Notebookcheck Logo
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review

Xiaomi Buds 5 TWS review – Insider tip with Spatial Audio and aptX Lossless for the price-conscious

More codecs are hardly possible in this price range.

The focus of Xiaomi's Buds 5 lies in wearing comfort and extensive features. The wireless semi-in-ears feature Hi-Res Audio, active noise cancellation (ANC) and AI. The Xiaomi Buds are an affordable alternative for all those who don't want to spend 200 dollars or more on a pair of headphones.
Marcus Herbrich, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Accessory Audio Wearable

One of the selling points of the Xiaomi Buds 5 is their support for spatial playback of audio content and high-resolution Bluetooth codecs. In addition to Qualcomm's aptX Lossless, the wireless headphones from Xiaomi can be used with the LC3 codec and aptX Adaptive. The manufacturer hasn't specified the size of the Buds 5's dynamic drivers with titanium membranes; the predecessors used a size of 11 mm.

Xiaomi attaches great importance to its new TWS headphones' great wearing comfort. Their design is advertised as "semi-in-ear", as the drivers are positioned in such a way that the headphones don't have to be inserted deep into your ear canal. The advantage of this is that the Buds 5 don't have to be fitted with a silicone cap, which in turn avoids any unpleasant pressure.

The Xiaomi headphones will initially be launched exclusively for the Chinese market. The manufacturer has not yet stated whether a global launch is planned at a later date. The Buds 5 are available as an import for a price starting at around US$150.

Specifications

Type Semi-In-Ears
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4
Reach 10 m
Speakers Dynamic drivers
Audio codecs SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LC3
Battery power 35 mAh + 480 mAh
Charging connection USB-C
Wireless charging no
Weight 36.6 g
Firmware version 1.3.5
Scope of delivery Type-C charging cable, quick-start guide
Price 100 -130 Euro

Case and ergonomics - The Xiaomi Buds 5 with an IP54 certification

Thanks to the different material structures that have been used, the Buds 5 case feels very good. The charging case's look also benefits from its roughened opening, which is splash-proof per IPX4. The headphones themselves are IP54 waterproof and their color matches the case. Our test sample's colorway, which is called Frost Blue, suits the Buds 5 very well. There are also three other color variants, namely Shadow Black, Snow Mountain White and Titanium Gold.

Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
The Xiaomi Buds 5's colors
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review

Xiaomi focuses primarily on the ergonomics of its semi-in-ear headphones. According to the manufacturer, the streamlined shape of the TWS case adapts to the curved inner area of the human ear, resulting in the headphones hardly pressing against the wearer's ear canal. Xiaomi states that the contact area of the TWS to the inner ear is only nine percent. Compared to in-ears such as the Moto Buds+ or the Nothing Ear (2), the 4.2-gram Xiaomi Buds 5, which don't need a silicone attachment, will likely not be noticed after just a few minutes in your ears. They feel very comfortable to wear indeed.

Still, one disadvantage of the semi-in-ears from Xiaomi is obvious. The TWS are not really suitable for sports, as they sit less firmly in your ear than in-ears do. And their passive seal is significantly less pronounced, too. 

The build quality of the compact charging case and the headphones themselves is good. Magnets hold the TWS safely in their case and the lid remains securely closed in any situation, so transporting them in a handbag or backpack is no problem. A reset button is located on the underside of the charging case, while a colored indicator LED is housed on the front.

Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
The Xiaomi Buds 5 in Frost Blue
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review

Sustainability

Sustainability is not the focus of the manufacturer's headphones—at least not in the marketing of the Buds 5. Xiaomi provides no information on material extraction or the recyclability of the plastics used. Repairability is also likely to be rather difficult.

Connectivity and operation - The Xiaomi headphones with ANC

The Buds 5, which have not yet been announced for the international market, don't support Android Fast Pair or Microsoft Swift Pair, meaning the TWS have to be searched for manually and are not connected as new headphones as soon as the charging case is opened. The setup using the "Xiaomi Earbuds" app, which can be downloaded from the PlayStore, currently only works with the country setting "Mainland China". However, the app itself can be used in English. Thankfully, if the Buds 5 are ever available globally, then these shortcomings in their software could be rectified.

