both iPhone and Android, and gives the earbuds various extra features:
(De)activate Active Noise Cancellation and choose between adaptive ANC or a strength level
Transfer the recordings from the microphones from your earphones to your phone
Choose between various sound settings
Setup the controls to your liking, including the option to add volume controls
(De)activate auto-pause when you take an earbud out
(De)activate the dual-device multipoint connection
(De)activate the option to automatically take incoming calls
Find your earphones
Update the firmware (requires a Xiaomi account)
That's right - the Xiaomi Buds 5 comes with the unique option to record what the microphones pickup. It can be your voice, your surroundings, but you can also record a phone call in which both ends of the lines. You can record up to three hours and then transfer the recordings from the earbuds to your phone via the app. It won't be a feature you'll need often, but it could come in handy.
The option to record audio, multipoint connectivity and excellent app support of the Xiaomi Buds 5 are great, but these earbuds often frustrate when you control them.
Phone and video calls
The Xiaomi Buds 5 is a safe choice for phone calls.
The microphones focus extremely well on your voice. Even when there are people speaking directly around you, the earbuds pick out your voice and reduce other voices to the background.
Your voice also survives walking in the wind. Wind noise is audible, but it doesn't drown your voice.
But while your voice is audible under these challenging conditions, it doesn't sound very clear. Actually - your voice sounds rather full and dark in both phone calls and video conferences.
Basically, others may think you have a mediocre earbud for calling, while you know how much noise is actually left out.
Video and games playback
The Xiaomi Buds 5 have flawless video playback in video apps like YouTube and Netflix on both iPhone and Android.
It offers great synchronization in games without activating a specific gaming mode. In the demanding Call of Duty mobile, the sound effects are on par with the action on your screen.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 has an Dimensional Audio setting for Movies, and while that boosts gunshots and explosions in both movies and games, it doesn't reveal a whole lot of sound placement - for instance where gunshots in Call of Duty are around you.
ANC QUALITY of the Xiaomi Buds 5
The big strength of the Xiaomi Buds 5 is that these half-in-ears have Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) at only half the price of the AirPods 4.
Unlike previous affordable half-in-ears with ANC, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and the SoundPEATS Air4, the Xiaomi Buds 5 ANC does something.
That said, the Xiaomi Buds 5 ANC doesn't silence your surroundings.
The ANC can reduce volume of constant background sounds. Darker electronic humming is reduced, and constant tones like distant traffic or basses from background radio's can also be softened.
But the ANC isn't very effective in countering sudden sounds. Nearby conversations from men and women are still very easy to follow, even when you're listening to music on background volume.
The AirPods 4 with ANC have noticeably stronger ANC than the Xiaomi Buds 5; they silence lower and middle tones more effectively and actually bring more rest to your head. The Xiaomi Buds 5 ANC can help you concentrate on music a bit more - that's about it.
The ANC also isn't nearly as strong as great ANC earbuds with rubber tips under $100, like the Earfun Air Pro 4, Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, or Nothing Ear (a).
There isn't a dedicated Transparency mode, but you can switch the ANC off, which will let you hear more of your surroundings and traffic noise in a very natural way.
With this natural Transparency mode, it's possible to follow a conversation around you and play music softly on your earbuds at the same time.
Both the ANC on and ANC off mode register the amount of wind you're walking, running or cycling into and then reduce wind noise well.
The ANC of the Xiaomi Buds 5 is better than on previous cheap half-in-earbuds, but can't touch that of the AirPods 4 or great cheap ANC earbuds with rubber ear tips.
Sound quality of Xiaomi Buds 5
The Xiaomi Buds 5 are tuned by Harman, and while that was a big feature of previous Samsung Galaxy Buds, it gives the Xiaomi Buds 5 a bit of a hit-and-miss sound quality.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 combine a full and detailed sound that few half-in-ear earphones manage to reach.
The mid-bass gives solid thumps. They feel a little pumped-up, but do give the bass enough punching power.
The darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear is also done well. The sub-bass sounds rather light, but rumbles tightly and strong.
Lower mid-tones are on a tight leash and aren't strongly boosted. Darker electronic tones and instruments and lower male are natural. This also paves the way for good separation between the bass and the higher frequencies, and leaves space for higher instruments.
Center mid-tones like guitars and piano play sound clear and natural. They have leverage too - preventing Rachelle Ferell in the audiophile test track I Can Explain from sounding too dark and recessed (AirPods 4) or too sharp (Oppo Enco Air3), for instance.
In the treble, Harman puts female and higher male vocals forward and extends the highs to give violins and cymbals presence and texture. Upper mid-tones and highs are clear and brighter than average.
At the same time, the Buds 5 wants to prevent a harsh listening experience. Mostly, this succeeds and impresses. But there are also times where it feels like a contradiction. In The Cinematic Orchestra's Transformation for instance, violins are upfront - but also seem to have restricted space - as if they have to hold back a bit. The result feels a bit artificial.
This is hard to describe - but it isn't a new phenomenon to the Harman sound tuning. I've also felt this on the JBL Live Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. If you felt it on either of these earbuds, you will likely have it here too.
