The new Jabra Elite 5 wireless headphones, which have been described as the “mid-range hero”, aim to deliver a full experience at a reasonable price.
The Elite 5 is priced at $149.99 and includes a number of great features like hybrid ANC and a total of six microphones. Jabra said they were aimed at young audiences and hybrid workers.
“These earbuds help people unwind after a busy day and immerse themselves in content or connect with friends and family on the go with the push of a button,” the company says.
The key feature to achieve this is Jabra’s Hybrid ANC, or Active Noise Cancellation, powered by the Qualcomm QCC3050 chip, which we’ve never seen before in its mid-range wireless headphones.
This means that the external and internal microphones provide front and back noise cancellation respectively, plus manual customization.
This beats the Elite 7 and 7 Pro models, but the Elite 85t has a dedicated noise cancellation chip. Even so, the system is not sensitive to the position of the headphones, so it provides a more balanced effect over a wider frequency range.
This set of six mics is also handy for phone calls, with the internal mic doing the heavy lifting when it’s windy and blowing against the external mics.
Jabra reckons the Elite 5s look a lot like the Elite 3 and 4 models, but with a new vent hole. But that’s no bad thing, as they’re compact and sleek, and available in Titanium Black and Golden Beige.
These headphones offer IP55 protection against dust and water, which is more than most models at this price. Jabra retains the usual physical buttons instead of touch controls, which can easily stop working in the rain and other conditions.
Inside there are 6mm drivers. The Elite 5 is compatible with many devices and services, including Android (aptX) and iPhone (AAC) codecs. They are also compatible with Microsoft Swift Pair, Google Fast Pair, Alexa, Google Assistant, Spotify Tap and Bluetooth Multipoint.
The headphones are designed for all-day wear, which is made possible in part by the 7 hours of battery life. This is increased to 28 hours if the case is included, which has wireless charging (another unusual feature in the mid-range).
The Jabra Elite 5 will go on sale this September 1 for $149.99. An introductory offer limited to $129.99 is currently available and lasts until September 8.