The TWS from Xiaomi work with Bluetooth 5.4 and can connect to up to two devices. We used a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and a Xiaomi 14 during our test. The manufacturer's Earbuds app is required for software updates or settings. The settings options for the Buds 5 are extensive. It is possible to adjust the gesture control or audio output to personal preferences, and a search function is also available. The Xiaomi TWS additionally allow in-ear detection, which calculates your ear canal structure in real-time using a low-frequency compensation coefficient and adjusts the audio output accordingly. In theory, users can therefore enjoy dynamic bass output from the TWS.

Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
The Xiaomi headphones respond to pressure
The Xiaomi headphones respond to pressure

Each earbud has a pressure-sensitive area on its stem that reacts to being pressed one to three times with a short vibration, and can be adjusted to suit your needs. This worked very well during our test. They also have a wear-detection function, which automatically stops media playback when an earbud is removed from your ear.

An interesting feature of the Xiaomi Buds 5 is their spatial playback of music or video. If you like to listen to both in alternation, you must always activate the correct content in the settings, otherwise the spatial audio will not work. As soon as you turn your head, the sound centers or moves away—this effect works very well in everyday use, even for all Android smartphones and not just Xiaomi smartphones. Manufacturer-independent integration is not always a given in this context, as our test of the Moto Buds+ showed. 

There are three modes to choose from when it comes to active noise control: "Balanced", "Low" and "Adaptive". Surprisingly, we didn't find a transparency mode in the settings. Instead, information—such as human voices and whistles—is always transmitted to the user. This approach doesn't seem entirely logical to us and we would have liked to have the choice between "full" ANC and a dedicated mode that amplifies voices. What remains is a very restrained noise suppression for low-frequency and monotonous noise. Shrill or whistling noise sources are barely filtered out. We could hardly perceive any difference between the individual ANC modes.

Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review
Xiaomi Buds 5 headphones review

Sound - The Xiaomi Buds 5 with impressive bass

The Xiaomi headphones feature a compact build
The Xiaomi headphones feature a compact build

The most important feature of headphones is, of course, sound quality. Thanks to their high-res audio support (24 bit/48 kHz), you can play back at a transmission rate of up to 2.1 Mbps. For their sound output, the Buds 5 use dynamic drivers that have been tuned in collaboration with the Harman AudioEFX team and are designed to cover a frequency range from 16 Hz to 40 kHz. In addition to the Bluetooth codecs from Qualcomm (aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive), the LC3 codec and the mandatory supported AAC and SBC via Bluetooth 5.4 are also available.

In our measurements, the Xiaomi TWS' harmonic distortions were at a low level, but there is still room for improvement in this price range. The Buds 5 deliver a nice sound experience with a focus on the treble range, but the mids and bass are also present. An equalizer and various profiles for sound tuning are available to conceal personal deficits. Compared to in-ears with silicone tips, music coming from the Xiaomi TWS sounds a little less full due to their design.

We additionally used the Buds 5 for movies and as a headset for phone calls. The playback of sound and image was pleasantly synchronized and we didn't notice any significant offset when it came to YouTube videos or movies. Xiaomi specifies a latency of just 50 ms for its headphones.

During our test calls, the three built-in microphones ensured good and sufficiently loud voice output. Our conversation partners also attested to the Xiaomi headphones' clean reproduction in quiet surroundings. However, wind noise was clearly audible. The reduction of ambient noise works audibly during everyday use, but is not terribly pronounced.

Loudspeakers
THD
Jabra Elite 10 (RMS: -3.0 dBFS)
0.23 % *
Xiaomi Buds 5 (RMS: -1.9 sBFS)
0.097 % *
Nothing Ear (RMS: -1.2 dBFS)
0.092 % *
THD+N
Xiaomi Buds 5 (RMS: -1.9 sBFS)
0.63 % *
Jabra Elite 10 (RMS: -3.0 dBFS)
0.55 % *
Nothing Ear (RMS: -1.2 dBFS)
0.4 % *

* ... smaller is better

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Harmonic distortion quantifies the amount of distortion caused by non-linear distortion (harmonic content) in relation to the original signal. THD only refers to the fundamental component. The distortion factor is often mentioned in the same breath, but refers to the overall signal. 
THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise): This value is comparable to THD, but in addition to the interference power of the harmonics, that of the noise is recorded as an effective value.
For the measurement, a low harmonic sinusoidal signal (1 kHz, > 0 dB) is played back via the headphones to be tested, which is recorded by a linear measuring microphone (measuring distance: approx. 1 cm) in an artificial head. 

