Having had and used the Jabra Elite 5 for a month I'm in a position to offer a comprehensive review
Packaging and Presentation:
We are so used to elaborate packing being the norm to make us feel unique and the product we have purchased feel special, that when you receive this, it could come across as a little underwhelming. However, the approach that has been taken with the Jabra Elite 5 is to show its sustainability chops through the packaging choices. As the images show nearly every single piece of packaging provided is either recyclable or biodegradable, which was a very good start for my liking The wireless earbuds themselves are in a simple black case which is slim and can easily fit in a jean pocket or small bag with ease. Inside the box was the case and inside it the wireless earbuds. You also had additional ear tips of different sizes so you could find your correct fit and a short USB-c cable for charging the case. The only other content is a piece of cardboard with instructions on how to set up the Jabra Elite 5 and a safety and warranty booklet, that’s it!
Feel and Set Up:
If you’re coming to the Jabra Elite 5 from any number of wireless competitors, then you know the key thing with any device is the setup. That starts with choosing the correct ear tips to fit your ears. That coincidently is when you get the first chance to feel the quality of the product. You can feel the quality of the build from the moment you pop them in your ears. If like me, your journey started at the far cheaper end of the wireless earbud market way back when, as mine did. Then you will appreciate the quality of the manufacturing process, which has left tight seams and no sharp elements.
The case is matt and although doesn’t look particularly special, it felt nice to touch. I think over time it might be likely to pick up grease finger marks, but it hasn’t so far with me. Next was to connect the device to my phone. I have the flagship android device from a certain Japanese manufacturer and to pair and connect the two was an absolute doddle after downloading and installing the Sound+ app.
In use in and outdoors:
After setup on my phone, I also decided to connect the Jabra Elite 5 to my windows laptop. This meant my very first use was a Teams call and I have to say all the participants were audibly very clear. Their voices were nice and bright and the microphone was also very good, I was pleasantly surprised. I love listening to my podcasts and spend many hours a day listening on walks and commuting, so I knew the true test of the Jabra Elite 5 would be when out and about walking along busy A roads. I had a mixture of voice and music podcasts, and I had the anti-noise cancellation (ANC) both on and off. With speech, you can use the equaliser in the app to make changes to the sound output and I could really tell the difference when cycling through the prefixed settings. You can even create your own settings. Speech was clear, the ANC worked incredibly well and I think most users will prefer it on rather than off in daily use, it just cocoons you from the outside world without entirely blocking it out. I did use passthrough and it too works well. When it came to music, it is all about what you like to listen to. Few wireless earbuds can generate deep base and good mids but these are admirable in the way they go about it. I would say if your music were more melodic than bass-heavy, they will suit you but for bassheads, they will find the Jabra Elite 5 just that bit lacking for their needs. I didn’t consider the battery time, but they seem to want to last 5+hours easily with ANC, which is about right for wireless earbuds with ANC. I am sure a lot more without ANC use. One thing I did detect in use was that I did get some interference when using, it wasn't frequently but on 2 or 3 occasions in all the time I have been using them. Now, I couldn't tell if that was due to being nin busy built-up areas or if it was the way O placed my phone when using it. I just thought I'd mention that.,
Conclusion:
To conclude, there is so much to like about the Jabra Elite 5, they fall into the premium category by dint of pricing, but they aren’t in that top quality bracket as they aren’t showy enough. But the packaging is sustainable and recyclable a lot can be said for that. The setup is simple and easy for any device you want to connect to, be that with or without the app. The quality of the sound is great for calls and meetings, with good noise cancellation. If you are into voice podcasts then you’ll really like the sound, but for music lovers, if it's a more technical sound you are after, then you’ll get on just fine but bassheads, you’ll feel something is missing.
If I were scoring with stars, the Jabra Elite 5 would get a solid 4 out of 5 for me.
| Marque | Jabra |
|---|---|
| Couleur | Noir titane |
| Type de casque | In Ear |
| Connexions | Wireless Bluetooth |
| Caractéristiques spéciales | Microphone inclus, Imperméable, Annulation active du bruit, Charge rapide |
| Résistance | 16 Ohm |
| Appareils compatibles | Cellphones, Tablets |
| Composition de la pile | Lithium-ion |
| Batterie rechargeable | Oui |
| Garantie constructeur | 2 ans |
| Disponibilité des pièces détachées | Information indisponible sur les pièces détachées |
