The ‘Air’ series is Soundpeats’ staple in the true wireless earbuds lineup. The Air5 Pro is the in-ear type, and we have two other models – the Soundpeats Air5 and the Air5 Lite, which are open-fit type of earbuds. They are priced around S$109 and S$69 respectively. The Air5 looks much more superior on paper with premium features such as Snapdragon Sound support, aptX Adaptive Lossless, multipoint connectivity, and even active noise cancellation (ANC).
Build quality and features
Both the Soundpeats Air5 and Air5 Lite follow the familiar stem-style design of Apple’s AirPods. Air5 has four colour options of black, white, purple, and beige, while Air5 Lite only has two colours (black or white) to choose from. Each pair sports a glossy accent that runs down the stem and houses the touch controls. Both charging cases are around the same size (Air5’s is slightly larger) but retains compact and pocketable, with strong magnets that keep the buds secure and a single LED indicator beneath the lid.
I have the Soundpeats Air5 in white and the Air5 Lite in black. The Air5‘s case opts to use a slightly glossy finish for its plastic case, while the Air5 Lite‘s has a matte finish case. The build quality of both cases and earbuds feels sturdy for the price and resists scratches well.
Both earbuds have IPX5 water resistance rating to add some durability, making them suitable for casual workouts or use in light rain.
Controls, App, Features
Both the Soundpeats Air5 and Air5 Lite utilizes touch controls. Personally I’m not too big a fan of touch controls as accidental touches can happen. Thankfully, the touch controls are customizable. Using the PeatsAudio app, you can remap tap and hold gestures, disable touch input entirely. There is also a feature for custom EQ where you can choose from multiple presets or can create own with a 10-band EQ. The app is a little buggy and janky. Sometimes opening the EQ page can alter the default tuning, requiring a reset to regain the original “Soundpeats Classic” sound.
The Air5 does have an extra option of a five ear-fit sound optimizations toggle, which can alter the overall sound signature. It’s cool in concept, though the output just seems like applying a EQ preset over to compensate for a type of fit.
Soundpeats Air5 has also have features that the Air5 Lite doesn’t have, such as:
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive Lossless for high-resolution wireless audio (if your Android device supports it)
- Multipoint connectivity, letting you stay paired to two devices simultaneously
The ANC on the Air5 reduces midrange sounds like chatter and office noise slightly, and can soften the hum of traffic, but it won’t hush engine rumbles or sudden noises. Don’t expect the ANC to be similar to in-ear offerings, but if you ever need to reduce the noise of your environment, the ANC is a useful feature to have.
Fit and comfort
As with all open-fit designs, fit will depend heavily on your ear shape. At just 3.8g per earbud, both the Air5 and Air5 Lite rests lightly in the outer ear without silicone tips, offering a light and pressure-free feel ideal for long listening sessions.
Both the Soundpeats Air5 and Air5 Lite have nearly the same fit and feel in my ears. I did find the Apple’s AirPods to have a slightly better fit in my ears maybe due to the smaller and shorter stem. Your fit will really depend on your ear shape. But for casual use and office listening, I think the general comfort is good.
Sound quality
The default tuning of the Soundpeats Air5 is slightly V-shaped, with a lively treble and surprisingly weighty bass for an open design. The 13mm dynamic driver delivers a gently thumping mid-bass and forward vocals that shine at moderate volumes. There’s a decent sense of openness and instrument separation, helped by the airy fit. That said, the treble can become peaky and fatiguing if you push the volume past halfway, and the lower mids occasionally sound congested at low volumes. EQ adjustments can alleviate some of these issues. Again it’s worth highlighting that my perceived sound quality is based of the fit I have with the Air5.
While both earbuds share a similar open-fit design, their tuning is fairly different. The Air5 Lite leans toward a warmer, bass-forward presentation, with a thick mid-bass punch and a lift in the lower mids that adds warmth to electronic tracks, deeper instruments, and male vocals. At higher volumes, the Air5 Lite starts to let more treble through while keeping harshness at bay. The Air5, by contrast, has a cleaner and balanced profile though it doesn’t carry quite the same low-end drive. Choosing between the two comes down to taste: the Air5 Lite offers fuller, weightier sound, whereas the Air5 is for those who prefer an airy, even-handed sound.
Battery life
Battery life on both the Air5 and Air5 Lite is average. They offer up to 6 hours of playback per charge (up to 30 hours total with the case). Charging is also only done through the USB-C port.
Conclusion
Both the Soundpeats Air5 and Air5 Lite offer pretty good value for their price. Battery life isn’t its strongest suit, but an engaging and customizable sound along with the option of ANC (on the Air5 only) are what makes the two earbuds a contender if you looking for a pair of open-fit true wireless earbuds.