UGreen is mainly known for their reliable peripherals for computing and mobile devices. But recently they have delved into audio products, and the UGreen HiTune X5 is their latest flagship true wireless earbuds retailing at an affordable S$68.
Unboxing
In the box, you will receive the following items:
- UGreen HiTune X5 Earbuds
- Charging case
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Silicon ear tips x4 pairs (XS, S, M , L)
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver | 10mm Dynamic Driver |
| Battery Life | 7 hours per full charge 28 hours in charging case |
| Weight | Earbuds: 5.1g each Charging case: 47.6g |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth chipset | Qualcomm QCC 3040 |
| Supported codecs | aptX, SBC, AAC |
| Water resistance | IPX5 |
| Charging port | USB-C |
Build quality and features
The UGreen HiTune X5 comes in a dark blue case that sports a glossy finish (initially I thought it was the plastic packaging). The case is rather compact, measuring about ~6cm* 4cm * 2.5cm, making it somewhat pocketable with small bulge in my jeans pocket. The build quality of the case is great – the hinges are sturdy and closes with a satisfying snap. You can also see 3 levels of charging indicators outside the case.
As for the earbuds, the UGreen HiTune X5 has a rather unique shape which features an oval-shaped stem and also has a glossy finish. The touch surface of the earbuds has blue dots which gives me an illusion of LED lights. Build quality is pretty good as well, and it is rated IPX5 for water-resistance rating.
Controls
UGreen HiTune X5 opts for using touch controls to control media and calls. The touch controls can handle everything from play/pause, adjusting volume, skipping of tracks, and answering calls. Taps are easy to register as the touch surface is quite big. But having said that, I do find myself accidentally triggering a volume change when adjusting the UGreen HiTune X5 in my ear.
There is also a ‘Gaming’ mode which is said to reduce latency to 70ms. You can trigger this mode via four taps.
Battery life
UGreen HiTune X5 is rated to last 7 hours of play time per full charge, which is pretty substantial. You can get up to additional 28 hours with the charging case.
Charging is done via USB-C at the back of the case. It would have been awesome if it supported wireless charging, but honestly at this price point I wasn’t expecting it.
Fit
The UGreen HiTune X5 has a comfortable and light fit that seems dependent on the ear tips you are using. UGreen provided 4 sizes of ear tips (they are a little too thin my opinion), and I found the large size to fit me best. The UGreen HiTune X5 features a contoured oval pebble that offers a snug fit into your ear canal, with the ear tips providing the seal.
And at just 5.1g, the earbuds feel really light in my ears and I could wear them for extended periods of time without fatigue. The small size of the UGreen HiTune X5 should offer good fit for females who has smaller ears as well. UGreen should consider making their own foam tips as I feel it would be a great complement to their true wireless earbuds lineup.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
Despite being a budget true wireless earbuds, the UGreen HiTune X5 comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 technology. Connectivity during my time of testing was stable and I did not encounter any dropouts. I did not experience any latency or lag when watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11 when using the default mode (not the ‘Gaming’ mode).
If you want to use just one earbud, you can use either the left or right earbud. The connection from one earbud to both in use resumes instantly the moment you remove second earbud from the case.
Sound quality
The sound signature of the UGreen HiTune X5 is a dynamic V-shaped tuning that will satisfy most people listening to EDM and modern pop songs. Bass on the UGreen HiTune X5 is strong and offers good sub-bass presence that hits deep with reverb. This is likely due to UGreen’s Superbass Enhancement Technology.
Mids thankfully sound clean and does not feel recessed by the low end. Treble is bright and sizzles with clarity. Soundstage on the UGreen HiTune X5 is surprisingly good for a pair of budget true wireless earbuds – decently wide to separate different instruments and layers.
Another point to note is that the UGreen HiTune X5 supports aptX audio codec which is rare to see in earbuds in this price point. Overall, the UGreen HiTune X5 offers a fun, enjoyable sound that if you’re into energetic V-shaped tuning, you will like this.
Microphone quality
Microphone on the UGreen HiTune X5 is pretty good. My voice sounds clear and has depth to it. When there is background noise, the UGreen HiTune X5 is able to cancel out them well but it interferes with voice pickup as well. The microphone would be best used in places where there is not much background noise going on.
Conclusion
The UGreen HiTune X5 originally retailed for S$99, but is now available on Shopee for just S$68 which makes it a really compelling pair of budget true wireless earbuds. It supports single-earbud use, is comfortable to wear, and has an enjoyable sound profile with thumping bass and bright highs.