Xiaomi’s latest product lineup not only includes smartphones and tablets but also accessories like the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro. These compact wireless earphones are designed to be your entertainment companion on the go. Despite their small form factor, they do pack quite a few features. Let’s take a closer look!

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro contents and specs

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro starts at €200 and there is also a Wi-Fi variant that is priced at €220. Here, the former model is reviewed, and it comes with the following items:

• Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro 
• Charging case 
• Ear tips
• Type-C Charging cable 
• User manual 

Specs of these earbuds can be found below:

Sleek and premium earphone design

At €200, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro costs as much as some phones, and it’s definitely not a cheap item. However, the premium price tag is reflected in the hardware design and quality. The earbuds look and feel classy, and I am particularly fond of the minimalist aesthetics.

The compact case, which weighs 53g with the earbuds in, is easily pocketable and being lightweight supports the on-the-go use case. Each earbud weighs 5.6g, which makes them very comfortable to wear. There is even a dedicated feature that helps you select the correct ear tip that fits your auditory canal. Comfort is paramount with earbuds, and the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro ensures that each user can use it for hours on end. 

 

Xiaomi also made sure that you have peace of mind when you use these earbuds. It is rated  IP54 for dust and water-resistance, making it very suitable to use when taking work calls and outdoors runs alike.

My main complaint with the design has to do with the case. It can only lay flat, and you cannot leave it standing. This makes opening the case harder if it is lying flat, so you will have to pick it up in your hand. It might be a minor, personal gripe, but it is one that I found notable.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro: compact but feature-rich earbuds

Using the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro is a plug-and-play affair over Bluetooth. However, there is a companion app that unlocks more features. If you own a Xiaomi phone or tablet, some of these features are accessible from the Bluetooth setting itself.

Indicative of the price tag, this in-ear audio accessory has been crafted to deliver a premium-grade auditory experience. It is Xiaomi's first-ever earbud dual-amplifier that reduces interference between high and low-frequency signals. This ensures that the audio output is rich in clarity and details.

This earbud also integrates a coaxial triple-driver system. There’s an 11mm dual-magnetic driver, a ceramic tweeter and a planar driver, which ensure full frequency coverage (15–50kHz) for an expansive soundstage. Thanks to this design, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro, despite its small form factor, delivers rich bass, clear highs and balanced mids. 

This wide-range coverage makes it versatile, whether it’s for listening to your favourite playlist or for mobile gaming. The listening experience is of high quality, with subtle musical notes that are discernible. With a latency that can be as low as 50ms, I have not encountered any connectivity or playback issues.

You can further tune the audio output to match your needs by adjusting the EQ settings. There’s also up to 55dB hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC), which is quite useful if you are on a loud bus. It won’t totally tone down the ambient sounds, but it does significantly mask them, in my experience. 

I am personally a fan of the “pinch” controls as, in my experience, touch/tap controls are often a hit-or-miss affair. For example, a single pinch will play/pause the current track, while a double pinch will skip to the next song. You can also customise these gesture controls, which is always a welcome feature.

Xiaomi also included additional features in these compact audio accessories. There’s the personalised dimensional audio, which offers a more “immersive” auditory experience based on your head movements. With the case as a controller, you can even record, transcribe and translate audio. These are rather nice-to-have features, but not everyone might find a use for or interest in them.

Of course, you can also use the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro to take/make calls. I found it to be a great companion for the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro to take work calls on the go. With its 3 microphones and an AI-based noise cancellation feature, my voice comes through clearer than with other earbuds. That said, you’ll get a better output with a dedicated microphone, but as a whole package, this one is more than decent.

Even with all of its features, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro still offers ample battery life. It offers up to 4.5 hours of playback, and with the case (which doubles as a charger), you can get up to 40 hours. This, of course, varies based on the features you are using as, for example, ANC and high volumes will consume more battery than more regular uses. You can also charge the case wirelessly via Qi charging. 

All things considered, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro is a quality pair of earbuds that is stuffed with handy features. It won’t replace your over-ear headset or streaming setup, but for on-the-go and mobile uses, it offers a premium experience with quality audio output. While the high price tag will limit its adoption, opting for one will not compromise your mobile productivity and entertainment uses but will rather enhance them.