Finding true wireless earbuds that balance hi-res sound, strong noise cancellation and comfort often means paying premium prices. Brands like Sony, Bose and Apple dominate the high-end, but Soundpeats has been building a reputation for delivering excellent value. Their latest release, the Air5 Pro, aims to offer flagship-style performance at a far more accessible cost. I was so eager to try these, I actually opened them & started using them straight away. Normally, I would take photos of earphones before using them, but I live by a loud road & it’s getting harder to hear my podcasts on my daily walks, so I was desperate to test out the noise-cancelling. I’ve not been disappointed. As usual for sound peats, they come well packaged & they feel premium. The charging case is great & I’ve only needed to recharge it once since getting the Air5 Pro’s.

With support for aptX Lossless, LDAC, adaptive ANC and multipoint Bluetooth, the Air5 Pro look like an audiophile-friendly option on paper. After several weeks of testing them across commuting, home listening, workouts and calls, here’s how they perform in real life.

Specs Overview

• Bluetooth: 5.4 with Snapdragon Sound
• Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3091
• Drivers: 10 mm bio-diaphragm (PU + PEEK)
• Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
• Noise cancellation: AI Adaptive ANC (up to 55 dB claimed reduction)
• Microphones: 6-mic system with cVc 8.0
• Battery life: 7.5 h per charge, 37 h with case
• Charging: USB-C, 10 min fast charge = ~2 h playback
• Water resistance: IPX5
• Weight: 4.8 g per earbud, ~50 g total with case
• Extras: Multipoint connectivity, touch controls, PeatsAudio app

Design and Comfort

The Air5 Pro use a familiar stemmed design with a compact charging case that slips easily into a pocket similar to that of AirPods. The earbuds weigh just 4.8 g each, making them feather-light and comfortable for long listening sessions. The silicone tips create a snug seal, and the stem design helps keep them stable during movement. I’ve found the medium silicone tips to very comfortable, and even without ANC, the design blocks out quite a bit of ambient sound. Build quality feels solid and these have become my go-to earphones for all uses, even supplanting my AND headphones. The charging case is solid with a strong hinge and the magnets hold the buds securely in place. With IPX5 water resistance, they can handle sweat and light rain, making them workout-friendly. I’ve worn these out in the autumn rain and they have been flawless.

Sound Quality

This is where the Air5 Pro shine. Powered by a 10 mm bio-diaphragm driver and Qualcomm’s QCC3091 chipset, they deliver audio quality that outperforms most rivals at this price point.

• Bass: Punchy and controlled, with enough weight for EDM and hip-hop without muddying the mids. Perfect for rock, metal & grunge. You can select EQ’s directly on the chipset via the app.
• Mids: Clear and natural, keeping vocals and instruments well-defined.
• Treble: Crisp and lively, adding sparkle without becoming harsh.
• Soundstage: Impressively wide for budget earbuds, with good instrument separation.

The real game-changer is codec support. With LDAC and aptX Lossless, the Air5 Pro can stream hi-res music if your device supports it. Listening to Tidal HiFi and my FLAC files, the earbuds revealed details and dynamics usually reserved for higher-end models.

Adaptive Noise Cancellation

Soundpeats claims up to 55 dB of reduction with AI-driven ANC. I’ve had great results with the ANC, now listening to my podcasts without vocal boost and only needing about 20% volume. With standard earbuds, I was at 100% volume and a vocal boost, due to the traffic noise on local roads where I walk daily. In practice, results are very strong:

• Commute: Engine and train rumbles are cut to a low murmur.
• Office: Background chatter and typing are reduced significantly.
• Outdoors: Wind is handled decently, though strong gusts can still sneak through.

The Transparency mode is effective for quick conversations or staying aware of traffic, though there’s a slight digital hiss in very quiet settings. While ANC doesn’t quite match Sony or Bose flagships, it’s excellent for the price.

Call Quality

With six microphones and cVc 8.0 noise reduction, the Air5 Pro are reliable for calls:

• Indoors: Voices are natural and clear, great for Zoom or Teams.
• Noisy streets: Background noise is suppressed well, though your voice can sound thinner.
• Windy conditions: Still usable, though some noise makes it through.

For work calls and everyday conversations, they’re more than adequate.

Connectivity and Features

Using Bluetooth 5.4, the Air5 Pro maintain a stable connection with no dropouts, even in crowded areas.

Multipoint connectivity works smoothly, letting you switch between phone and laptop without re-pairing. Latency is low enough for streaming video in sync, and casual gaming is fine.

The PeatsAudio app adds useful features like EQ presets, touch control remapping, and firmware updates. It’s not as advanced as Sony’s Headphones app, but it covers the essentials.

