In the world of wireless earbuds, evolution often means iterations: better ANC, better battery life, better compatibility... But it's rare for a manufacturer to truly shake up the technological foundations of this ultra-competitive market. Yet, that's what Xiaomi is attempting with these Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi (€220), the first consumer wireless earbuds capable of streaming uncompressed audio via a direct Wi-Fi connection to the smartphone. A Bluetooth-only version is also available for 20 euros less.
This innovation is made possible by Qualcomm XPAN (Expanded Personal Area Network) technology, and involves the integration of very specific components, such as the Snapdragon Sound S7 Pro audio chip. The result: 96 kHz/24-bit lossless sound. But this progress is not accessible to everyone, because it is currently reserved for a closed ecosystem, since you absolutely have to have a Xiaomi 15 Ultra smartphone (a model at… 1500 euros) that we used during this test.
Design and finish: serious in a semi-translucent look
Aesthetically, Xiaomi stands out with this Wi-Fi version of the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro by equipping their case with a transparent cover. This semi-translucent design is only available in black and immediately evokes more serious audiophile references. This understated, slightly futuristic look gives them a certain cachet, without overdoing it.
The earbuds themselves are quite compact, weighing 5.6 grams each. Once in place, they're easy to forget about. Their semi-in-ear format, coupled with high-quality silicone tips, ensures an excellent fit even when walking or running. They also have an IP54 certification, which means the earphones are protected against dust and splashes. Practical for sports sessions.
The charging case itself remains fairly classic in design: rounded, small enough to slip into a pocket. While its glossy finish is pleasant to the touch, it's a shame that it's very susceptible to fingerprints. Without reinventing the wheel, Xiaomi still offers a successful design here, consistent with its premium positioning.
Ergonomics and controls: responsive and well thought-out
When it comes to controls, Xiaomi goes for classic and efficient. The Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi have touch sensors on each stem, which can be configured as desired via the Xiaomi Earbuds app. By default, a long press activates ANC or transparency mode, a double pinch lets you change tracks or answer a call, and a triple pinch goes back to the previous track. These controls are smooth and responsive, with no noticeable lag time. We also appreciate the ability to adjust their behavior in the app, which is not always offered by the competition.
The in-ear fit is also a good point. Thanks to three sizes of tips provided, the earphones adapt well to all body shapes, ensuring both good comfort and excellent passive isolation. Even after several hours of listening, no discomfort was felt. A wearing sensor also automatically detects when you remove an earbud: playback pauses, then resumes once it is put back in. A detail that improves the everyday experience.
Application and connectivity: an (almost) enclosed revolution
This is where Xiaomi's technological shift takes on its full meaning... and its limits. The Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi introduces the first wireless audio connection via Wi-Fi, thanks to Qualcomm XPAN technology. Unlike Bluetooth, which transmits compressed audio (even with the best codecs), this Wi-Fi connection allows for data rates of up to 4.2 Mbps, and therefore allows for the transmission of 96 kHz/24-bit studio-quality audio, without any destructive compression. The ear is supposed to perceive a richer, more precise, more natural reproduction.
But — and this is a big “but” — this connection only works with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the only smartphone to date to include the necessary module. Outside of this duo, the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi automatically revert to Bluetooth 5.4, while still supporting the SBC, AAC, LC3, and aptX Lossless codecs. This isn't a disaster, but it severely limits the scope of this innovation. You'll therefore need to invest in this recent Xiaomi smartphone to enjoy Wi-Fi sound, which drastically reduces the product's appeal for the majority of Android users (and even more so for iOS, of course, which doesn't support aptX).
The Xiaomi Earbuds app, for its part, is well designed. It allows you to:
- configure touch controls;
- choose between multiple sound profiles (or use a customizable equalizer);
- update the earphones' firmware;
- manually switch between ANC and transparency modes;
- activate or deactivate the Wi-Fi connection (on the Xiaomi15 Ultra).
Finally, note that the earphones are multipoint: you can connect them to two devices via Bluetooth simultaneously, essential for juggling between smartphone and computer.
ANC, transparency and calls: Xiaomi lags behind
With its Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, Xiaomi announces attenuation of up to 55 dB, enough to theoretically position them at the top of the basket against big names like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. In fact, the active noise reduction is very effective, without quite reaching the level of this competition. In a noisy subway, an open space, or a busy street, these Buds 5 Pro manage to effectively muffle low-pitched sounds (engines, air conditioning). But they struggle more with the high-mids and treble and are therefore less effective when it comes to reducing the disturbance of a conversation.
Unsurprisingly, this is reflected in transparency mode. With this poor management of the high end of the spectrum, it's difficult to achieve a natural sound. This is particularly true for voices that sound muffled, despite a special setting dedicated to them.
On the call side, Xiaomi has integrated an AI capable of suppressing background noise. Conversations remain very clear in quiet situations such as indoors. This becomes more complicated on a noisy street where disturbing sounds are attenuated at the cost of a significant degradation of our voice, which is thus on the verge of intelligibility.
Audio quality: a complex architecture
Xiaomi hasn't just innovated in wireless transmission, but has also done so in the hardware used for audio. Each earbud incorporates a triple-transducer architecture: an 11 mm dynamic speaker for bass, a planar driver for midrange reproduction, and a ceramic tweeter for treble.
This type of configuration, rare in true wireless earbuds, produces a very rich, precise, and airy sound signature. The bass is deep, but never overpowering, and vocals are crystal clear. We also perceive convincing stereo separation and very good dynamics for this price range. We are less enthusiastic about the treble, which seems strangely separated from the rest of the spectrum. This surprising behavior is certainly due to the very architecture of the Buds 5 Pro: the more drivers you have, the more difficult it is to make them work together. The impression is further accentuated by a dip in the high-mids that separates the treble even more from the rest. 
On a compatible Xiaomi smartphone, with Wi-Fi audio enabled and lossless tracks from Apple Music, there is a slight gain in precision and dynamics, but without increasing the performance of the earphones tenfold. At 220 euros, this is not a hi-fi product and they show their limitations in fully exploiting a lossless format.
Battery life: among the best on the market
In terms of endurance, the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi promise up to 10 hours of continuous listening without ANC. This promise was kept, as we exceeded 11 hours in this configuration. With ANC active, we were able to get close to 9 hours. All this with Bluetooth and AAC. By activating noise reduction and XPAN, the battery life is drastically reduced, unsurprisingly, to around 5 hours.
The case can be charged via USB-C, but also wirelessly (Qi), which is always a nice bonus. And if you're in a hurry, a 10-minute charge is enough to get 4.5 hours of listening time.
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