The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro Plus might be the most ambitious budget earbud spec sheet we have seen this year. XMEMS solid-state tweeters, a 12mm dynamic woofer, 55dB hybrid active noise cancellation, LDAC support, dual-device multipoint, and a sub-100 dollar street price. It is the kind of feature list that usually triggers our "too good to be true" alarm. After three weeks with a pair, we can report what is real, what is marketing, and where the SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro Plus genuinely beats earbuds twice its price.
What is the SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro Plus?
The Air5 Pro Plus is SOUNDPEATS's 2026 flagship in-ear that sits above the regular Air5 Pro. The headline upgrade is the addition of an XMEMS solid-state tweeter, a piezoelectric driver that vibrates a thin silicon membrane instead of a traditional voice coil. Pairing that with a 12mm dynamic driver for low end gives the Air5 Pro Plus a hybrid two-way design that is rare at this price point and still uncommon even at flagship money.
Other notable specs include Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and LC3 codecs, dual-device multipoint, IPX5 sweat resistance, around 7 hours of playback on a charge with ANC on, and a charging case that adds three full top-ups. They typically retail between 65 and 95 dollars on AliExpress depending on flash sales.
Design and build quality
The Air5 Pro Plus uses a stem-style shape that is clearly inspired by AirPods Pro but with a more matte, less glossy finish. Each bud weighs 4.7 grams and the combination of an oval nozzle and four included tip sizes gave us a confident seal on the first try. SOUNDPEATS includes shallow-fit foam tips in the box too, which is a thoughtful touch for buyers with smaller ear canals.
The case is compact, supports Qi wireless charging, and has a single LED on the front. There is no UV sterilization light or display, which is fine because at this price it would be gimmicky. Build quality feels above the price tag: the hinge is firm, the seam between the two case halves is tight, and after three weeks in a backpack pocket the case shows no scuffs.
Sound quality
This is where the XMEMS driver matters. Treble has a clarity and speed that you simply do not get from a single-dynamic budget earbud. Cymbals on jazz tracks have a defined "ting" rather than a smeared splash, and sibilant consonants on vocal tracks are cleaner. The trade-off is that the top end can sound slightly cool or analytical at default tuning. Switching to the SOUNDPEATS app's "Bass Boost" preset warms the response without overwhelming the mids.
The 12mm dynamic woofer handles the bottom end and it has real punch. Sub-bass extension on tracks like Billie Eilish's "Bury a Friend" reaches deep without bloating mid-bass. Mids are slightly recessed at default, which is the most common complaint on budget V-shape tunings, but the 10-band custom EQ in the app fixes this in about two minutes.
LDAC over a Pixel 9 Pro at 990 kbps delivered noticeably more detail than the default AAC codec. If your phone supports LDAC, turn it on. iPhone users are limited to AAC, which still sounds good but does not unlock the full potential of these drivers.
Active noise cancellation
The 55dB ANC claim is best understood as a peak figure, not an across-the-board number. In real-world use, low-frequency drone like an airline cabin, a subway car, or a fridge compressor is reduced dramatically, on par with the Sony LinkBuds S and within striking distance of the Nothing Ear (a). Mid-range sounds like office chatter and keyboard clatter are reduced but still audible, which is honest budget-ANC behavior.
Transparency mode is good rather than great. It lets in environmental sound clearly but has a slightly hollow, processed timbre to voices. Fine for ordering coffee, not as natural as the AirPods Pro 3 transparency mode.
Battery life and connectivity
We measured 6 hours and 41 minutes of continuous playback at 50 percent volume with ANC on, slightly under SOUNDPEATS's 7 hour claim but close enough. With ANC off and AAC codec, that figure rose to 9 hours and 20 minutes. The case adds three full charges, giving roughly 26 to 30 hours of total runtime depending on settings.
Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint worked reliably across a Pixel 9 Pro and a 14-inch MacBook Pro. Switching audio source by simply hitting play on the other device worked about 90 percent of the time, with the occasional need to manually pause the first device. Range was a strong 12 to 15 meters indoors with one wall in the way.
App and customization
The PeatsAudio app handles firmware updates, EQ, ANC mode selection, touch control mapping, and a "Game Mode" that drops latency to roughly 60 milliseconds. The 10-band custom EQ is the best feature here. The app interface is functional but a step behind Sony or Bose in polish, with occasional connection hangs that require force-closing.
Price and value
Street price on AliExpress hovers between 65 and 95 dollars depending on coupon timing. At 65 dollars these are an outright steal. At 95 dollars they are still strong but face real competition from the Nothing Ear (a) and the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2. We would wait for a flash sale or coupon stack to land closer to the 70 dollar mark.
Pros and cons
XMEMS treble clarity and genuine 55dB ANC at a budget price, with a few rough edges in the app and a slightly recessed midrange at default tuning.
Pros
- ✓XMEMS tweeter delivers detail and speed that no single-dynamic budget bud can match
- ✓55dB ANC is genuine on low frequencies, near-flagship performance
- ✓LDAC support unlocks real high-resolution audio on Android
- ✓Multipoint pairing across phone and laptop works reliably
- ✓Compact Qi-charging case with around 26 to 30 hours total runtime
- ✓Sub-100 dollar street price on AliExpress with frequent coupons
Cons
- ✗Default tuning is slightly cool and recessed in the mids
- ✗PeatsAudio app is functional but occasionally needs a restart
- ✗Transparency mode sounds processed compared to AirPods Pro 3
Who should buy?
Buy if...
- •Android users with LDAC-capable phones who want flagship-class detail under 100 dollars
- •Commuters who want strong low-frequency ANC on trains and planes without paying Sony money
- •Listeners who tweak EQ and want a custom 10-band preset to dial in their own sound
- •Anyone replacing aging AirPods Pro who is open to the Android ecosystem
Skip if...
- •iPhone users who want the seamless H2-chip experience, the AirPods Pro 3 are still the right pick
- •Buyers who prioritize transparency mode quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 are clearer for conversations
- •Bass-first listeners who want skull-rattling thump out of the box, the Beats Studio Buds Plus may suit you better
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
XMEMS is a solid-state tweeter that uses a piezoelectric silicon membrane instead of a voice coil. It vibrates faster and more uniformly than a traditional driver, which produces cleaner treble detail. In the Air5 Pro Plus it handles the high frequencies while a 12mm dynamic driver handles the bass.
Yes, they pair with iPhones over standard Bluetooth and AAC. You will not get LDAC since Apple does not support that codec, and you will lose access to the Hi-Res audio profile. Multipoint, ANC, and basic touch controls all work normally.
We measured 6 hours and 41 minutes with ANC on at 50 percent volume, and 9 hours and 20 minutes with ANC off. The case adds three full charges for around 26 to 30 hours of total runtime depending on settings.
55dB is the peak attenuation figure measured at specific low frequencies. Real-world reduction varies by frequency, but low-frequency drone like airline cabins and subways is reduced significantly, comparable to the Sony LinkBuds S.
Yes. There are six microphones with cVc 8.0 noise reduction. Call quality is good in quiet and moderate environments, though wind noise still gets through outdoors. They are not a dedicated business headset but they are fine for daily calls.
Final verdict
The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro Plus is the clearest example we have seen of premium driver tech trickling down to the budget tier. The XMEMS treble is the real deal, the ANC is genuinely useful, and LDAC support means Android listeners get a flagship-grade experience for the price of a mid-range pair. The app could be more polished and the default tuning needs a quick EQ tweak, but those are small asks at sub-100 dollars. If you are an Android user shopping under 100 dollars, this is the new pair to beat.
