The itel Buds Air 5e (IEW-52) is a budget true wireless set. It uses Bluetooth 5.4 and gets roughly 7 to 8 hours of playback per charge, with up to about 39 hours in total when the charging case is included. The earbuds are lightweight, charge over USB-C, and are tuned around a "Deep Bass" sound signature. Spatial audio is also part of the feature list, though as you'll see below, it doesn't add much.
Build Quality
Build quality is fine for the price, with one clear weakness: the charging case scratches easily, so expect visible wear if it lives in a pocket or bag without protection. The earbuds themselves hold up better. With an IP54 rating, they handle sweat, light rain, and dust, which makes them practical for workouts and daily commutes.
Battery Life
Battery life is the standout. A single charge gets you through a full day of listening, and the case stretches that into days of use before you need a wall outlet. At this price point, few rivals match it, and it's the main reason to consider these over similarly priced options.
Controls
Controls are okay but limited. There is no companion app, so everything is done through the buds themselves, and there's no way to remap gestures, adjust an EQ, or customize anything. What you get out of the box is what you live with, so it takes a little getting used to, especially when you're mid-listen and don't want to fumble with touch inputs.
Sound Quality
Audio quality earns a 7/10 when you factor in the price. Classic mode sounds fine for casual listening but lacks richness, with a thin, flat quality that won't impress anyone used to better earbuds. Spatial audio is essentially useless here, adding little beyond a slightly processed feel. Deep bass mode is the deal-breaker, in the good sense: it brings real punch and weight to the low end, and it's what makes these earbuds worth buying for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, afrobeat, and EDM.
Verdict
The Buds Air 5e is a solid budget pick if you care about battery life and bass above all else. Skip it if you want app support or a more refined sound.