Controls

Touch controls are responsive and cover playback, volume, ANC, and calls. The learning curve is short, though accidental taps can happen when adjusting the fit. Thankfully, the app allows remapping or disabling certain gestures.

Battery Life

• 7.5 hours per charge with ANC on (longer with ANC off)
• 37 hours total with the charging case
• 10 minutes quick charge = ~2 hours playback

In daily use, they easily last a full workday plus commute. The case recharges via USB-C, though there’s no wireless charging option.

Long-Term Impressions (After 4 Weeks of Use)

After several weeks, the Air5 Pro still hold up well:

• Comfort: Lightweight fit remains comfortable for long listening sessions. Tips keep their seal.
• Battery: Runtime hasn’t dropped noticeably, and there’s no sign of idle battery drain in the case.
• Connectivity: Multipoint switching between laptop and phone works seamlessly. No random dropouts experienced.
• Durability: The earbuds resist scratches well, though the case shows fingerprints. IPX5 protection has survived sweat and rain during workouts.
• Sound: Still detailed and lively. After “burn-in,” mids feel slightly smoother, making vocals richer.
• ANC: Continues to handle commuting noise effectively, though not at flagship levels. Transparency mode remains practical.
• App and Updates: Firmware updates via the app are simple, showing that Soundpeats is committed to long-term support.

Overall, they’ve proven reliable beyond first impressions — not always the case with budget earbuds.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent hi-res audio with LDAC and aptX Lossless
• Punchy, detailed sound across genres
• Effective adaptive ANC for commuting and office use
• Lightweight, secure and comfortable fit
• Stable Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint pairing
• Strong battery life and fast charging

Cons

• No wireless charging for the case
• Companion app is basic

The Air5 Pro stand out for Android users who want lossless audio at a budget-friendly price. I tend mostly to use iOS, but they are wonderful for my use case and have become my go-to earbud. At this price, I’d say they are an AirPods Pro challenger & a no-brainer purchase for those wanting a premium earbud and ANC at a fraction of the cost.

Verdict

The Soundpeats Air5 Pro are among the best value wireless earbuds of 2025. They combine hi-res audio support, adaptive ANC, multipoint connectivity, and excellent battery life into a lightweight, comfortable package.

They don’t fully dethrone flagship models from Sony or Bose, but they come surprisingly close at less than half the cost. For listeners who want premium features without the premium price tag, the Air5 Pro are an easy recommendation — and they’ve proven durable in the long run.

Verdict: A superb choice for budget-conscious audiophiles and commuters alike. Keep an eye out for these on the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, as I hear they are going to have a significant discount available.

So the Soundpeats Q40 HD came out as a massive upgrade to my older Soundpeats Q12 which I got & reviewed years ago & you can read here.  Choosing portable headphones isn’t always straightforward. The lighter and more compact they get, the more you often sacrifice in terms of comfort, durability, or battery life. For people who want headphones that balance portability with proper sound and long-term wear comfort, the SOUNDPEATS Q40 HD make a strong case. They come with a great selection of ear hooks (wings) and ear tips so you can get that perfect fit, and these feel premium in the hand with their metal casing and reinforced cables. I’ve been wanting to upgrade the Q12’s I use for a long time, so when I heard of these with bigger drivers & LDAC support, I just had to try them.

The Q40 HD uses a neckband design. It may not suit everyone, but for active use it’s an excellent choice – the band helps the earbuds stay secure without weighing you down. The cable is slightly flattened at the back so it rests more comfortably against your neck, and each bud uses small ear wings to keep them locked in place during workouts. I really liked the addition of the ear wings, as they made the fit much more secure than the Q12 I’ve already got. I did heavy workouts and sprints, but they stayed in place at all times. They also feel extremely comfortable when wearing them and the fact that the earbuds are technically joined, means connectivity between left & right is solid with no chance of drop-outs. I also like that if one falls from your ear for whatever reason, it’s still connected to your body around the neck and in the other ear. It would be extremely difficult for these to drop to the floor by accident.

In the box, you’ll find five sets of silicone ear tips and three sets of ear wings, giving you plenty of sizing options for comfort and stability. The lightweight nature of the Q40 HD means you can wear them for hours without noticing much strain. With an IP67 rating, the Q40 HD can easily withstand sweat, rain, and dust, making them a reliable running & sports earphone. Magnetic clasps on the earbuds let you clip them together when not in use. It’s a simple but useful touch carried over from previous designs that make them easier to carry and prevents tangling.

