Roseselsa Earfree i5 TWS

A solid sonic upgrade over the previous generation

The Roseselsa Earfree I5 TWS earbuds are the latest Earfree TWS model from Roseselsa and represent a major upgrade over the previous “Rose Technics Earfree i3” model. Note: Roseselsa is the new name for Rose Technics.

With the Earfree i5, Roseselsa have upgraded many aspects of the i3 design, but it is also now more expensive @ $59.99 compared to the i3 which is now reduced to $39.99, though the i3 did launch @ $49.99.

So does the extra cost make this new TWS as competitive as the previous model and most importantly do the sonic upgrades make the Earfree i5 a better sounding TWS?

Read on to find out.

Before we get into the upgraded features lets look at the unboxing experience.

Unboxing and Build Quality

The unboxing experience of the Earfree I5 is nearly identical to that of the i3 with a very nicely designed box:

Some useful information on the back - I will detail the specifications later in the review:

Opening the box you see the i5 case:

While it looks similar to the previous i3 case - it is better quality material and has a more premium feeling to hold:

Opening the case reveals the i5 TWS earbuds:

The usb-c charging connection and the bluetooth pairing button are on the bottom:
Note: A single charge is rated to provide 10 hours playtime, 50 hours in total with the charging case. And a 10-minute quick charge provides 12 hours of music playback, enough for a long flight.

Here is the Earfree i3 case (on the bottom) compared to the i5 case:

While they look the same the Earfree i5 case has a more premium feel and is slightly heavier but does have a larger battery:

So here is everything you get with the Earfree i5 (though Roseselsa do offer an option to buy more eartips):

Like the i3, the i5 case is well-designed, though the wireless charging option is not available with the i5 case.

Design and Comfort

The build quality of the Earfree i5 is exceptional, continuing the same premium feel and solid construction seen in the i3. The IPX5 rating ensures they are dust-proof and water-resistant, making them suitable for outdoor activities.

Roseselsa have nailed the ergonomics with the Earfree I5 offering a snug, comfortable fit that works well for long listening sessions. The earbuds are lightweight, and the silicon ear tips ensure a proper seal, which helps with both passive noise isolation and the overall audio experience.

Occasionally, with the previous model, the i3 would shift a little in my ear, and then I would lose both bass and that ANC seal and need to readjust the TWS, this has never happened with the updated design on the i5.

You can really see the different angled in those comparison photos including the “shape” required within each case is different:

The touch controls are responsive, and while the Roselink app allows for some customization, the touch controls remain basic. As with the i3, the touch controls are very functional but lack the high-end features, e.g. sliding the stalk for volume control.

Features

The feature set of the Earfree i5 remains solid for its price but without the significant leap many competitors have made in their companion apps or features.

Sonic upgrades

The i5 has a new driver compared with the i3 promising more expansive dynamics and less distortion. As you will see both in my subjective opinions and in the measurements section this new driver and the changes to the tuning make a significant difference to the high quality audio you get from the i5.

Roselink App

The Roselink App remains largely unchanged from the i3 model, offering basic functionality with some key features like ANC control, battery monitoring, and EQ preset selection.

You start with a list of your devices:

The main screen for the Earfree i5, where you can easily change the ANC options and get the battery levels of each earbud and the case:

Switching to LDAC (for much higher quality audio on Android) is super easy:

Switching to one of the 4 audio presets is also easy: Note: Much more information on these presents later in the review.

The app offers some nice configuration for the touch controls on each earbud:

There are some ’lab features’ which are effectively like beta tests for upcoming features. I enabled the “in ear detection” for a while, and mostly it worked well, though occasionally it would pause the music while I was out walking: You can configure the language:

And you can check for firmware updates:

The App still lacks more advanced features like parametric EQ (PEQ) or even a 10-band EQ, which have become more common in competitor models. That being said, the app is stable and easy to navigate, and the four EQ presets offer reasonable sound tuning options. The Hi-Fi, Pop, Rock, and Classical presets provide a good variety for most users, but those seeking more granular control may be left wanting.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

The ANC performance is good for the price and a little better than the i3, though some of that is because of better passive noise cancellation provided by the better fit of the i5, but it doesn’t compete with higher-end TWS models like the AirPods Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5. The hybrid ANC works well enough in everyday situations, such as commuting or working in a cafe, but struggles with higher-frequency noise and extreme environments but nothing like the “48dB noise reduction” promised.

Though, I felt the Transparency mode was significantly better with the i5 and one of the best I have heard in a sub $100 TWS set.

Microphones, Call Quality, Gaming and Other features

The microphone performance on the Earfree I5 is similar to the i3, delivering clear voice quality in quiet environments but struggling in noisier outdoor situations.

The Earfree i5 also has a Low latency ‘gaming’ mode providing 54ms latency for games (or even for perfect lip-syncing when watching movies).

