The new Jabra Elite 5 true wireless earbuds with Hybrid ANC are a perfect blend between price and ... [+] performance.

Jabra is a Danish technology company specializing in making communication headsets, speakerphones and some great wireless earbuds. Jabra is part of the GN Audio group of companies, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hearing aids based in Scandinavia, with access to some very clever technology. It’s the research and know-how of the GN Group that Jabra can draw on to make its audio products a little bit special.

The latest consumer product from the brand is the Jabra Elite 5. This advanced pair of true wireless and noise-canceling earbuds is one of the best ANC earbuds I’ve reviewed this year. Jabra has used a system of feedback microphones placed inside each earpiece and feedforward microphones on the outside. so that the noise-canceling function is less affected by the position of the earbuds in the ear and produces a more reliable ANC function across a broader range of frequencies.

The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds also offer clear phone call quality thanks to six external microphones that always remain active. In addition, the Elite 5 also has internal microphones that automatically kick in when making calls in windy conditions. If you’ve ever tried making a call in an exposed area, you’ll know how easily the microphones can be rendered useless in even the slightest breeze.

The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds come in Good Beige and Titanium Black finishes.

Jabra has used a custom 6mm dynamic driver which is driven by a Qualcomm QCC3050 chipset with support for aptX, AAC and SBC audio codecs. That means it works well with both Android and iOS devices. Jabra has also worked with Spotify to offer users Spotify Tap Playback.

Another brilliant feature is Multipoint connectivity, which enables two devices to be connected simultaneously so you could be listening to music on your smartphone while also being connected to your laptop for when a conference call comes through. Multipoint technology seamlessly switches between the two devices. It makes life easy.

The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds also have a native Amazon function, which means you can link the earbuds to your Amazon account and then say: “Alexa! Play BBC Radio 2!” It just works without using your smartphone to give Alexa the command. There’s also support for Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri voice assistants.

With the charge in the earbuds and the battery inside the Jabra Elite 5 case, there's a total ... [+] playtime of up to 28 hours.

The build quality of the earbuds and the charging case is a masterclass in how earbuds should be made. The whole package feels superb and is nicely finished. A full charge of the earbuds delivers up to seven hours of playtime, while the charging case can be topped up using a USB-C cable or wireless charger. The charging case and earbuds hold 28 hours of playtime, enough for a couple of weeks of workouts or daily commutes.

A single charge of the earbuds provides just enough listening time for a transatlantic flight if you factor in a few music breaks for eating or sleeping. The ANC function works brilliantly and can be tailored for your hearing by using the Jabra smartphone app. There’s also a Hear-Thru function so you can be aware of your surroundings. The hybrid ANC technology does a great job of cutting out unwanted noise without making your ears feel pressurized or uncomfortable.

To get the best from the Jabra Elite 5, it’s worth downloading the Jabra smartphone app, which includes a graphic equalizer with presets and a customizable five-band EQ adjustment. The app also lets you set the amount of noise canceling you need with a simple in-app test that personalizes the ANC to suit your hearing.

The Jabra app unlocks lots of features for personalising the Jabra Elite 5 earbuds.

The Jabra app is also used to apply firmware updates and offers a range of sounds that can be played through the earbuds to mask noises. It’s an excellent feature if you suffer from tinnitus like me. There are settings for Pink Noise, White Noise, Ventilation Fan, Waterfall and Diving.

There are also some great nature sounds in the app that you can turn on if you need calmness or to mask other noises. These nature sounds include Rain, Perfect Storm, Ocean Waves or even a Babbling Brook. If you suffer from tinnitus or are trying to sleep somewhere very noisy, it’s an invaluable feature. I love the Perfect Storm sound, which blends gentle rainfall with distant rumbles of thunder.

The sound quality offered by the Jabra Elite 5 is second to none. It’s a wonderfully clear, perfectly balanced sound, even without the EQ presets. The sound has the optimum blend of bass, mid and treble, plus there’s a surprising amount of lower-end frequency response, especially considering the drivers are only 6mm in diameter. With the application of the EQ presets or by creating your personal tone profile using the graphical interface in the Jabra app, you can create a sound that works perfectly for your ears.

The charging case of the Jabra Elite 5 can be charged with a USB-C cable or any Qi-compatible ... [+] wireless charger.

Finally, the Jabra Elite 5 have a water resistance rating of IP55 for handling rain and sweat when working out. The earbuds are available in Gold Beige or Titanium Black colorways. The Gold Beige finish is beautiful.

Verdict: The Jabra Elite 5 true wireless ANC earbuds perfectly blend price and performance. The build quality is top-notch, the ANC works excellently and the six microphones precisely pick up the user’s voice, even in windy conditions. Regarding sound quality, I found the Elite 5 to be perfectly balanced and with the Jabra smartphone app, the sound can be customized to suit almost any hearing. In addition, the earbuds come with a selection of ear tips in different sizes providing a comfortable fit and a low profile when in the ear. For the money, the Jabra Elite 5 earbuds are among the best ANC and true wireless earbuds on the market. Highly recommended.

Pricing & Availability: The Jabra Elite 5 are available now and costs $149 / £149 / €149.

More info: www.jabra.com/elite

Jabra is part of the GN Group which is one of the world's major hearing aid manufacturers. It's easy ... [+] to see how that expertise has benefited the design of the Jabra Elite 5.