Profiles: HSP / HFP / A2DP / AVRCP
Chipset: QCC3091
Supported Bluetooth Codec: SBC/AAC/LC3/LDAC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless
Note: LC3 and LDAC are disabled by default. Enable via the PeatsAudio app.
Total Score
Introduction
Hello everyone in the second week of March! Today we’re reviewing a TWS that’s attracting attention with its affordable price and unusual driver. The Air5 Pro+ features a technology that’s been talked about a lot recently: xMEMS. SoundPEATS promises to bring this “solid-state” driver technology to the market at an affordable price with the Air5 Pro+ model. How solid is the Air5 Pro+? Is it as good as the H3? Can it meet an audiophile’s expectations? Keep reading to find out the answers to all these questions.
The product in my hands was sent to me by Soundpeats for an independent and honest review. I thank them for accepting our principles of honesty.
Design & Build
The Air5 Pro+ maintains SoundPEATS’ classic matte black and minimalist design. The case is quite compact; however, the hinge quality still doesn’t quite deliver that “premium” feel, and we can hear a slight plastic creaking sound. The small size of the case is great; on days when I dress more classically, I put the Air5 Pro+ in my pocket instead of the H3 because the case is half as thin. The in-ear fit is quite ergonomic and doesn’t tire you out even after long hours. The slogan “Hear the Difference” on the case is a reference to the technology inside. I really like this slogan; I want to see it everywhere. The box includes three sizes of tips, a cable, and stickers. The tips are oval-shaped and of good quality.
The extended design of the earbuds seems like it will significantly improve call quality; I’ll give it a try. Here is the box content:
- -SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro+ Wireless Earbuds
- -Charging Case
- -Ear Tips (S/M/L) *3 Pairs
- -Type-C Charging Cable
- -User Manual
- -SOUNDPEATS Stickers *1
Technology
Technically, the Air5 Pro+ is a very busy earbud. It features a hybrid setup with a 10mm PU+PEEK dynamic driver and an xMEMS Cowell driver dedicated to the highs. To properly drive the xMEMS unit, they’ve included a dedicated Aptos XAA-2000 amplifier.
The Qualcomm QCC3091 chipset handles the connectivity, bringing Snapdragon Sound and AptX Lossless support to the table. But let’s be real: all this tech drains the battery fast. You’ll struggle to reach 4 hours of playback with ANC and High-Res codecs active, which is quite poor by 2026 standards. As for the -55dB ANC claim, it’s mostly a marketing figure; while it handles low-frequency hums well, it struggles to keep up with the high-frequency energy of the xMEMS driver.
Frankly, I appreciate this sound-focused design because it produces a product with excellent sound quality. Add to that the superb app support and free EQ options, and you have a complete product in this category. Still, the battery life is weak. On the other hand, the call quality is quite good.
Anc
The active noise cancellation feature of the Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ is useful in many ways in everyday life. However, it is not at the same level as the best noise-canceling headphones. You will still hear some noise from a passing vehicle, and you will hear a significant portion of speech, but it sufficiently blocks out subway noise and is not bad at reducing general ambient noise either. While it struggles with high-frequency piercing sounds, it excels at blocking rich, deep sounds. In this regard, it has a more heterogeneous ANC capability spectrum distribution compared to the H3.
App & EQ
This is the third Soundpeats product I’ve reviewed, and I’ll keep praising the app support without getting tired of it. Because it’s both useful and flexible. It also has a very diverse approach to EQ and offers various options.
Soundpeats Air5pro+ vs H3
SoundPEATS has two distinct premium offerings, and to be honest, simply categorizing them as “new and old” would be a mistake. The H3, with its massive 12mm dynamic driver and dual balanced armature (BA) setup, actually delivers that familiar, warm, and layered sound signature we’re accustomed to. Those satisfying, “woofer-like” bass hits and the organic texture in the vocals still make the H3 a very strong option. On the other hand, the Air5 Pro+ takes a completely different path by pairing its 10mm dynamic driver with an xMEMS Cowell solid-state driver. While the surgical treble speed and detail level brought by xMEMS offer a resolution comparable to that provided by the H3’s BA drivers, the cost of this technology is steep. The Aptos XAA-2000 amplifier powering xMEMS practically drains the battery life; while you can listen to music for nearly 7 hours non-stop with the H3, barely reaching 4 hours with the Air5 Pro+ is a serious usage obstacle by 2026 standards.
In terms of timbre, the H3 offers a much more consistent and natural flow, while the Air5 Pro+ can sometimes be tiring with its “digital” character in the treble. Clearly, the H3’s subs, guitars, and vocals are at the forefront and offer a V-shaped profile. The Air5 Pro+, despite its more balanced profile, has a slightly thinner and more treble-focused sound. I won’t take anything away from the Air5 Pro+ here; it actually achieves an analytical character by pushing the lower frequencies further back and pulling the treble to the center, but the H3 still has a more musical and layered sound. There’s not much difference in terms of resolution, but the H3 is slightly ahead in terms of texture. Considering that the Air5 Pro+ is slightly cheaper than the H3, I appreciate how well the Air5 Pro+ performs in this comparison.
Sound
The Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ produces a refined and unexpectedly spacious sound for a TWS. Compared to the H3, it has more of a U-shaped profile, but it’s still a V-shaped profile. The treble focus is high but not piercing or annoying. The overall sound has a laid-back presentation and is suitable for listening to instruments. On the other hand, while not quite as strong as the H3, it has a solid entertainment factor, and the bass is both fast and powerful. In this sense, the sound is quite homogeneous, and the amplifier does a good job. They have also succeeded in calibrating the Mems driver.
Technically speaking, it offers both clear and detailed sound for a TWS. In terms of accuracy and consistency, it’s certainly not an ordinary device, but it’s not bad either. Moreover, its staging ability is good, making the sound feel spacious and wide.
Last Words
The Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ is both versatile and a successful TWS. The overall sound performance is excellent for a wireless device, especially when compared to general consumer devices. Of course, it’s not an audiophile-grade product, but if you need a TWS for daily use, it’s a good alternative. Like all Soundpeats products, the app support it offers is fantastic. Its only drawback is battery life. Those who wear their earbuds all day will struggle in this regard. However, I can understand the reasoning behind it. I can forgive this for the MEMS and that amplifier. In fact, I’ll say this: if they put such an amplifier in today, they’ll put a DAC in the TWS tomorrow 😉
