Xiaomi Buds 5 Are Not For Everyone

For several days, I had the chance to thoroughly test the Xiaomi Buds 5, a mid-range pair of wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, evaluating their pros, cons, and ultimately a very personal purchasing decision.

Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi Buds 5 wireless earbuds, and I must say they left a positive impression. They follow the popular stem design—similar to Apple’s AirPods—that has become a trend, as seen with Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro or, at a similar price point, the Huawei FreeBuds 6i.

They present an interesting option in the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) market, offering a compelling combination of sound quality, advanced features, and competitive pricing.

The brand has also taken a step forward in design and features with the Buds 5. With active noise cancellation, these earbuds aim to go above and beyond, and that’s precisely what I put to the test. However, there are certain aspects you should know if you’re considering buying them. Naturally, we should remember these are mid-range earbuds.

Design: Comfort is promised, but I didn’t fully experience it.

Xiaomi opted for an in-ear design with a semi-open format for the Buds 5, so you can expect some sound leakage, offering a more natural and less isolated listening experience.

Aesthetically, they’re attractive and modern, with a matte finish that gives them a premium touch. It follows the current trend of the stem design, which Samsung has recently joined.

However, with this design type comes significant drawbacks. Despite Xiaomi’s claim of ergonomic design research, after a few hours of continuous use, I began to feel some discomfort in my ears.

This may vary based on individual anatomy, but in my case, I couldn’t find the perfect fit that allowed me to forget I was wearing them for an extended period.

Comfort doesn’t end here. Again, considering the ear shape, they don’t fit perfectly. I tested them for 20 minutes while jogging, and although they didn’t fall out, I had to make several adjustments to keep them secure.

Additionally, changing songs or pausing is challenging. The touch control system is nearly inaccessible—positioned on the inner side—and on the move, it’s a near-impossible task, although if stationary, it might take a few tries to execute the desired action.

On the slightly positive side, the charging case is a small gem—compact, with strong magnets, and a matte finish. However, it tends to show fingerprints, which some may find unattractive, although it cleans easily.

Sound: Impressive quality for the price and the features

These earbuds come equipped with a setup that promises balanced sound with good bass and non-piercing highs. In these past days, I found that this promise largely holds.

In this category, the main takeaway is this: the sound quality is very good for earbuds in this price range. Again, it’s not my preferred style for sound enjoyment, but at 99 euros, the investment is well-justified in terms of quality, fulfilling what most people expect when putting them on.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is one of the standout features, offering three customizable modes: deep, balanced, and light. However, I didn’t notice significant differences among them, nor did I achieve full or partial immersion. Again, this is due to the semi-open design.

They also support several audio codecs that enhance sound quality, which is noticeable. They are compatible with aptX Lossless, allowing lossless music listening, and aptX Adaptive, which adjusts audio quality based on connection strength. They also support LDAC for high-resolution audio and LC3 codec, which enhances quality and energy efficiency. Considering the price, this is a great addition.

App and connectivity: A comprehensive application suitable for any phone

Of course, earbuds come with an app, and the Buds 5 benefit from the Xiaomi Earbuds app, where you can find all device information. It’s very user-friendly, allowing easy adjustments. The app lets you customize touch controls, adjust the equalizer, and switch between different ANC modes.

One standout feature Xiaomi highlights is the AI noise reduction for calls, which can filter out sounds like wind at speeds up to 22 km/h. I couldn’t gauge the wind speed when testing them during a storm, but I had no complaints—the technology seemed to do its job.

Additionally, pairing is as simple as with other earbuds. Just open the case, and they instantly appear on your phone’s connection screen. Simple, quick, and suitable for everyone.

Battery: A full workday without issue, but watch out with noise cancellation

Battery life can be described as sufficient and dependable. I found that without active noise cancellation, they lasted me through an entire workday—specifically, almost seven hours, though I didn’t have them in all the time.

With the charging case, battery life extends further, and in my case, they lasted around three days. To give a rough idea, the case supports nearly four full charges of the earbuds and, yes, it includes USB-C, so with five to ten minutes of charging, you’ll have enough battery for a Marvel movie.

Of course, with noise cancellation activated, battery life decreases. A reduction was expected, but the difference between having ANC on or off is roughly an hour, making it a solid choice.

Conclusion: Are the Xiaomi Buds 5 worth it?

After several weeks of use, I can say the Xiaomi Buds 5 offer excellent value for money.

With a launch price of 99 euros, and often available for less on sale, it’s a very viable option if you don’t want to invest too much in quality sound for daily use.

Their strengths, to clarify, include decent sound quality for their price range thanks to high-resolution audio codecs, customizable noise cancellation, and respectable battery life.

However, it’s essential to consider the stem format, the sound quality which won’t be entirely immersive, comfort that depends on your anatomy and, in my case, didn’t convince me despite a reasonably secure fit, and the major flaw I found: the touch controls.