Vivo has quietly built a credible audio lineup alongside its phone business, and its latest earbuds suggest the company is serious about competing on specs, not just price. The Vivo TWS 5 earbuds, reported by NotebookCheck, arrive as successors to the TWS 3 from 2022 and bring a notable jump in noise cancellation performance, Bluetooth Multipoint for up to three devices, and a dedicated Hi-Fi version. For now, they are only available in China, with no confirmed global launch.
The earbuds come in two versions: a standard TWS 5 at CNY 399 (around $56 or €48) and a Hi-Fi version at CNY 499 (around $70 or €61). Both share most of their core specs, but the Hi-Fi edition adds LHDC 5.0 support, which matters if you are using a phone with a MediaTek Dimensity chip. Vivo says it worked directly with MediaTek to get lossless playback working on those devices.
At this price point, 60dB of adaptive ANC is an aggressive claim. Most earbuds in this range top out at around 40 to 45dB. Whether real-world performance lives up to that number is something only proper testing can confirm, but the spec alone puts the TWS 5 on paper with earbuds that cost significantly more.
Both versions share the same core design: an angled in-ear fit with a stem, a glossy body, IP54 dust and water resistance, an 11mm dynamic driver, and a ceramic tungsten acoustic diaphragm. Each earbud has four microphones, which Vivo uses for both the ANC system and AI-assisted call noise reduction that the company claims blocks up to 99% of wind noise.
The audio specs are solid across the board. Both versions are Hi-Res Audio certified and support LDAC. They were tuned in collaboration with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Vivo’s own Golden Ear acoustics team. Other features include:
- Three selectable ANC levels
- Spatial Audio support
- 10 customizable EQ bands
- 42ms low-latency gaming mode
- Live translation
- Adaptive Audio, which adjusts playback based on ear canal shape
- Touch controls
The three-device Bluetooth Multipoint is one of the more practical additions here. Most competing earbuds at this price only support two simultaneous connections, and many mid-range options from bigger brands still cap at two. The TWS 5 uses Bluetooth 5.4 LE rather than the newer 6.0 standard, but the three-device support works across platforms, including Apple devices. When paired with a smartwatch, the earbuds can relay call and message notifications and even read messages aloud. They will also alert users if their heart rate spikes.
Battery life is reasonable. With ANC on, each earbud lasts 6 hours, with the case extending that to 24 hours total. Turn ANC off and those numbers double to 12 hours per charge and 48 hours with the case. That puts the TWS 5 ahead of many competitors when ANC is disabled.
The TWS 5 comes in Simple White, Pure Black, and Slightly Smoky Purple. The Hi-Fi version is available in Simple White and Deep Sea Blue. The pricing sits in a competitive bracket where Sony, Jabra, and Samsung all have offerings, though typically without the same feature density at this cost. If the performance matches the spec sheet, Vivo may have a genuine value story here, assuming it eventually brings the TWS 5 to markets outside China.