Both values are given as a percentage. The lower the value, the better the signal fidelity. 

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.4402534.147.63126.9514034.352.85037.452.86324.955.98020.657.510024.556.412517.660.816015.86220011.660.12501060.931514.360.34007.960.55006.560.96308.162.58008.662.8100010.565.212508.769.716009.874.720009.281.825009.487.931509.884.640009.377.950009.572.9630010.365800010.869.51000011691250011.164.21600010.853.6SPL22.392.1N0.472.3median 10median 65Delta1.77.139.936.233.125.627.924.233.930.238.734.426.425.626.527.33430.117.527.517.828.217.3329.832.99.235.810.241.61043.811.447.713.551.414.456.215.660.812.766.89.871.116.478.120.482.313.482.112.380.610.376.811.171.31161.611.555.410.845.32788.90.857.5median 12.3median 56.23.315.3hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseXiaomi Buds 5Nothing Ear
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Xiaomi Buds 5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (92.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 4.9% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.6% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 14% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Nothing Ear audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 8.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | very high highs - on average 19.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (36.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 93% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 93% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery life - The Xiaomi semi-in-ears don't run for very long

The Xiaomi Buds 5 each have a 45 mAh battery which, according to the manufacturer, should allow a battery life of up to 6.5 hours without ANC. With the charging case, you can expect a playback time of up to 39 hours. The charging case, which can be charged via the USB-C port, has a capacity of 480 mAh and indicates the battery charge level with a colored status LED. You can't charge the Xiaomi headphones wirelessly.

Noting a runtime of around 5.5 hours, we didn't quite reach Xiaomi's specified values during our battery test. We adjusted the volume to the standardized value of 65 dB(A) and used the AAC codec. Compared to the TWS competition, the endurance of the Buds 5 is not particularly high—but their runtimes aren't bad either.

Battery Runtime - Spotify loop at 65dB/A (incl ANC)
Jabra Elite 10
 mAh
647 min
Nothing Ear
46 mAh
358 min
Xiaomi Buds 5
35 mAh
328 min

Verdict on the Xiaomi Buds 5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review. Headphones provided by Trading Shenzhen
Xiaomi Buds 5 review. Headphones provided by:

The Xiaomi Buds 5 offer an exciting overall package for a price below US$200 thanks to their high-resolution audio codecs, excellent wearing comfort and well-implemented spatial audio. The days when Xiaomi TWSs stood out due to their Chinese voice feedback or lack of app integration are long gone. Apart from the pairing issues, the Buds 5 can hardly be distinguished from headphones available in this country during everyday use.

The true wireless headphones from Xiaomi are certainly not the best TWS when it comes to noise suppression or runtimes, but the Buds 5 boast a really good sound. It isn't really clear why Xiaomi has coupled the now standard transparency mode to its ANC. 

The Xiaomi Buds 5 are a very good choice as an import for lovers of wireless headphones without a penchant for sporting activities.

If you want better isolation from the outside world or consider wireless charging to be an important feature, the Motorola Moto Buds+ are a suitable alternative in the premium mid-range segment. The Huawei Freebuds 5 follow a similar concept to the Buds 5, but are significantly more expensive.

Price and availability

You can purchase the Xiaomi Buds 5 as an import for around US$150, for example via Trading Shenzhen.

Transparency

The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.

This is how Notebookcheck is testing

Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.

static version load dynamic
Loading comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Xiaomi Buds 5 TWS review – Insider tip with Spatial Audio and aptX Lossless for the price-conscious
Marcus Herbrich, 2024-09-16 (Update: 2024-09-16)