The wireless earbud market is flooded with options, from high-end models that cost a small fortune to budget picks that often sacrifice quality for affordability. SoundPeats, however, has been carving out a niche for itself by offering solid performance at a price that won’t make your wallet cry. The SoundPeats Air5 Lite is their latest attempt to strike that perfect balance between cost and quality, with features like LDAC support for high-res audio, IPX5 water resistance, and a 30-hour total battery life.
But let’s be real—when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. So, what’s the catch? Well, the Air5 Lite isn’t perfect. Still, for $35, it’s hard to complain too much. These earbuds are designed for people who want a no-fuss, reliable audio experience without spending a fortune.
Design and Build Quality
When it comes to the SoundPeats Air5 Lite, you’ll first notice how much it looks like the Apple AirPods. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. The design is sleek, minimalistic, and modern—exactly what you’d expect from a pair of wireless earbuds in 2025. But don’t let the AirPods-like appearance fool you; the Air5 Lite has its own personality, especially with that matte black finish and the subtle gray accent band around the charging case.
The charging case is compact and lightweight, making it super easy to slip into your pocket or bag without adding any bulk. It’s got a smooth, almost velvety texture that feels nice to the touch, and the lid snaps shut with a satisfying click. No flimsy hinges here—this case feels solid and well-built. On the front, there’s a small LED indicator that shows the battery status. At the bottom, you’ll find a USB-C charging port and a pairing button for quick Bluetooth setup. Around the back, there’s a subtle SoundPeats logo embossed into the hinge.
Now, let’s talk about the earbuds themselves. They’re lightweight, weighing just 4.47 grams each, which makes them almost unnoticeable when you’re wearing them. The design is a mix of glossy and matte finishes, with a bronze strip running down the stem that doubles as the touch control area. The earbuds are stem-style, just like the AirPods, to sit comfortably in your ears without going too deep into the ear canal. This design is great for people who don’t like the feeling of silicone ear tips pressing into their ears, but it might not be for everyone—especially if you’re used to a more secure, in-ear fit.
In terms of comfort, the Air5 Lite does a pretty good job. The earbuds sit snugly in your ears without causing any discomfort, even after hours of use. I wore them for a full workday, and my ears didn’t feel fatigued or sore, which is a big plus. However, because they don’t have silicone ear tips, they rely more on the shape of your ear to stay in place. If you have smaller ears or are always on the move, you might find that they don’t stay put as securely as you’d like. That said, for most people, the fit should be just fine.
The build quality is impressive for a pair of $35 earbuds. The materials feel durable, and there’s no creaking or flexing when you handle them. The earbuds themselves have a solid weight to them, which gives you confidence that they’re built to last. The charging case, while not made of premium materials, feels sturdy enough to survive daily wear and tear. It’s not going to win any awards for luxury, but it’s definitely not cheaply made either.
One thing worth mentioning is the IPX5 water resistance rating. This means the Air5 Lite can handle sweat, light rain, and the occasional splash without breaking a sweat (pun intended). Just don’t go swimming with them—IPX5 isn’t designed for full submersion.
Connectivity
First things first—the SoundPeats Air5 Lite comes with Bluetooth 5.4, which is the latest and greatest in Bluetooth tech (at least for now). What does that mean for you? Well, it means faster pairing, a more stable connection, and better range. I tested these earbuds all over my apartment, and even when I walked into another room, the connection stayed rock solid. No dropouts, no weird glitches—just smooth, uninterrupted audio.
Pairing is also a breeze. Just open the case, pop the earbuds out, and they’ll automatically enter pairing mode. From there, it’s as simple as selecting “SoundPeats Air5 Lite” from your device’s Bluetooth menu. Once paired, they’ll reconnect to your device almost instantly every time you take them out of the case.
Dual-Device Multipoint Connectivity
One of the standout features of the Air5 Lite is dual-device multipoint connectivity. This means you can connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time—like your phone and your laptop—and switch between them without having to disconnect and reconnect manually. For example, if you’re listening to music on your phone and a Zoom call comes in on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically switch to the call.
There’s just one catch: if you’re using LDAC (more on that in a bit), you can’t use dual-device mode. LDAC is a high-res audio codec that requires a lot of bandwidth, so it only works when the earbuds are connected to a single device. But if you’re not too fussed about high-res audio, dual-device mode is a great option to have.
LDAC Support
Speaking of LDAC, let’s talk about sound quality for a second. The Air5 Lite supports LDAC, which is a high-res audio codec developed by Sony. If you’re not familiar, LDAC allows for much higher-quality audio streaming compared to the standard SBC or AAC codecs. The result? Clearer, more detailed sound with less compression. Now, to take full advantage of LDAC, you’ll need a compatible device (most Android phones support it, but iPhones don’t), and you’ll have to stick to single-device mode. But if you’re an audiophile on a budget, this is a big deal. It’s rare to see LDAC support on earbuds this cheap, so kudos to SoundPeats for including it.
SoundPeats App
When you first open the SoundPeats app, you’ll notice how clean and straightforward the interface is. It’s not cluttered with unnecessary options or confusing menus—just a simple, intuitive layout that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. The homepage shows your connected earbuds along with their battery levels (for both the earbuds and the case), so you always know how much juice you’ve got left.
One of the standout features of the app is the EQ customization. If you’re not happy with the default sound profile, you can dive into the settings and tweak things to your heart’s content. There are nine preset EQ options to choose from, including “Bass Boost,” “Treble Boost,” and “SoundPeats Classic.” These presets are great if you’re not sure where to start, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can create your own custom EQ using the 8-band equalizer.
