Review Verdict: As Xiaomi’s most expensive TWS offering, the Buds 5 Pro goes all-in with well-tuned drivers and easy-to-use touch and gesture controls. While I wished Xiaomi also brought over the WiFi version, the Bluetooth version of the Buds 5 Pro has what it takes to duke it out against other premium TWS offerings.
Pros
- Excellent Harman audio tuning
- Touch and gesture controls are easy to use
- Better than average ANC performance
Cons
- Case is a smudge magnet
- Its price might not be for everyone
- We’re not getting the WiFi version in the Philippines
It has been around five months since I reviewed Xiaomi’s Buds 5, which was an excellent offering for under Php 5k even if its half-ear design might not suit everyone. Just like with phones, Xiaomi is ready to conquer the premium space with the Buds 5 Pro as its most premium TWS offering to date. With an official price close to Php 10k, I think that this is Xiaomi’s best offering to rival Apple’s AirPods Pro 2.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Review: Design
Our review unit is in Titan Gray, and its design language is similar to the Buds 5 with a mirror-like finish on the lid and a matte finish for the rest of the battery case. Like the non-Pro version, the lid is a smudge magnet. I was constantly wiping it while we were using it and taking a few product shots.
Compared to its non-Pro sibling, the Buds 5 Pro has a bigger case because the earbuds have an in-ear design, and the case adds wireless charging–a feature that I expect on a pair of premium TWS earbuds. You also get the same audio tuning by Harman, though the Buds 5 Pro takes things another notch with its Dual-amplifier coaxial triple drivers.
The Buds 5 Pro also has the same design language as its non-Pro sibling for the earbuds. Aside from having an in-ear design, you get a subtle Xiaomi branding on the stem. The placement of the buds in the case is the same as with the non-Pro ones, and these are my favorite designs as they are easy to remove and return to the case.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Review: User Interface and Fit
The Buds 5 Pro uses the Xiaomi Earbuds App, where you get access to a lot of customization features. Like the non-Pro version, the Buds 5 Pro also has Dimensional Audio and Record Audio, with the latter using the microphones to record audio. Do note that you’ll have to use the Xiaomi Earbuds app for this feature, and you’re limited to 90 minutes of recording time–just like with the non-Pro version.
The pinch controls are customizable for music playback, volume control, and ANC settings. Like with my experience on the non-Pro version, the Buds 5 Pro’s pinch and tap gestures are easy to use–though the slightly longer stems make them easier to use.
The Buds 5 Pro are chunkier because of their in-ear design, and they are comfortable to wear. The seal of the pre-installed silicone tips is excellent, giving a secure fit to the Buds 5 Pro even if you use them at the gym or for quick runs.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Review: Audio Quality and Battery Life
I already loved the audio quality of the Buds 5 with its support for HiRes Audio and Snapdragon Sound, along with the excellent tuning of the Harman EFX sound profile, so how do the Buds 5 Pro improve on that? Using the Harman Master sound profile (which is not present on the Buds 5), this pushes the Buds 5 Pro’s Dual-amplifier coaxial triple drivers to cover a wider sonic range.
Comparing it to my experience on the Buds 5, the Buds 5 Pro has more prominent highs and crisper instrumentals. They’re close to what high-end TWS earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2 have to offer, and I’d best describe the Buds 5 Pro’s soundstage as better than the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and just behind the FreeBuds Pro 4.
The Buds 5 Pro’s Bluetooth connection is excellent, but I just wished Xiaomi also offered the WiFi version in the Philippines. While support for WiFi TWS earbuds is limited to phones with Snapdragon 8 series chips, I’m genuinely curious at how they fare against your usual Bluetooth TWS earbuds.
Since the Buds 5 Pro have an in-ear design, their ANC performance is better than the non-Pro version, matching the noise cancellation levels of both the Galaxy Buds3 Pro while having a better overall soundstage. Aside from the in-ear design, the Buds 5 Pro addresses my biggest issue with the Buds 5, which is battery life.
With ANC enabled and playing Lossless Audio through Apple Music, I was able to use the Buds 5 Pro for around 4 hours on a single charge, which for me is my baseline on a pair of TWS earbuds–especially if you intend to use them for short-haul flights. Charging options on the Buds 5 Pro are more flexible with the inclusion of wireless charging.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Review: Wrap-up and Conclusion
While they are on the pricey side in Xiaomi’s broad portfolio of TWS earbuds, the Buds 5 Pro gives you the best audio quality–and addresses several issues I encountered with the non-Pro version. Along with its excellent overall soundstage, I can safely say that the Buds 5 Pro are the first offering from Xiaomi that can compete with other Premium TWS earbuds in the market.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Review: Price
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro is priced at Php 9,599 and is available at Xiaomi authorized stores and Xiaomi’s official Lazada and Shopee store.
