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My third affordable TWS earbud review in the past week. The Ugreen HiTune X5 earbuds have not officially been launched yet, but they will be available in July from Amazon and other retailers.
The Ugreen press release only states that these are powered by a Qualcomm SoC. I would expect this to be the Qualcomm QCC3040 which is found on a growing number of affordable earbuds.
Specification
- Hi-Fidelity sound powered by Qualcomm aptX, 10mm PU+PEEK diaphragms driver and Superbass low-frequency enhancement technology
- Bluetooth 5.2 technology
- Unique oval-shaped semi-stem ergonomic design
- 7-hours of single charge and 28 hours of playtime with the case
- Dual MIC ENC + CVC 8.0 noise cancellation technology
- 80ms low latency under gaming mode
- Environmentally friendly: fully recyclable with RoHS compliance+V0 fire-proofing materials
Fit & Design
These have a slightly unconventional design, adopting a chubby little stem design. I have no feelings towards how my earbuds look, I only care about fit, and these fit better than expected.
I normally prefer none-stemmed designs that rest in the concha, but these offer a comparable level of comfort to the EarFun Free 2 I reviewed last week. Even though they look physically larger than the other earbuds I have reviewed the last week, they are the lightest at 5.14g, with the large ear tips attached. The EarFun Free 2 weighed 5.8g, and the SoundPEATS T2 weighed 5.6g. Talking about grams of weight may seem insignificant, but it does seem to have a big impact on overall comfort and the likelihood the earbud will come loose.
So far, these have stayed secure during all my activities which includes outdoor running and weightlifting.
Pressing the left earbud pauses the music, which I found myself accidentally doing quite frequently, which was annoying, and why I dislike touch control.
Sound Quality
At first, I tried these with the pre-attached eartips, and I was not happy with the sound at all. Even though I already knew this, it reminded me how the fit of the earbud will dramatically affect each person’s experience. Without a decent seal, the bass is significantly reduced, this may be advantageous for some people wanting a natural sound, but I found these sounded quite harsh without the depth of bass.
I’d say that these offer a bit more of a balanced sound than the EarFun Free 2 I reviewed frequently. With a decent fit, plenty of bass comes through, but only when needed. This then doesn’t bleed into the other frequencies.
However, I found that on the higher end of the spectrum, there could be some harshness. I quite sensitive to high frequencies, so this may not apply to everyone.
Mid range was good with excellent clarity and detail.
Due to the emphasis in the top end, I found that these were a little more fatiguing to wear for long periods than some other earphones.
Just like the Earfun, it is possible to switch these to low latency mode, which will offer benefits when gaming or to improve lip-sync when watching movies.
Battery
The battery is superb, 7 hours of playtime is more than enough for my needs. The longest I have used these for it about 4 hours and there was no sign that they might die soon.
The case can only provide 23 hours additional charging, but this is still plenty. It would realistically get me through about a week of usage.
These lack wireless charging, which I wouldn’t normally point out at this price point, but the EarFun Free 2 does have it. While it doesn’t make a massive difference to me, I have grown to like the convenience of placing down my earbuds case on a charging matt without having to faff around with cables.
Ugreen HiTune X5 vs EarFun Free 2
I wouldn’t normally compare affordable earbuds, but I have only just reviewed the EarFun Free 2, so it is fresh in my mind, and the earbuds are still on my table.
While I don’t have the UK pricing of the UGREEN HiTune X5, I would assume they are very similarly priced. The EarFun Free 2 are £44.99 on Amazon with £7 off available.
Both earbuds use the Qualcomm QCC3040, so they both have aptX and Bluetooth 5.2.
They both have 7 hours of playtime, but the Ugreen has a better case battery with 28 hours vs 23 hours. However, the EarFun Free 2 have wireless charging.
Both sound good. I’d say the EarFun Free 2 are a little more bass dominant with a tendency for some bass bleed. Whereas the Ugreen HiTune X5 are a little more balanced but with a tendency for some harshness in the highs.
Price, Availability and Alternative Options
The UGREEN HiTune X5s will be available on Amazon in July 2021 with the manufacturer’s recommended retail price of $49.99. UK pricing isn’t confirmed, but I would expect under £50.
The EarFun Free 2 are available on Amazon for £44.99 with a £5 off voucher available.
The Edifier TWS1 Pro I reviewed in March uses the same chipset. They cost £49.99, so probably more expensive, but they have a better battery with 12 hours + 30 from the case. I’d say these offer a similar sound quality.
Overall
The Ugreen HiTune X5 offer excellent performance and features for the price. They offer a bit more of a balanced sound compared to many earbuds at this price point, though some may find this a negative.
UK pricing needs to be confirmed, no doubt Amazon discounts will drop things down further. They are good for £50 and increasingly better for every pound below that.
Ugreen HiTune X5 True Wireless Earbuds Review
Summary
The Ugreen HiTune X5 offer excellent performance and features for the price. The only downside is that there is a massive number of competing devices using the Qualcomm QCC3040, all offering much the same features, at a similar price, making it hard to stand out from the crowd.
Overall
75%-
Overall - 75%75%
Pros
- Excellent performance for the price
- Good battery life
- Comfortable to wear and each earbud is very light
Cons
- Some harshness in the highs
- Slightly more features from competing brands and a similar price
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