An inline control module handles playback, volume, and track skipping. It’s easier to use than fiddly buttons on the earbuds themselves, and it also makes it simple to tell left from right at a glance. I really appreciate this feature, as I sometimes struggle to remember the gestures and taps required when it comes to touch controls on ear buds. The controls contain the playback and pause buttons, volume controls and the microphone for calls.  It’s always handily available by your neck & I much prefer inline controls to touch controls for ease of use. Multipoint connectivity via Bluetooth 5.4 means you can connect to two devices at once – for example, switching seamlessly between your laptop and phone, which I haven’t used with these, but it’s a great feature to have.

Audio Performance

The Q40 HD are Hi-Res certified and support the LDAC codec, which means higher-quality streaming when used with compatible devices. Inside each earbud are 11mm dual-magnetic dynamic drivers, tuned for a lively sound profile with punchy bass and smooth mids. Treble is controlled well enough to avoid harshness, even at higher volumes. I enjoyed the sound from these & the inner ear design allows for some external noise dampening without actual ANC. These have just enough bass to make them comfortable to wear & I found I didn’t need to use massive volumes to enjoy music on them. A 360° spatial audio mode adds depth for films and gaming. It isn’t going to rival high-end surround systems, but it makes content feel more immersive than standard stereo. Overall, the sound signature leans slightly towards the energetic, making them well suited to workouts, pop, and electronic tracks – while still handling podcasts and calls cleanly. I listened to a lot of podcasts using these & spoken word does sound excellent. I also tried some Prog Rock & some metal albums from my collection, and they sounded good. Perhaps the best thing I listened to was my 90s grunge. Nirvana tracks like Son of a Gun & Turnaround sounded really clean on these.

Microphone Quality

For calls, the Q40 HD includes a single AI-assisted microphone that reduces background noise. It does a solid job of filtering out chatter and general environmental noise, making voices clearer on the other end. It’s not at the level of professional headsets, but for casual and work calls it performs well. I found this works better in quieter environments, I tend to run at the side of busy roads, so even the best noise-cancelling would struggle, but these are OK for making those quick calls during your workouts.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the Q40 HD’s strongest features. You get up to 20 hours of playback on a full charge, which is more than enough for a week of commuting or several long gym sessions. A 10-minute quick charge provides around 5 hours of use, perfect for when you’re rushing out the door. Full charging takes about 1.5 hours, and standby stretches to 100 hours.

What’s in the Box

SOUNDPEATS include a generous set of accessories:

Q40 HD headphones

5 pairs of silicone ear tips (XS/S/M/L/XL)

3 pairs of ear wings (S/M/L)

Adjustable silicone bead

USB charging cable

User manual

This range of fittings ensures a secure and comfortable experience for most ear shapes.

The SOUNDPEATS Q40 HD neckband headphones strike a balance between portability, performance, and comfort. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but they deliver strong sound quality, excellent battery life, and rugged durability at a price that feels more than fair. They are a massive upgrade from my trusty Soundpeats Q12 and well worth the investment if you are looking for some well priced workout earphones. For sports, commuting, and general day-to-day listening, they’re a dependable choice – and one of the better-value neckband headphones currently available. They are super cheap to buy & they do seem to last years. My older Q12 which I’ve had for many years still hold great charge & have survived a lot of miles of running. As of writing, they are running a promotion on these, so you can grab them at a bargain price of £29.99 over on Amazon.

This single requirement has put me off Bluetooth and wireless headphones for a while until I came across the Soundpeats Q30 wireless earphones.

A few months ago I took a gamble on the Soundpeats P4 Bluetooth speaker. I’d been looking for one for ages and decided to give the really well priced Soundpeats P4 a go. I took the P4 on holiday and loved it, using it every day. I’ve used it every day since being home for the last few months so I can say the quality is outstanding.

I, therefore, decided to check out what Sound Peats had to offer in the Bluetooth headphone department. A few of their products are the individual earbuds, which as I mentioned aren’t suited to my lifestyle. But then I came across the Soundpeats Q30 Bluetooth headphones. The buds are joined by a wire which runs around the back of your neck. The wire also includes a mic and volume/playback controls as you would find on Apple Earbuds. The real party piece comes from the design of the Q30 though. A magnet has been included on the rear of each earbud, so when you hang them around your neck to chat with friends, they click together and form a necklace so you don’t lose them. I personally thought this was genius from Soundpeats.

They are very reasonably priced offering at £19.98 on Amazon and are currently half price so if you like the review you should be quick & grab a pair while they are on offer.

