China-based audio company Fiio has released many Bluetooth adapters, but the Fiio FW5 is its first True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones. The design and audio quality are unmistakably Fiio. It's a promising first release, and is reasonably priced at S$239.
Quick specs
- 1x 10mm dynamic driver and 2x Knowles balanced armature drivers
- Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
- 7 hours battery life, 21+ hours battery life with case
- IPX4 water resistant
At first glance, these are pretty big for TWS earphones, thanks to the three drivers. Good thing that the large, semi-open body helps to give an impressive soundstage for a TWS. The Fiio FW5 is also waterproof (rated at IPX4), so no worries if you dunk it into water.
The Fiio FW5 sound really good. Audio is smooth and warm, with a good bass thump and just enough rumble to keep things enjoyable. Mids and highs have good separation and great clarity, though for some tracks the highs might be a little too piercing for regular listening. If you’re sensitive to highs, you can use the Fiio Control app to adjust the EQ, and bring down the highs — or push up the bass if you’re a basshead. The app also allows you to adjust other things, like game mode which reduces latency at the cost of battery life.
Instead of the touch controls popular in some TWS, the Fiio FW5 eschews them for physical buttons. Once you get the hang of them, they’re easy to use and aren’t over-sensitive. And if you’re wondering, phone calls sound good. The case, though, is pretty nondescript, and feels a little cheap. I wish it could have been slimmer, but the earbuds themselves aren’t the smallest. Like most other TWS at this price range, the Fiio FW5 doesn’t come with premium features. There's no active noise cancelling, but it’s not a big deal if you get a good seal. And Fiio provides a range of options for eartips so you shouldn’t have to worry.
Fiio has previously released Bluetooth adapters for earpieces, but as their first full-fledged TWS, the Fiio FW5 is a great first step. Sound-wise, they are a very good pair of TWS — especially for S$239 (and you can find it for cheaper) — with all the pros and cons of the Fiio sound and its fairly large design. At this price you can’t go wrong with the FW5, though the Final ZE3000 is still my preferred pick. Still, I can’t wait to see what Fiio comes up with next. Get the FW5 now on Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon SG.
Note: Review unit provided by Fiio.
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