You can make your own EQ
It's good to know that these sound impressions are mostly based on four (!) specific circumstances: ANC off, sitting still instead of moving and two specific app settings: the Adaptive sound setting that states it optimises to the shape of your ears and your environment in the app, and the default Harman AudioEFX equalizer. What changes with different settings?
With ANC on, the bass becomes fuller and deeper, but can also be a bit out of bounds.
If you're walking, running or cycling into the wind, the seal of the earbuds likely loosenes and the bass can lose power.
Turn the Adaptive sound slider off, the bass and lower mid-tones lose weight. The sound becomes flatter, lighter and less engaging.
And trade in the HarmanAudioEFX setting for the ‘Classic’ equalizer, and the sound becomes less dynamic, with less bass boost, duller mid-tones and slightly less air in the sound.
Next to these settings, you can also opt for four other EQ presets, and you can setup your own equalizer - giving you a bit of tweaking control over the music.
You can forget the Dimensional Audio setting immediately. It tries to put the music more around you, but it makes the sound tinnier, sharper, or downright unnatural and… ugly.
On lower volumes, the Xiaomi Buds 5 sounds clearer than many other earbuds. It doesn't revert to a warm background character, but keeps its treble effort intact, making higher vocals still prominent.
With an articulated bass, tight lower-mid tones, natural center-mids and clear treble, the Xiaomi Buds 5 often sounds impressive, more detailed and pronounced than many other half-in-ears… but its treble can occasionally appear too artificial.
—> These are the best sounding wireless earbuds from $25 to $100
Xiaomi Buds 5 comparisons
Xiaomi Buds 5 vs AIrPods 4 ANC: Which is better?
Should you spend $180 on the AirPods 4 with ANC or $100 on the Xiaomi Buds 5, that also have ANC?
The $100 Xiaomi Buds 5 on the left, the $180 AirPods 4 ANC on the right
The Xiaomi Buds 5 has a lot to offer against the AirPods 4 with ANC. It has multipoint connectivity and great app support on non-Apple devices, its battery lasts slightly longer with ANC off, and it has a higher waterproof rating. The option to record audio also misses on the AirPods, although the AirPods has great integration by reading with messaging apps.
Musically, the AirPods 4 has more outspoken lower frequencies than the Xiaomi Buds 5; with a thumpier mid-bass and boosted lower mids. The Buds 5 has a more even sound, with more natural vocals and center-mids (guitars and piano play). The AirPods 4 can sound nasal or cave-like, compared to the brighter Buds 5. The Xiaomi sounds clearer with more treble extension and less bass emphasis.
The AirPods 4 beat the Xiaomi Buds 5 where it matters. Apple's earbuds sit tighter in your ears, control easier, offer clearer phone calls, and the AirPods 4's ANC is noticeably stronger. It filters and reduces more constant and sudden sounds, and actually brings some rest to your head in a crowded office space - which the Buds 5 can't. It's nice to have volume controls on the Buds 5 though.
Around $180 on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Xiaomi Buds 5 vs Oppo Enco Air3 ($60)
When you take into account that the Xiaomi Buds 5's ANC isn’t that strong, the cheaper Oppo Enco Air3 is a great alternative.
The Oppo may not reduce background and wind as well in calls, but makes your voice clearer. Its battery lasts 5 hours on a charge, it has the same IP54 waterproof rating and also comes with great multipoint connection. Oppo's touch panels on top of the stems are highly responsive, but still respond easier than the Buds 5.
The Xiaomi has a more powerful mid-bass, more air in the sound, and more forwarded vocals. It often sounds more engaging and more immersive. But this is also where Buds 5's artificialness comes into play. Highs are extended further, but can also feel more cramped. The Oppo Enco Air3 sounds more natural than the Xiaomi Buds 5, especially in the center-mids and highs. Music on the Oppo doesn't feel as heavily clarified as on the Xiaomi. The mid-bass is tighter and music has a smoother transition between lower- and center-mids.
$40 - $60 on your Amazon country or AliExpress
Xiaomi Buds 5 vs Huawei Freebuds 2SE ($60)
The Huawei Freebuds 2 SE doesn't have multipoint connection and you have to download its app outside of the Google Play Store, but it still is a great cheaper alternative to the Xiaomi Buds 5.
Huawei's battery lasts up to 9 hours per charge (!) - and phone calls and video meetings are fantastically clear as well. Controls are more limited, but respond better. They provide a safe and comfortable fit too.
The Xiaomi sounds more expressive; more pronounced mid-bass, more air in the sound and clearer treble. The Huawei sounds smoother and fuller than the brighter Xiaomi Buds 5; frequencies between the lows and highs fill up more.
$40 - $70 on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Verdict: Xiaomi Buds 5
While its sound is immersive, the earbuds are comfortable and it's a safe choice for phone calls, the Xiaomi Buds 5's Active Noise Cancelling doesn't convince and its controls are sluggish.
The Xiaomi Buds 5 may seem like a fantastic cheaper AirPods 4 alternative on paper, but it doesn't realise its full potential.
FOUR STARS - Good
Buy Xiaomi Buds 5/ Check lowest price
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I bought the Xiaomi Buds 5 myself to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - read about it here.
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