Now, to the headphones themselves. They are really well made and have a light alloy body on the ear buds. These things feel really tough. They are supplied with a range of in earbuds which are interchangeable and of varying sizes, so you can select the size which fits your ear most comfortably. I went for the biggest size so I get an almost vacuum seal fit. This, I find, blocks out most external noise and allows me to listen to music at a much lower volume and hear every note as you aren’t blocking out the environmental noises.

The fact that the earbuds are themselves joined by a wire means you don’t have any sync issues between left & right and you only need to worry about a single pairing, no chance of one ear losing signal like reports from much more expensive headphones.

In the box, you also get an assortment of ear grips, which grip onto the inner part of your ear to keep them extra secure & finally you get a charging cable, all in a neat little leather effect travel bag.

Due to the vacuum design of the earphones, the Soundpeats Q30 earphones offer a lot of clarity and bass, even at low volumes. You need to make sure the buds are positioned correctly in your ear for best results, but after a few times using them, this becomes second nature. The sound is rich and as good as a lot of much more expensive Bluetooth earphones I’ve tried out.

Having the controls on the joining wire is also brilliant. They fall pretty much in the same place as I’ve come to know from my apple earphones and the controls are exactly the same, even down to a small microphone for taking calls or talking to Siri. The volume controls and play/pause buttons are another must for me.

I haven’t had any issues with these headphones regarding pairing with Bluetooth with my iPhone 6 or my MacBook. My iPhone remembers them and instantly connects when I turn them on. I would advise you read the instructions regarding the multi-function buttons before you start. A long press of the play button is also the on/off button and as these are powered by a battery, which you charge with the supplied cable, you will want to turn them off when not using them.

I can only say good things about these Soundpeats Q30 headphones. They are comfortable, dependable and the battery life is very good. I’ve only charged them on a couple of occasions and the iPhone gives me an indication of battery life via Bluetooth in the status bar. They seem to last much longer than the 8 hours quoted on the box but I expect this will vary depending on how you use them.

Wearing them is a pleasure, they grip the ear very well and feel secure. I’ve used mine daily for all of my days around the city and they haven’t yet fallen out, even when running in the rain. The added benefit being if one falls out they are still connected around your neck & you can use the included line clamp to attach to your T-shirt collar if you need extra security.

If you are in the market for a pair of Bluetooth headphones I would fully recommend the Soundpeats Q30 earbuds. They are comfortable, sturdy, has great sound quality and features & at less than £20 they represent huge value for money.

The technical specs are very good for these Soundpeats Q30 headphones, you can check them out below:-

Specification:

Bluetooth Version: V4.1

Charging Time: 2 hours

Play Time: 7 Hours

Talk Time: Up to 8 hours

Bluetooth Mode: HFP/HSP/A2DP/AVRCP

Weight:0.53OZ/15g

  Package included:

1 x Q30 Sports Magnetic Bluetooth Headset Wireless Earphone

1 x Line Clamp

1 x USB Charging Cable

5 x Pairs of Ear Tips (XS/S/M/L/XL)

3 x Pairs of Ear Fins(S/M/L/)

3 x Slide Line Buckle

1 x Leather Bag

1 x User manual

A speaker that caught my eye right away was the SoundPEATS P4 speaker. The speaker itself is a cylindrical speaker, much like the amazon echo. The product itself looks amazing but the most surprising thing for me was the price. At under £34 delivered it seems too good to be true. SoundPEATS wasn’t a brand I had heard of before browsing Amazon but the reviews seemed to be overwhelmingly good and the speaker itself looked pretty solid. A few days later I took delivery of the SoundPEATS P4.

I was instantly impressed.

The package came extremely well packed from amazon which is always a worry with speakers, as any cracks or breaks in transit will rattle for the life of the speaker. The soundpeats packaging itself was very snug and secure. The speaker was much heavier than I thought, but in a good way. The housing feels robust and well made and the lovely fabric mesh covering reminded me of premium hifi speakers. The speaker feels like a premium product and the finish is brilliant.

The box contains the SoundPEATS P4, along with a micro USB cable for charging, a 3.5mm aux cable for use with older & non bluetooth devices and a concise instruction manual. I didn’t need to use the instruction manual as it was very intuitive to get started. The P4 came with a full charge, ready to go.

When you first turn on the speaker, it plays a harp sound to let you know it is on. Following that, for the first minute the speaker plays an audible beep, much like a submarine sound effect. This lets you know that the bluetooth is in discovery mode, allowing you to pair a new device. If the speaker already finds a paired device when it is turned on, it will automatically connect.

I connected the P4 to my iPhone 6 via bluetooth and instantly I was up and running using the P4 as my audio output device.

