After spending a few weeks with the new SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds as my daily audio drivers, I’ve come to appreciate what this Chinese audio brand accomplishes at the budget end of the wireless earbud market. These earbuds, released Tuesday, pack an xMEMS Labs’ silicon-based micro tweeter in addition to a more traditional dynamic driver. With a Black Friday sale price of just over $100, they deliver features and performance that can cost twice as much with more established brands.
But do the buds outshine pricier competitors? Not exactly. My experience with their sound quality and adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) — “adaptive” being one of the new features that puts the “+” in the name — fell a little flat. I would not be tempted to choose these over AirPods Pro 3 for any reason other than cost.
SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds review
I’ve been an AirPods Pro users for a while, having enjoyed AirPods Pro 2 and now AirPods Pro 3. Frequently, I review value-oriented earbuds that come pretty close to Apple’s top draw in both sound quality and noise cancellation. And those earbuds tend to be great choices for Android users if they pack the right high-quality codecs that Apple’s headphones lack. SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds are in that boat. But they don’t wow me on sound quality, even with the xMEMS Labs Cowell micro tweeter powered by a custom XAA-2000 Aptos Class-H amplifier bolstering the high end. And the adaptive ANC that helps set them apart from SoundPeat Air5 Pro seems only passably good.
Table of contents: SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds review
- Design and comfort
- Sound quality and performance
- Hybrid ANC and transparency
- Battery life and connectivity
- Verdict
Design and comfort
These Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified buds feature a dynamic driver and xMEMS micro tweeter, plus aptX Lossless and the LDAC codec for Android users. They boast 55dB adaptive active noise cancellation, 30-hour playtime and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
- Dual drivers with xMEMS Labs micro tweeter
- aptX Lossless and LDAC
- Hybrid ANC
- Various EQ settings in app
- Sound quality and ANC good but not top notch
- No in-ear detection
- No wireless charging for case
Air5 Pro+ adopts an in-ear design not unlike Apple’s AirPods and traditional in-ear monitors. The charging case in black feels surprisingly premium for the price point, with a satisfying closure via hinge and a subtle LED indicator on the front. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, making them among the lightest I’ve tested recently.
During my testing period, I wore these earbuds for everything from quiet work sessions to windy walks to gym workouts. The semi-in-ear fit proved comfortable for extended wear, though it won’t suit everyone. I found the fit nice and snug with medium ear tips. I got decent passive noise cancellation as well as reasonable ambient awareness. And the buds stayed in my ears a little better than AirPods Pro 3 as I moved around. I experienced no fatigue even after three-hour stretches, which speaks to the lightweight construction.
The earbuds use a touch control system that’s generally responsive, though I did encounter occasional false triggers when adjusting the fit. A single tap on the left bud lowers volume, and a tap on the right raises it. A double tap on either bud pauses music. A 1.5-second press on the right bud skips forward. And so on … as with many earbuds, touch control just takes some getting used to. And you can customize touch controls using the SoundPeats Audio app, which also lets you set noise cancellation level, EQ and more.
The buds lack in-ear detection, so they don’t pause playback when removed from the ear. And the case doesn’t charge wirelessly. That’s too bad. Those features are becoming common across mid- and high-end buds.
Sound quality and performance
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
This is where Air5 Pro+ become pretty impressive. SoundPeats equipped the earbuds with 10mm dynamic drivers in addition to xMEMS Labs micro tweeters plus LDAC codec support, which is remarkable at this price point. LDAC delivers significantly higher quality audio than standard SBC or AAC codecs when paired with compatible Android devices. But I use Apple devices, so I don’t know how great these sound via LDAC on an Android.
For me, the sound signature leans slightly warm with emphasized bass, but it’s not overwhelming. During my testing with various genres, I found the low-end response enjoyable. Bassy tracks tend to deliver a satisfying thump without muddying the midrange. The bass has decent extension and impact without bleeding into other frequencies.
Mids are clear and present, though occasionally they can feel slightly recessed on bass-heavy tracks. Vocals come through with good clarity in most situations. I spend a fair amount of time listening to streaming radio and podcasts. The Air5 Pro+ handled spoken word content exceptionally well, with natural tonality and easy intelligibility.
The treble range is where budget earbuds often stumble, but the Air5 Pro+ manages respectable detail and sparkle without harsh sibilance. Cymbals and hi-hats have decent presence, though audiophiles will notice the lack of air and extension compared to premium models. For most listeners, especially at this price point, the treble performance is more than adequate, and that’s thanks to the micro tweeters.
Soundstage is limited when earbud design lets in a little more ambient noise, offering less isolation. You won’t get the expansive presentation of over-ear headphones, but there’s reasonable width and separation for earbuds in this category.
And the app’s EQ settings allow for plenty of adjustment, which will help anyone who finds the buds don’t sound ideal out of the box.
Hybrid ANC and transparency
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Air5 Pro+ features hybrid ANC with advertised noise reduction up to 55dB — the strongest yet in SoundPeats true-wireless earbuds. In real-world use, I found the ANC effective against consistent low-frequency noise like hums, as well as higher-pitched annoyances. It noticeably reduced ambient chatter in public spaces like the gym — that F-ing guy who takes calls on the treadmill — though it couldn’t eliminate it entirely.
Wind noise reduction performed reasonably well. And transparency mode works well for quick conversations or staying aware of your surroundings. It sounds relatively natural without excessive amplification or digital artifacts, though voices can occasionally sound slightly tinny.
I found myself wondering if the hybrid ANC’s adaptive nature served me poorly at times. I just kept finding myself fiddling with the fit and turning up the volume — only to find it already way up. Did it just get way louder in here, or do my buds keep getting quieter?
Battery life and connectivity
SoundPeats claims six hours of playback per charge with ANC off, and I consistently achieved about that amount depending on volume levels. The charging case provides an additional three full charges, bringing total battery life up to about 30 hours. Quick charging delivers about two hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. That’s convenient.
Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity proved stable throughout my testing. I experienced only one or two brief dropouts during three weeks of nearly daily use, which is quite good. The earbuds support multipoint connection, allowing you to stay connected to two devices simultaneously. I kept them paired to both my iPad Air 5 and iPhone 16 Pro. Switching between devices worked smoothly most of the time.
Call quality is good. The six microphones do a reasonable job isolating your voice in quiet environments, but background noise reduction struggled in windy or very noisy conditions.
SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds review: Verdict
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
★★★☆☆
SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ delivers impressive value at around $100 for a sale price. The combination of LDAC support, mostly-competent ANC, comfortable lightweight design and solid but not stellar sound quality makes these earbuds easy to recommend for budget-conscious buyers (but not for audiophiles or Apple fans with eyes on AirPods Pro 3).
Build quality doesn’t quite match premium competitors, but Air5 Pro+ nail most of the fundamentals. If you’re seeking affordable earbuds at a typical price of around $100 with modern features and don’t need absolute best-in-class sound or noise cancellation, Air5 Pro+ deserves serious consideration.
These Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified buds feature a dynamic driver and xMEMS micro tweeter, plus aptX Lossless and the LDAC codec for Android users. They boast 55dB adaptive active noise cancellation, 30-hour playtime and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
- Dual drivers with xMEMS Labs micro tweeter
- aptX Lossless and LDAC
- Hybrid ANC
- Various EQ settings in app
- Sound quality and ANC good but not top notch
- No in-ear detection
- No wireless charging for case
SoundPeats provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
