With so many wireless earbuds on the market today, choosing the right pair can feel overwhelming. From high-end options like Apple’s AirPods Pro and Sony’s WF-1000XM5 to budget-friendly alternatives from brands like Soundcore and TOZO, there’s no shortage of choices.
Each pair promises a mix of sound quality, comfort, battery life, and smart features, but finding the perfect balance between performance and price isn’t always easy—especially for iPhone users who want smooth connectivity without paying a premium.
That’s where SoundPEATS Air5 Lite comes in. Positioned as an affordable alternative with features like multipoint connectivity, customisable sound, and long battery life, these earbuds caught my attention. But how well do they actually perform in everyday use? I’ve spent the past few weeks testing them with my iPhone, and here’s my honest review.
Design & Comfort
The Air5 Lite earbuds are impressively lightweight, each weighing approximately 4.47 grams. Their ergonomic design ensures a snug fit that aligns well with the natural curvature of the ear, making them comfortable for extended wear.
However, achieving a secure fit required some adjustment, and initially, I was concerned they might fall out. Over time, I adapted, and their lightness meant minimal ear fatigue, often forgetting I had them on.
With an IPX5 rating, the Air5 Lite earbuds are resistant to sweat and water splashes, making them a durable solution suitable for workouts and outdoor activities.
Sound Quality
For a budget-friendly option, the Air5 Lite delivers commendable sound quality. They feature a 13mm composite bio-diaphragm driver, providing deep bass and clear audio. The earbuds support the LDAC codec, allowing for high-resolution audio transmission at bitrates up to 990Kbps, ensuring minimal compression and a rich listening experience.
The default sound profile is V-shaped, emphasising bass and treble while slightly recessing mids. This tuning adds excitement to music, with punchy bass and bright highs. Vocals and instruments are clear, though they don’t take centre stage. The Dynamic Bass setting, accessible via the SoundPEATS app, further enhances low frequencies, adding warmth and depth without overwhelming the overall sound.
Connectivity & Controls
The earbuds utilise Bluetooth 5.4 technology, providing a stable and reliable connection. A standout feature is the multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two devices. Switching between my iPhone and MacBook was seamless, ideal for multitasking without constant re-pairing.
Touch controls are intuitive and responsive. Single taps adjust volume, double taps play/pause, and triple taps skip tracks. These controls are customisable through the PeatsAudio app, enabling a personalised user experience.
Battery Life
One of the key factors I consider when choosing wireless earbuds is battery life, and the SoundPEATS Air5 Lite holds up well in this department. On a single charge, the earbuds offer up to 6 hours of continuous playback, which is solid for daily use. The included charging case extends the total battery life to 30 hours, meaning I could go several days without needing to plug them in. For someone like me who listens to music and podcasts throughout the day, this was a huge plus.
Charging is also quite efficient. A 15-minute quick charge provides around 3 hours of playback, which is perfect when I’m in a rush and need a quick top-up before heading out. The case charges via USB-C, and while it doesn’t support wireless charging like Apple’s AirPods, the fast wired charging compensates for this omission.
In real-world usage, battery life was close to the advertised numbers, though results varied depending on volume levels and whether I was using LDAC mode (which consumes more power). With standard AAC codec and moderate volume, I consistently got around 5.5 to 6 hours per charge, but with LDAC enabled, playtime dropped closer to 4.5 hours—a trade-off for the improved sound quality.
Overall, I found the battery life to be impressive for budget-friendly earbuds, easily lasting through a full day of mixed-use between music, calls, and videos. While they don’t quite match the endurance of some premium earbuds with 8+ hours per charge, they still provide enough power for everyday use without constant recharging.
Call Quality
Equipped with AI noise reduction and a dual-microphone setup, the earbuds deliver clear call quality. In quiet environments, my voice sounded natural and loud enough, with background noise reduced effectively. However, in noisier settings, while the noise reduction helps, some ambient sounds can still be heard, and my voice occasionally sounded muffled.
App Integration
The PeatsAudio app offers features like EQ customisation, touch control settings, and a low-latency gaming mode. However, I encountered issues with firmware updates, as the process often stalled and didn’t complete successfully. Additionally, accessing the equaliser sometimes altered the sound unexpectedly. While the app adds value, these glitches indicate room for improvement.
Conclusion
The SoundPEATS Air5 Lite earbuds offer a compelling package for their price point. They provide solid sound quality, comfortable design, effective call performance, and useful features like multipoint connectivity and app customisation. Despite minor app-related issues and the initial adjustment period for a secure fit, they represent excellent value for budget-conscious consumers seeking reliable wireless earbuds.
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