The first thing that struck me as soon as starting music playback was the level of bass. This speaker produces a lot of bass for a device of its size. I found that I had to turn off my bass boost EQ setting on the iPhone and I opted for the rock EQ to level out the bass and allow for a little more treble. I would suggest you have a play with your EQ settings as the natural bass this speaker produces is a little beyond even my expectations. It has a lot of low bass grunt.

The SoundPEATS P4 has very few external buttons, making it very easy to operate. It has a power button on the base which also allows you to answer bluetooth calls via the speaker. On the top of the speaker is a volume crown, allowing you to increase & decrease the volume. The P4 has its own small amp built-in, so the volume on your bluetooth device and the volume on the P4 work independently. I would recommend max volume on your device & then controlling volume from the P4 crown, but you can see which you prefer. Controlling volume from your music device might be prefered if, for example, your phone is in your hand and the speaker is mounted on a table.

The crown also features a touch sensitive skip button for skipping to previous and next tracks. This controls your device over bluetooth and is very responsive.

The battery life of the P4 is exceptional. I’ve been using it off & on all day and haven’t yet had it run out. The Micro USB for charging means you can charge the speaker from almost any USB port. I’ve been opting to charge using a spare apple USB wall charger and the supplied cable. The P4 has a 2000mah battery built-in which is rated for at least 6 hours of continuous playback. I’ve yet to find out how long it will actually last as it just doesn’t seem to run out in my regular every day use.

The P4 features Bluetooth 4.1 so is very low drain on devices such as smart phones, and allows for the extra features such as track skip and call answering. The cylindrical design allows for 360 degree sound and the two built-in speakers along with bass cavity allow for decent clarity & very thick bass.

The official stats are as follows

• [360° omni-directional premium stereo sound]: Cylindrical design with dual opposite facing speakers offers a clear, 360° stereo sound from all directions. Enjoy HD stereo sound with an impressive volume whether you’re lounging around the house, partying, walking around, camping, hiking, or even biking
• [Unique touch and rotate control]: The built-in touchscreen and volume dial make switching between songs and changing the volume easy. Simply swipe across the center display with your finger to change tracks, or rotate the dial to adjust the volume of your music
• [Long Lasting Usage]: 2000mAh battery capacity provides you with up to 10 hours of playtime. It also features a great built-in micro USB charging port, which can even be charged by a power bank at any time during an emergency.
• [Portable and Light Weight Design]: The speaker measures 6.85*2.83*2.83 cubic inches and weighs only 17.98 ounces, making it portable and easy to carry anytime and anywhere – especially when you are out bike riding, hanging out at the beach, camping, or even showering indoors
• [Built-in Microphone]: Enable this function to use this Wireless Bluetooth Speaker as a speakerphone, so you can enjoy hands-free calling as well
• SpecificationsBluetooth Version: Bluetooth 4.1Output Power: 10W

  Frequency: 180Hz-20KHz

  Maximum Working Range: Up to 33 feet (10m) in open space

  Battery Lithium battery: 2000mAh

  Working Time: 6-8 hours

  Charging Time: 4 hours

  Dimension (L * W * H): 6.85 x 2.83 x 2.83 inches / 174x 72 x 72 mm

  Weight: 17.98oz / 510g

  Package Content

  1 x SoundPEATS P4 Bluetooth Speaker

  1 x Micro USB Cable

  1 x 3.5mm AUX Cable

  1 x User Manual

My only criticism of the P4 would be the volume when using it outside. You really need to position the speaker close to a wall or another object to allow it to direct the sound at you. The only time I had an issue was on the beach with nothing to position the speaker against. The music was still audible and perfectly acceptable but it lost a bit of the punch you will experience when using it indoors. I’ve found this to be the case with most portable speakers, so more of an observation than a criticism.

Also the bass is very strong, so play with your EQ. This isn’t a criticism but if you are going to get the best clarity and sound from the speaker, turn down the bass on any EQ settings you use on your smart phone. On the iPhone I’ve found the rock EQ to be the best for overall clarity, although you can turn off your EQ and let the P4 manage the sound for you.

A lot of my usage of the P4 is using the aux port. I use my 128GB iPod with the speaker and I can play music in the kitchen or the shower & quite often in the bedroom. I’ve also used the P4 with my Macbook when travelling for music and to output all system sound for watching YouTube videos and movies. It works really well for that over bluetooth, although I prefer the AUX port and cable for Macbook use as the Macbook bluetooth sometimes struggles when using a magic mouse and another device over bluetooth.

I would recommend this speaker to anyone and a few of my friends & family have already purchased one. The price is just too good for the quality of the speaker. For under £35 you are getting great value for money and quality which can rival speakers 5 times the price. The speaker is currently on sale over on Amazon so go and Check it out by Clicking Here.