The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are one of Jabra's premium in-ears for casual use. They have a hybrid active noise cancelling (ANC) system that performs better than other ANC headphones from Jabra's Elite line up like the Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless. Although they lack the Multisensor Voice feature found on the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless, which helps eliminate wind noise on a call by picking up your voice via bone conduction along your jaw, they still have a fair mic quality, making them a solid choice for calls. You can also pair the headphones to two devices simultaneously and charge the case wirelessly. However, some users have reported a hissing sound in one or both earbuds.
Our Verdict
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are unremarkable for neutral sound. They have a clear and balanced sound profile, but there's a big roll-off in their low bass, which means that audio lacks thump and rumble. They also have a dip in the mid-mid, which nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Their passive soundstage isn't very immersive, but this is due to their in-ear design. Fortunately, the in-app 5-band EQ and presets help you fine-tune the sound to your liking.
- 5-band EQ with presets in companion app.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are good for commuting and travel. They're comfortable, portable, and have an eight-hour continuous battery life. They can passively block out some noise, and while they have an ANC system, they still have a hard time blocking out the low rumbles of bus and plane engines. They can still help cut down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Eight-hour continuous battery life.
- Mediocre ANC.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are great for sports and fitness. With a comfortable and deep in-ear fit, as well as an IP55 rating for protection against dust and direct water exposure, you won't risk them falling out or getting damaged during a run. However, they lack stability fins and may pop out during high-intensity exercise.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Eight-hour continuous battery life.
- Mediocre ANC.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are decent for office use. They're comfortable and have an eight-hour continuous battery life, meaning they'll last the whole day on a single charge. They do a good job eliminating high-end frequencies like office chatter and hardly leak any audio. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can switch between your phone and laptop with ease.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
- Mediocre ANC.
- Mic has passable noise handling.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are Bluetooth-only headphones, meaning their latency is likely too high for wireless gaming.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are truly wireless headphones, and you can't use them wired.
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless are reasonable for phone calls. The integrated mic has a good recording quality, allowing your voice to sound clear and understandable but a little thin on the other end of the line. The mic does a passable job of isolating your voice from background noise in loud environments like a busy subway station. Even though these buds have ANC, they still have mediocre overall noise isolation, so hearing your call may be difficult in a busy train station or office.
- Well-built and comfortable.
- Mic has passable noise handling.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless come in two color variants: 'Titanium Black' and 'Gold Beige'. We tested the 'Titanium Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless perform similarly to other Jabra in-ears, so you may want one or the other, depending on your preferences. Compared to other Jabra products like the Jabra Elite 7 Active True Wireless and the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless, these buds have a warmer sound, which you may prefer if you like cozy vocals and instruments without heavy bass. The Jabra Elite 7 Active True Wireless also has better performing ANC for low-end frequencies, which can block out the rumble of bus and plane engines during travel.
If you're looking for more earbuds, check out our recommendations for the best Jabra earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds.
The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are better headphones than the Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless. The Elite 7 pro are more comfortable, have better noise isolation, and have a more neutral sound profile, making them versatile enough for most kinds of audio. However, the Jabra Elite 5 can better separate your voice from background noise during a call.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless have significantly better ANC than the Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless. The Anker block out more ambient bass noise and also deliver a more bass-heavy sound profile, which may be desired if you listen to hip-hop or EDM. They're also more comfortable than the Jabra and support LDAC for playing Hi-Res audio. However, they only last around five hours on a single charge, compared to the Jabra's eight-hour continuous battery life. The Anker also don't support multi-device pairing, while the Jabra can pair to up to two devices simultaneously.
The Jabra Elite 7 Active True Wireless are better sounding and more comfortable than the Jabra Elite 5 True Wireless. These in-ears outperform the Elite 5 in noise isolation and sound profile neutrality, which some users may prefer. They also have an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance compared to the Elite 5's IP55, making the Elite 7 Active a better choice for sports and fitness. Neither model comes with stability fins, but both models stay in your ear during intense exercise. They also have the same eight-hour continuous battery life.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless are better overall earbuds than the Jabra Elite 5 Truly Wireless. The Sony have a warm sound profile with more bass, which some users may prefer, and a longer continuous battery life of 10.5 hours. The ANC on the Sony cuts out more bus and plane engine noise, making them an ideal choice for commuters. However, the Jabra leak less audio at high volumes and their mic's recording quality is significantly better.
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