How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want true wireless earbuds with the latest Bluetooth LE Audio and a pocketable fit for music on the move, choose SoundPEATS Air5; if you need over-ear noise cancelling headphones with marathon battery and a big spatial soundstage for commuting or long work sessions, choose Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB.
• SoundPEATS Air5 — biggest strength: a genuinely modern in-ear audio package, with LDAC and aptX Lossless support, Snapdragon Sound certification, a 10mm bio-diaphragm driver, 55dB adaptive ANC and Bluetooth 5.4 LE Audio.
• SoundPEATS Air5 — biggest trade-off: it's a small in-ear bud, so battery life is quoted at around 7.5 hours per charge, and the true wireless format means more things to lose and keep charged.
• Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB — biggest strength: over-ear comfort and endurance, with up to 88 hours of playback (49 hours with ANC on), -49dB hybrid noise cancelling, spatial sound and LDAC Hi-Res audio.
• Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB — biggest trade-off: it's a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, and the over-ear design is bulkier than a pair of buds even though it folds.
• Pick SoundPEATS Air5 if you want the smallest, most feature-dense listening kit for commuting, workouts and calls.
• Pick Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB if you want maximum battery and over-ear immersion at your desk, on flights or through a full workday.
The Air5 is built around modern codec support rather than raw size. It carries Hi-Res Audio Wireless and Snapdragon Sound certification, and it runs on Qualcomm's S3 Gen 2 Sound Platform, which the spec sheet credits with an ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio and ultra-low distortion. In plain terms, that's a chipset aimed at clean, quiet backgrounds so detail in the music isn't buried. The 10mm composite bio-diaphragm driver covers a 20Hz–20,000Hz range with what the manufacturer describes as balanced tuning — punchy bass, natural mids, smooth highs.
Noise cancelling is where this one gets interesting for a bud. It lists active, adaptive and hybrid noise cancellation adding up to 55dB of reduction, plus AI wind noise reduction. That combination is the sort you'd normally associate with over-ears, and it's the reason I'd point a frequent flyer or a train commuter toward these. Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio and the LC3 codec also means lower latency, which matters if you watch video or game on your phone. The catch: with 7.5 hours of quoted battery life and a 7.5-hour charge time, this is a charge-often product, and the plastic in-ear build needs a secure fit to get the most from the ANC.
Buy the Air5 if you want a compact, codec-rich set of earbuds for music, calls, travel and workouts, and you value adaptive ANC in a tiny package. Skip it if you hate charging daily, want the airy feel of over-ear cups, or you mostly listen at a desk for ten hours straight.
The W820NB Plus Gen 2 is the endurance play. Edifier quotes up to 88 hours of playback, dropping to 49 hours with ANC engaged, and fast charging that gives 15 hours from a 15-minute top-up. That's the kind of number that makes it a genuine "charge it once a week" headphone rather than a nightly ritual. Its hybrid ANC is rated at -49dB with multiple modes, and switching between them is done with physical buttons — a small thing, but a real one when you're wearing gloves or walking with your hands full.
Sound-wise it stretches to 40kHz with LDAC Hi-Res support, and it adds spatial sound plus EQ presets through the EDIFIER ConneX app. The app also handles the Volume Guard feature, which caps your listening level — a sensible touch for anyone who listens loud for hours. For calls, AI noise cancellation isolates your voice from background noise, which is the spec that makes these credible for meetings and remote work.
The design is over-ear with soft memory foam cushions, and it folds for storage in a bag. Two caveats you should weigh honestly: this is a renewed unit, so it comes with a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full new-product term, and the over-ear format is warmer and bulkier than buds. Buy it if you want long-haul comfort, big battery and strong ANC for commuting, flights, office days and study sessions. Skip it if you need something sweat-friendly for the gym, or you'd rather not take on a renewed item.
• Best for battery life → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. Up to 88 hours (49 with ANC) versus roughly 7.5 hours on the Air5; there's no contest on endurance.
• Best for noise cancelling depth → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. Its -49dB hybrid ANC is the higher-rated figure here, with multiple adaptive modes.
• Best for compact, everyday carry → SoundPEATS Air5. In-ear buds slip into a pocket; the W820NB folds but still takes bag space.
• Best for the newest wireless standards → SoundPEATS Air5. Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio, the LC3 codec and Audio Sharing put it a generation ahead on connectivity features.
• Best for desk, flights and all-day wear → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. Over-ear memory foam cushions and spatial sound suit long, stationary sessions.
• Best for workouts and sweaty commutes → SoundPEATS Air5. A sealed in-ear bud with adaptive ANC handles movement better than over-ear cups.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → SoundPEATS Air5. A 1-year warranty versus 90 days limited on the renewed Edifier is a meaningful difference if something goes wrong.
• Best for wired listening → Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB. It has a USB-C connection; the Air5 is wireless only with no jack.
In my opinion, most people torn between these two should buy the Amazon Renewed Edifier W820NB — but only if the renewed status and 90-day warranty don't bother them. The battery, the over-ear comfort and the -49dB ANC are the three things that decide whether you actually enjoy using a headphone every day, and it wins all three clearly.
I'd choose the SoundPEATS Air5 instead if portability and codec modernity matter more to you than endurance. If you want buds in your pocket, LE Audio, and adaptive ANC without over-ear bulk, that's the one I'd hand you. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since renewed stock and earbud pricing both move around.
Not on the numbers. The Edifier lists -49dB hybrid ANC with multiple modes, while the Air5 lists 55dB of combined active, adaptive and hybrid cancellation. The formats differ, though — in-ear buds seal your ear canal, over-ears cover it — so the real-world feel depends on fit.
The Edifier quotes up to 88 hours of playback, or 49 hours with ANC on, and 15 hours from a 15-minute charge. The Air5 lists about 7.5 hours of average battery life with a 7.5-hour charge time. For endurance, the Edifier is far ahead.
Renewed means the item has been inspected and restored, and here it comes with a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full new-product term. If you're comfortable with that shorter coverage and want the W820NB's features, renewed can make sense. If warranty length is a dealbreaker, the Air5's 1-year coverage is the safer bet.
Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless are Qualcomm technologies, so their full benefits apply on supported Android devices. On an iPhone you'd fall back to standard Bluetooth audio, though the Air5's core features like ANC, touch controls and Bluetooth 5.4 still work.
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