Roseselsa doesn’t just release quality IEMs, but their other segments are also equally impressive, such as their TWS offerings. Among a few of them, Earfree International 3 series have been my favourite while back. Now, the latest addition, following the Earfree line, the i5 been received very positive perception. Let's see how the sequel performs.
Specification
Audio Format: LDAC/ AAC/ mSBC/ SBC
Impedance: 32 Ω
Output Power: 15 mW
Frequency Response: 14 -23kHz
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Communication Range: 10 m
Earphone Battery Capacity: 40 mAh
Charging Case Battery Capacity: 500 mAh
Charging Time: Approx. 1h
Let’s start with the Packaging & Accessories
 |  |
The packaging is quite minimalist, inside you’ll find:
> Charging case, TWS
> 3 sets of eartips
> USB-C cable
> Manual paper
The eartips are pretty standard, not particularly special—but they still comfortable to use. The charging case is slightly bigger compared to the i3 and has an improvement in terms of materials and design, it made from CNC Aluminium alloy, that feels quite premium and durability. though unfortunately, there’s no added black case for storing the charging case like in the previous version.
Design, Fit, Build
The Earfree i5 comes in 3 color options: black, beige, and blue. Personally, even though these buds are made from plastic, they feel pretty solid with a smooth finishing, with design i find quite pretty, especially the blue color of my unit. The fit is comfortable and they don't easily fall off, even during jogging or cycling. However, the ear isolation isn’t as good as the Ceramics X version. It also supports IPX5, meaning it’s resistant to water spray or sweat.
User Experience
So far, i find the battery life is quite impressive; I only need to charge the charging case once within a week, with an average use of 3-4 hours a day, The charging also pretty fast, around an hour, with its claim to be 10 minutes charger up to 12H playback. I tested the buds with LDAC, ANC ON, and 70% volume, it drop about 20% every 1.5 hours. In particular, they lasted around 7 hours on single charge until they run out of juice.
As for the mic, I find it pretty clear. I tried listening to my voice notes recorded on Telegram, and the sound was clear. When receiving calls, there were no issues, and the other party could hear me clearly without asking me to repeat myself.
Noise Cancelling
The i5 has 4 modes:
You can switch the mode by tapping on the TWS or through the app–which I prefer.
- ANC Noise Cancelling
This is the strongest noise cancellation mode, useful in very noisy environments like engine noise or traffic. However, it’s not as effective as other models like the Technics AZ80 or AirPods Pro, but still better than budget to mid-range models like the EarFun Free Pro 2, and even outperforms the Sony TWS XM4, which costs a more.
- Wind Noise
This mode helps reduce wind noise when outdoors, making it ideal for jogging or cycling, but still maintains a good awareness of your surroundings and helps stabilize sound in windy conditions.
- Normal
This is the regular mode aka ANC off. It reduces some background noise but doesn’t isolate you completely. but i find that it pick up wind or hiss noise even on indoor, but doesn't as bad as the transparancy mode.
- Transparency
As the name suggests, lets outside sounds come through clearly, making you more aware of your surroundings, This is useful when you want to stay aware of your environment or converse with someone without taking the earbuds off. while It’s not the best I’ve experience, since it does pick up the hiss sound or wind noise quit badly, but still great additional mode nonetheless.
User Interface (App)
All Rosesela TWS are compatible with the Roselink app, which you can download from Play Store or App Store. The connection to the app has improved now, and once connected via Bluetooth, it consistently connects to the app. It’s no longer necessary to manually connect the device each time. The UI is minimalist and simple, with both dark and light modes available.
- Game Mode:
Honestly, I didn’t notice a significant improvement. After all, it’s still a Bluetooth device, so the latency isn’t completely gone.
- Dual Device Connection:
This is a super practical feature for me! It works seamlessly without needing to disconnect from one of my device before connecting to another.
- Customizable Touch Controls:
This is another great feature, allowing me to customize the touch controls to my own liking.
Sometimes, when lying down, I accidentally touch the buds, but here I can turn off the Touch Switch Control.
Lab Features
There’s also an in-ear detection feature, which automatically pauses music when the buds are removed and resumes when they are put back in.
More Features - White Noise
This is another appreciated feature that some of us may find beneficial, especially if you’re a fan of nature and relaxing sounds. It offers a variety of sounds you can mix, like birds chirping, footsteps, and different ambient nature sounds.
The Sound
The i5 has a mild V-shape sound signature. Although the stock eartips aren’t terrible, I recommend changing them to aftermarket ones to improve the sound even further. I tried different eartips, from Spring tips to HS18, I found the AEX50 from Acoustine to work best and it fits perfectly into the charging case.
The i5 offers 4 Super Master EQ options: {Pop, Hi-Fi, Rock, Light}
- Pop:
This is the most fun sound profile, with a very pronounced V-shape, and the bass and treble stand out. The upper mids has great energy, so female vocals are clear and open. There is a slight grainy with bad recordings, but it’s not too piercing, and it rarely occasions and i still find it enjoyable.
- Hi-Fi:
Sound almost same as Pop but with a bit tamer treble and upper mids, making it slightly warmer and more enjoyable for long listening sessions. this one honestly my favourite option.
- Rock:
This has the most balanced and most safer sound of all the EQ options, with tighter bass, more tamer treble even compared to Hi-Fi, but still enough energy in the upper mids to keep it from sounding dull.
- Light:
This changes the sound the most, but in not in a good way, imo. As the name suggests, it sounds “light”, with significantly reduced the bass. I can immediately hear shimmer since the only clear and empass sound is treble. It sounds too hollow on certain tracks in my opinion.
Overall
The overall impression of the Earfree i5 is generally positive, though not extraordinary. They strike a balanced middle ground, with bass and treble that aren't too boomy or overly bright. The bass is decent in both quantity and quality but lacks the refinement that would make it stand out. Similarly, while the treble avoids fatigue, it isn’t the most extended or intricate, but still enough crisps to keep things exciting... The midrange, however, is the standout—it’s the best they’ve tune in a TWS so far, with good vocal presentation and a balanced tonality that works well for both male and female voices. It doesn’t have the sharpness of the Ceramics X, yet provides better clarity than its predecessor, the i3.
They’re not the best for critical listening, as for me wireless primarily designed for mobility. But they are one of the best sounding options you can find within the price, especially if you change the eartips to something like the AEX50. While they lack some of the "Wow factor" of the latest wired IEMs within the price range, they offer a pleasant and well-rounded sound for everyday, wire-free use...
0 Comments