Can These Budget Wireless Headphones Compete With Premium Models Under ₹5,000?

In an increasingly crowded market of affordable wireless headphones, Noise has come out swinging with its Noise Airwave Max 5, a model that packs in a hefty set of features without stretching your budget. Priced under ₹5,000, these headphones promise an impressive 80-hour battery life, adaptive noise cancellation (ANC), and a low-latency gaming mode. But with so much competition at this price point, can they truly stand out? After testing them for over three weeks, here's what I found.

Unboxing the Noise Airwave Max 5: A Premium Touch

The unboxing experience of the Noise Airwave Max 5 immediately stands out for its attention to detail. The headphones arrive in a sleek black box that hints at a premium experience, even before you open it. Inside, you’ll find the headphones themselves, a Type-C to Type-C cable for wired listening, a Type-A to Type-C charging cable, and the usual documentation. It's a minimalist presentation that manages to feel quite high-end without going overboard.

While I received the white-colored variant for this review, the Airwave Max 5 is also available in Beige (my personal favorite) and Black, giving you a few choices to suit your style.

Design: Lightweight, Comfortable, and Durable

The first thing that strikes you about the Noise Airwave Max 5 is its full-plastic build. While that may sound like a knock on durability, the headphones feature a well-thought-out design with an adjustable headband, soft earcups, and metal-reinforced hinges that make them feel surprisingly sturdy. The ear cups are padded with a soft cushion that provides a decent fit for hours of listening, though I found that after about 2-3 hours, they could become a bit uncomfortable during intense workouts.

The headphones come with an IPX5 rating, which means they can withstand a few splashes of water, making them a good companion for gym sessions or light rain. However, while the headphones are fairly sweat-resistant, I did notice that they could get a bit slippery during more intense physical activities.

Buttons and Features: All the Controls at Your Fingertips

On the right earcup, you’ll find four buttons that handle the majority of your controls. Two are for volume adjustments, and a long press on either one lets you skip to the previous or next song. There's also a power button (which, when long-pressed, activates Google Assistant or Gemini), and a dedicated button for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

One nifty feature is the rotatable ear cups, which allow for a more compact fit in your bag, offering some protection from damage during travel. Still, a minor drawback is the somewhat unbalanced fit during intense workouts, especially as they tend to get sweaty and a bit slippery. It’s not a deal-breaker but could be a concern for those who plan on using these during rigorous activity.

Audio Performance: Solid, But Not Perfect

At this price point, audio quality is always a big question mark, and fortunately, Noise has managed to deliver a solid listening experience with the Airwave Max 5. The sound is crisp, with impressive highs and decent midrange vocals. The bass, while present, could be stronger. Bass heads may find this a bit lacking, but it’s a minor quibble given the price.

For gamers, the Noise Airwave Max 5 offers a dedicated gaming mode, which promises low-latency audio of up to 30ms. I tested this mode by playing fast-paced games like Call of Duty Mobile and Modern Combat 5. I didn’t notice any noticeable lag, and the sound was synced perfectly with the gameplay. That said, if you're a competitive gamer, you’ll still feel the difference compared to wired headphones, but casual players won’t have any issues.

Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode: Focused Listening

The real highlight of these headphones, though, is their adaptive noise cancellation (ANC). While not perfect, Noise claims the ANC can cut out up to 50dB of surrounding noise. And from my experience, it did a commendable job of blocking out typical office chatter and the hum of a nearby fan. It’s especially useful for work or study sessions where distractions are a constant threat.

However, extremely loud sounds like a DJ spinning at full blast or the blaring horns of rush-hour traffic do break through. The Ambient Mode, which is designed to let in surrounding noise for situational awareness, didn’t impress me much—it didn’t perform as effectively as I would’ve liked, but it’s a nice feature for those who want to stay somewhat aware of their environment.

Battery Life: Power to Last You Through the Week

One of the standout features of the Noise Airwave Max 5 is its battery life. Noise claims the headphones can last up to 80 hours on a single charge. While I didn’t hit that exact number, I can say that these headphones are incredibly reliable when it comes to battery life. Over the course of about 20-25 days of intermittent use (with ANC turned on), I only needed to charge them two or three times. That kind of endurance is tough to beat in this price range, and it means you don’t have to constantly worry about running out of juice during a long workday or flight.

The Misses: Lack of Hi-Res Codec Support and Customization

While the Noise Airwave Max 5 delivers great value for its price, there are a couple of areas where it falls short. Hi-Res audio codec support like LHDC and LDAC is missing, which means you won’t be able to fully experience the high-quality sound that some more premium headphones provide. If you’re an audiophile, this may be a dealbreaker.

Additionally, there’s no support for a dedicated companion app, which means you can’t customize the sound profile or tweak the EQ to your liking. This is a feature that many other headphones in the same price range offer, and its absence is noticeable.

Verdict: A Great Pick for Budget Shoppers

So, who are the Noise Airwave Max 5 headphones really for? If you’re looking for a reliable pair of wireless headphones for casual listening, studying, or working out, these could be exactly what you need. Their long battery life, adaptive noise cancellation, and comfortable fit make them perfect for daily use, especially if you’re not looking to spend more than ₹5,000.

However, if you’re an audiophile or need Hi-Res codec support and deep customization options, the Airwave Max 5 might not be the best choice. Still, for the price, it’s hard to find a better package, especially if you can snag them on sale for around ₹4,000-4,500.