UGREEN HiTune X5 earbuds: Punching above its weight class in a big way

When you start considering looking at some new headphones, there are a lot of options out there. From Google to Samsung and Sony, companies have come out guns blazing with some pretty incredible options. However, the problem with many of these is that there are just too many compromises to justify the steep price tags.

UGREEN is here with a different take on the market with the HiTune X5’s, the company’s latest set of truly wireless earbuds.

UGREEN HiTune X5 Specs

• Clear Voice Capture 8.0 Noise Cancellation
• 10mm drivers
• Qualcomm aptX and Superbass
• Touch controls
• Battery Life
  • 7 hours on a single charge (earbuds)
  • 28 hours of battery life (total)
  • Charging case can be fully charged in 90 minutes
  • 15-minute charge provides an hour of playback
• Four MEMS microphones
• Low-latency gaming mode
• Bluetooth 5.2

Design

Out of the box, UGREEN provides the case with the earbuds inside already, USB-C to USB-A charging cable, user manual, and four different sets of silicone ear tips. The case itself is a lot lighter than it looks while offering a rather shiny finish that is pretty reflective. To be honest, the case looks pretty good, but it will be interesting to see how that glossy finish holds up after a few months of regular usage.

In addition to offering that unique glossy finish, the HiTune X5s case features three LED indicators on the front. These will let you know how much juice is left in the case while your earbuds are being used. But it will also act as the battery indicator for the earbuds when you need to juice them back up. On the back, you’ll find a single button used for pairing, and on the bottom, we have the USB-C charging port. There’s not much going on inside the case itself, save for the charging pins used for the earbuds when you’re not listening.

The HiTune X5s themselves provide a little bit different of a design that you may be used to. Instead of opting for a design that just goes inside your ear, a la the Sony WF-1000XM4s, the X5s feel like a combination of the AirPods with the Galaxy Buds+. There’s a short stem that helps to improve the comfort while wearing these, letting your ear do some of the work while lifting some of the strain on your ear canal.

These are positioned at a 30-degree angle that promises to provide a snug fit, without needing to worry about awkward ear sizes or shapes. As for the design of the earbuds, we’re met with a glossy finish, similar to that of the case, but there’s a unique pattern that is a little reminiscent of the night sky. It’s in the overall design where you begin to see the time that UGREEN took to really try and stand out from the rest of the pack.

UGREEN HiTune X5: Controls

So those 30-degree stems that we talked about earlier? They do more than just providing stability while listening to music or watching some movies. The HiTune X5s are also touch-enabled, meaning that you can control everything without ever needing to reach for your phone. Here are the different controls that you can use with these earbuds:

• Play / Pause – Tap L or R earbud once
• Next track – Tap R earbud three times
• Previous Track – Tap L earbud three times
• Volume Up – Tap R twice
• Volume Down – Tap L twice
• Activate Google Assistant – Press and hold L or R for two seconds
• Answer / End Call – Tap L or R earbud once
• Decline Call – Press and hold L or R for two seconds
• Toggle Normal / Gaming mode – Tap L or R four times

In my time with the HiTune X5s there were a couple of these gestures that took me by surprise. Being able to adjust the volume with a couple of taps, albeit on different earbuds, is extremely convenient. So is being able to activate Google Assistant just by pressing and holding either earbud for a couple of seconds.

While the controls may not be the most intuitive when you first start using the HiTune X5s, you quickly get used to them. UGREEN went the extra mile to make sure you don’t have to reach for your phone unless you absolutely have to.

UGREEN HiTune X5: Performance

With brands like Apple and Amazon working to offer Hi-Fi audio playback for everyone, it was an interesting test to see how the UGREEN HiTune X5s would stand up. Going from playing the same album from *The Weeknd* on Spotify and switching over to Apple Music’s Lossless version was night and day.

Part of that has to do with UGREEN’s decision to include support for both Qualcomm aptX and UGREEN’s Superbass enhancement. The bass felt bass-ier, the mids sounded as good as you would expect, and even the highs hit a little better. Although I’m no audiophile, I do love a good pair of headphones, and the HiTune X5s are only the second set of earbuds that actually have made me notice a real difference in audio quality (behind the AirPods Pro).

As for the included Gaming Mode, UGREEN is trying to cater to all audiences here. The normal mode still uses Qualcomm’s aptX technology, but Gaming Mode greatly reduces the latency, bringing it down to just 70ms. Other earbuds leave you with an awkward feeling while gaming, but UGREEN has put in the extra work for this added mode with the HiTune X5s.

So you’ve made it this far and haven’t noticed anything about Active Noise Cancellation. That’s because you won’t find it with the UGREEN HiTune X5s. Actually, let me take a step back. Instead of the ANC you see on Sony’s or Apple’s headphones, UGREEN is using Clear Voice Capture (CVC) 8.0 along with Electronic Noise Cancellation (ENC) and four microphones to try and get rid of the sounds around you.

The result of this has been an enjoyable experience, and if you crank up your music just a little bit louder than you would with ANC headphones, it’ll feel almost the same. But you also won’t have to worry about pressure in your ears that some other ANC headphones bring.

UGREEN HiTune X5: Battery Life

As for battery life, UGREEN is rating these for up to 28 hours when you include what’s provided by the included charging case. This is longer than headphones that cost four or five times as much. Individually, the earbuds will last up to seven hours on a single charge, before you’ll need to pop them back in the case.

But it’s here that UGREEN has a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve with the HiTune X5s. The charging case can go from 0 to 100% in about an hour and a half, but if you pop in your earbuds for about 15 minutes, you’ll get an extra hour of playback time. While we wish that wireless charging could have been an option here, we’re definitely not disappointed by any means.

UGREEN HiTune X5: Price

This is the most exciting part about the UGREEN HiTune X5s after spending some time with them. UGREEN is pricing these new earbuds at just $49.99. BUT, you can save an extra 30% on your purchase via UGREEN’s official website when you buy the UGREEN HiTune X5 earbuds before July 20th.

So you’ll be able to get some of the most interesting earbuds for just $35. At the retail price, it’s a no-brainer to pick these up if you want a pair of earbuds that pack a massive punch.