There’s also an Adaptive EQ feature, which is pretty cool. It plays a series of tones and asks you to tap the screen when you hear them. Based on your responses, it adjusts the EQ to match your hearing and environment. It’s not perfect, but it’s a neat way to personalize your listening experience without having to mess around with sliders.
The Air5 Lite comes with touch controls out of the box, but the app lets you customize them, you can assign different functions to single taps, double taps, and long presses on each earbud. Or, if you accidentally trigger the controls while adjusting your earbuds, you can even disable them entirely.
Game Mode and Movie Mode
If you’re a gamer or a movie buff, you’ll appreciate the Game Mode and Movie Mode options in the app. Game Mode reduces latency to just 18 milliseconds, which means the audio stays perfectly in sync with the action on your screen. I tested it with a few rounds of PUBG, and it made a noticeable difference—no more awkward delays between gunshots and explosions. Movie Mode works similarly, reducing latency for smoother video playback. These modes are easy to toggle on and off, so you can switch between them depending on what you’re doing.
Sound Quality
Let’s get straight to the point—the SoundPeats Air5 Lite delivers sound quality that’s way better than you’d expect from a pair of $35 earbuds. Sure, they’re not going to blow away high-end models like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro, but for the price, they’re seriously impressive.
The Air5 Lite has a V-shaped sound signature, which means the bass and treble are emphasized, while the mids are slightly recessed. This is a popular tuning for casual listeners because it makes music sound more exciting and dynamic. The bass is punchy and energetic, though it doesn’t go super deep. If you’re a bass head, you might find it a little lacking in the sub-bass department, but for most people, it’s more than enough to get your head nodding.
The mids are clear and detailed, though they take a bit of a backseat to the bass and treble. Vocals and instruments still come through nicely, but they don’t have the same forward presence as you’d get with a more neutral sound profile. The treble is bright and crisp, adding a nice sparkle to the sound without being harsh or sibilant.
One of the standout features of the Air5 Lite is the Dynamic Bass setting, which you can toggle on or off in the SoundPeats app. When enabled, it gives the bass a noticeable boost, making it warmer and more powerful. It’s not going to rattle your skull, but it adds a nice thump to your music that’s perfect for bass-heavy tracks. If you’re not a fan of extra bass, you can always turn it off and stick with the default sound profile.
The soundstage (how wide and spacious the sound feels) is decent for a pair of budget earbuds. It’s not going to give you that immersive, surround-sound experience you’d get from high-end over-ear headphones, but it’s still pretty good for earbuds in this price range. The imaging (how well you can pinpoint where sounds are coming from) is also solid, making it easy to pick out individual instruments and vocals in a mix.
Call Quality
The SoundPeats Air5 Lite has a four-microphone system (two mics in each earbud) that’s designed to pick up your voice while reducing background noise. In quiet environments, like your home or office, the call quality is pretty good. Your voice comes through clearly, and the person on the other end of the line shouldn’t have any trouble understanding you. It’s not studio-quality, but it’s more than enough for everyday conversations.
However, things get a bit trickier in noisier environments. If you’re outside on a windy day or in a crowded café, the mics struggle to block out all the background noise. While the AI noise cancellation does help reduce some of the ambient sounds, it’s not perfect. You’ll still hear some wind noise or chatter in the background, and your voice might sound a bit muffled at times. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not the best I’ve experienced.
Noise Cancellation
The Air5 Lite doesn’t have active noise cancellation (ANC), which is a feature you’d typically find in more expensive earbuds. Instead, it uses Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) to reduce background noise during calls. ENC works by using the microphones to pick up and cancel out ambient sounds, like chatter or traffic noise. It’s not as effective as ANC, but it does a decent job of making your voice clearer during calls.
That said, ENC is only active during calls—it doesn’t do anything to block out noise while you’re listening to music or watching videos. If you’re in a noisy environment and want to focus on your music, you’ll have to rely on the passive noise isolation provided by the earbuds’ design. Since the Air5 Lite doesn’t have silicone ear tips, the noise isolation is minimal. You’ll still hear a lot of what’s going on around you, which can be a pro or a con depending on your preferences.
Battery Life and Charging
The SoundPeats Air5 Lite offers 6 hours of playback on a single charge, which is pretty standard for earbuds in this price range. If you’re using features like LDAC or Game Mode, the battery life might drop slightly, but not by much. For most people, 6 hours is more than enough for a full day of listening.
The charging case adds an extra 24 hours of battery life, bringing the total to 30 hours. That’s enough to last you through a long weekend or a few days of regular use without needing to plug in. One of the standout features of the Air5 Lite is its fast charging capability. If you’re in a rush and need a quick boost, just 15 minutes in the case will give you 3 hours of playback.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Affordable price (around $35).
- Good sound quality for the price.
- Comfortable fit and lightweight design.
- Long battery life with fast charging.
- IPX5 water resistance.
- Lack of deep sub-bass.
- No active noise cancellation (ANC).
- Fit may not suit all ear types.
Final Verdict
After spending some serious time with the SoundPeats Air5 Lite, it’s clear that these earbuds are a fantastic value for $35. You get great sound quality, a sleek design, solid battery life, and a ton of features that you’d normally only find in much more expensive models. Sure, it’s not perfect—no budget earbuds are—the bass could be deeper, the noise cancellation could be better—but for the price, it’s hard to complain too much.
If you’re ready to get your hands on the SoundPeats Air5 Lite, you’ve got a few great options to choose from. These earbuds are available on Amazon, AliExpress, and the official SoundPeats store, so you can pick the retailer that works best for you. But, If you’re looking for the best deal, AliExpress is great option. The earbuds are priced at around $35, but you can use the discount code FANS333 at checkout to save $3, bringing the total down to just $32.
