UGREEN HiTune X5: The Best Wireless Earbuds Under $60

Wireless earbuds have become a necessity for many over the recent years. With our fast-paced digital lives, these extremely portable, impressively convenient and efficiently versatile devices are not just for music lovers anymore. In fact, the industry has grown exponentially the past year and is expected to sell 310 million units this year.

With the rise in demand, the market has also seen an increase in players vying for the top spot of the best wireless earbuds. For consumers, however, it’s more than just sound quality they look for -- price, aesthetics and ease-of-use are just as important. Apple’s AirPods may be reigning supreme, but with its hefty price tag, consumers are trying other brands that offer the same features for much, much less.

In comes HiTune X5, UGREEN’s newest flagship True Wireless Stereo Earbuds. The established tech brand released the new device this week and it packs quite a punch for such a low-priced device. Sold globally at just $60, the HiTune X5 combines unique design aesthetics and the latest sound technology making it a strong contender for the best wireless earbuds under $60.

I got my hands on the HiTune X5 the past week and tried it out in both work and play scenarios, and here’s how it stood up.

Classic Exterior

One of the reasons why the AirPods was an instant hit was because it had the iconic clean, white, glossy finish the brand has come to be known for. Many brands tried to imitate the elegant look but failed. Not the HiTune X5.

UGREEN’s new wireless earbuds come in an elegant midnight blue shade with a glittery, glossy finish, reminiscent of a starry night sky. The compact case is easy to carry and fits easily in the pocket.

The oval-shaped short-stemmed buds comfortably sit in the ear without anything protruding to bother you or call attention to your ear. The buds and case weigh at only 1.6oz, just like the AirPods.

Clean, compact and classy -- just the way I like it.

Powerful Interior

The HiTune X5 is powered by the Qualcomm® QCC3040 SoC that supports aptX codec, this offers a great sound experience whether it’s for listening to music, playing mobile games or making calls.

Its Noise Cancellation is impressive and does reduce ambient sound which is good for calls, but likely not suited for people on the road because it does mute everything out.

Its Bluetooth 5.2 connection and instant pairing worked fine, like any standard earbuds. I did appreciate the audio notifications though, informing me when the battery is low or when the buds are pairing or have already paired with my device.

Impressive Punchy Bass

The HiTune X5 offered impressive punchy bass -- something I didn’t expect for a device at this price point. Thanks to UGREEN's signature Superbass Low-frequency Enhancement Technology and 10mm dynamic drivers with dual-flexible diaphragms, the buds thump with every beat. It’s perfect for rap and rock songs, but using it while playing “Call of Duty” on mobile wasn’t bad either. Especially with its dedicated gaming mode and low latency features.

Sound quality is good, as a whole, but the bass is supreme. In fact, I’d say it’s the same, if not slightly better than the AirPods.

Intuitive Tap Controls

It’s almost unfair to compare the HiTune X5 with the Airpods, given the huge price gap -- the latter comes at $159 for the basic version ($199 with a Wireless Charging Case) -- but it’s hard not to. The HiTune X5 continues to impress with its features and isn’t too far behind the much more expensive competition in some aspects.

One thing I hate about my Airpods is it’s tap controls -- it’s not sensitive enough for me, and I often have to answer phone calls on my smartwatch rather than through its double-tap feature. The HiTune X5 didn’t have this issue.

The earbuds have very sensitive and intuitive tap controls that allowed me to easily control my music and answer calls. No hard to press physical buttons either. Just simply tap the surface and you can easily navigate through your playlist.

Its also IPX5 waterproof, so it's safe for workouts and some outdoor activities.

Again, for such a low-priced true wireless earbuds, this is pretty impressive.

Good Enough Battery Life

The HiTune X5 offers enough playback time, longer than some wireless earbuds. But while it claims to offer 7 hours of uninterrupted playback, it was less than that for me. The charging case did hold up to offering 20+ hours of charge.

Is the HiTune X5 the Best Wireless Earbuds Under $60?

The simple answer is yes. At least for now.

At $60, UGREEN’s HiTune X5 offers impactful bass, impressively intuitive controls and an elegant exterior that can easily compete with (and maybe even trump) other wireless buds in much higher price points.

The sound quality may not be the best, but its other features make it a true bang for the buck. It would be very hard to find another true wireless earbuds under $60 with the same impressive features.

Available on its official website and Amazon, UGREEN offers a 30% launch discount if you buy in the first two weeks of release.