About this app
The Jabra Elite 5 continues the trend of Jabra releasing decent, but very same-y products in rapid succession. It sounds good, feels fine, and works the same on iOS and Android. Basically, it's fine.What we like
SBC, AAC, and aptX Bluetooth codecs
Decent sound
Jabra Sound+ works
What we don't like
Lackluster noise cancelling
Pretty similar to the last thousand Jabra earbuds
Hot on the heels of the last handful of Jabra earbuds, the Jabra Elite 5 is… very similar to its predecessors. These wireless earbuds bring aptX, active noise cancelling (ANC), and multipoint to a form factor, you’ve probably seen before. However, familiar doesn’t always mean bad.
We spent a week with the Jabra Elite 5 and found out everything you need to know.
Editor’s note: this review was updated on September 28, 2022, to include results from our battery testing.
What’s it like to use the Jabra Elite 5?
If you’ve used any of the Jabra wireless earbuds to come out in the last year or so (and there have been a lot), the Jabra Elite 5 will feel very familiar. The earbuds sport the same rounded shape and stemless design as the Jabra Elite 3 and Elite 4 Active, among other earbuds from the company.
The Elite 5 features the same sort of matte plastic construction as its many counterparts, rather than the rubberized texture of something like the recent Jabra Elite 7 Active. The curved earbuds nestle deep into your ear canals, and the array of ear tip sizes (small, medium, and large) makes getting a good seal and secure fit is easy. If you’re particularly sensitive about ear tips going very deep into your ears, it’s probably best to stick with the small size, but I find the medium is pretty comfortable.
The earbuds themselves are IP55 rated for dust and water protection, which means they aren’t quite waterproof, but plenty prepared to withstand getting caught out in the rain and covered in sweat at the gym. There aren’t any stabilizing fins or nubs on these earbuds, but the depth that they rest in your ears brings enough stability that even moderate head shaking during activity won’t knock them loose—running is totally fine.
How do you control Jabra Elite 5?
Controlling the Jabra Elite 5 is very straightforward. Rather than use touch-sensitive side panels, the earbuds opt to make the glossy Jabra-branded sides large multifunction buttons. This makes finding the controls very easy while you’ve got the buds in your ears, though it does limit your options somewhat.
Should you use Jabra Sound+ with the Jabra Elite 5?
Jabra Sound+ (iOS/Android) is the company’s companion app for all its wireless audio products, and while it’s by no means breaking new ground, it works pretty reliably. Connecting to the app can feel a little finicky the first time you pair the Jabra Elite 5 to your phone of choice, but once that’s all squared away it’s a trusty companion.
The app brings options for adjusting EQ through presets or a limited five-band equalizer, customizing controls, and the ability to toggle between active noise cancelling, HearThrough (a transparency mode), and having neither of those on. The control customization options are pretty limited—almost everything you can do is already available with either a single, double, or triple press of the left or right button, but you can at least mix and match a little bit if you like. Unfortunately, there’s no way to control volume with the earbuds, so you’ll have to pull your phone out to adjust that.
However, the control customization and EQ aren’t the full extent of the personalization features. A few menus deep, there’s an option for tailoring the earbuds’ ANC performance to your liking. The process involves adjusting the ANC level, and the ANC balance between your left and right earbuds to account for differences or sound leaking—a lot of is just as easily sorted by making sure you’ve got a decent fit, but it’s nice to have a software feature to shore things up further.