The multipoint connectivity works well I used both my iPhone and Macbook Pro with the i5 and could easily switch between both devices.

Sound Quality

Where the Earfree I5 makes a noticeable improvement over the i3 is in its sound quality. Though subjectively for me there is a more V-shaped sound than the more balanced one offered with the i3. The treble especially was exceptionally detailed, though I imagine might seem a bit sibilant for some users depending on where in the treble region they are sensitive.

There are mainly subtle differences between 3 of the 4 profiles, with the Pop and Rock being slightly more V-Shaped than the more ‘balanced’ Hifi profile. But the new ‘Light’ profile is a strange one though (I imagine this might change in a firmware update) as it seems to remove most of the bass while not removing a balanced amount of the treble. I found this profile un-listenable as the “detailed” treble was overpowering everything else.

Because of this I mainly listened using the Hifi profile and my subjective opinions below are based on that profile:

Bass:

The bass is deep and controlled, providing a strong foundation without overwhelming the mids or highs. Tracks like “Xanny” by Billie Eilish benefit from the solid low-end, while still maintaining superb clarity in the vocals.

Midrange:

The mids are neutral and clear, with vocals and instruments coming through naturally. Female vocals, which sometimes felt recessed on the i3, are now more forward, giving tracks like “Sweet Painted Lady” by Elton John a fuller presence.

Treble:

The treble is greatly enhanced on the Earfree i5, with a fantastic Airy feel. So, what might be the “technicalities” are extremely detailed. But it does give the Earfree i5 a slightly unrealistic tonality, especially with the “light” profile. But on the hifi profile, songs like “Blackbird” from Beyonces new album where fantastic with various harmonies popping out with subtly details.

Soundstage and Imaging

Like the i3, the soundstage and imaging is very good for a set of TWS earbuds and I think fractionally better with that detailed treble allowing the individual instruments have their own space within the mix, enhancing that accuracy with the imaging.

Specifications and Measurements

Here are the updated specifications for the Rose Technics Earfree I5 over the i3:

So the output power and battery capabilities are the main differences with the i5 being better in both.

Measurements

Note: all these measurements were taken with my 711 clone coupler and are available on my graph measurement DB here

Frequency Responses

Let’s start with the frequency response(s) of the 4 profiles with ANC enabled:

You can see that the light profile is considerable different from the other 3 profiles. I also “heard” those treble peaks at different frequencies and hence why I think some people might find some sibilance with the treble response.

Then comparing 2 of these profiles with and without ANC you see there is a little lower midrange boost:

In fact the different ANC modes do not change the Frequency response much:

For those interested in more “Raw” measurements here are my REW measurements compared to Harman IE2019 (in Red):

As with the i3, the I5’s frequency response aligns reasonable closely with the Harman target, but with the bass response you get a slight midrange boost. The Hi-Fi EQ preset remains the best choice for a balanced V-shape sound, but other presets like Rock provide little tweaks to the bass, which some users may prefer.

Still I feel it’s a pity the Roselink App does not provide a 10 Band EQ or ideally PEQ capabilities.

Distortion

Distortion is mostly well controlled:

Though it does rise a little in that treble region:

Compared to the i3

You can see that the i5 has the smoother frequency response:

Compared to some other TWS

Since the price has increased a little with the i5 I think its worth comparing it with both the Moondrop Golden Ages and the Earfun Air Pro 4 which retail for maybe $10 more:

Compared to some popular IEMs

But I think this graph really shows the potential and how well the Earfree i5 is tuned - closely matching these 2 very highly regarded $100-$200 IEMs - though that treble response of the i5 probably lets it down a little in this unfair comparison:

Rating

Overall, the Roseselsa Earfree i5 is a pragmatic upgrade over the i3, offering better battery life and more robust build and some improved sound quality while maintaining the same solid feature set within the Roselink App, though the case is now missing the wireless charging option. The ANC and microphone performance remain good but not exceptional, and the Roselink app is a bit bare compared to some of the competitors Applications in this price range.

I have given the Earfree i5 a solid 4-star pragmatic rating, if a 10-band EQ or PEQ were added I feel those extra sonic tweaks would move the rather excellent hardware onto the next level and would allow the Earfree i5 to compete with $100 TWS sets.

Conclusion

The Roseselsa Earfree I5 delivers a solid, reliable ANC TWS experience, combining great audio performance, comfortable design, and an impressive feature set at a reasonable price. While it doesn’t revolutionize the market, it’s a highly recommended option for those looking to upgrade their audio experience without breaking the bank.

Given the slight price update and the fact the i3 is now available at an incredible $39.99, the i3 might now be the better deal but if you are looking for a solid TWS for $59.99 the i5 is a strong recommendation.