Sony announced the Inzone series of gaming headsets for PC and PlayStations gamers, offering headphones across multiple price points. The company recently sent us the Inzone H5 for review which promises to offer some great features at a mid-range cost. 

The H5 is the latest headset that joins the existing H3, H7, and H9 models. It is wireless like the H7 and H9 and is quite capable for its sub-20,000 INR price tag. I have a lot to say about the Inzone H5, so let’s get right into it.

Note: My review comprises of my experience on a Windows PC.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

What’s in the Box?

  • Sony Inzone H5 Gaming Headset
  • 1x USB Type-C cable
  • 1x USB Transceiver
  • 1x 3.5mm headphone cable
  • Reference Guide

Sony Inzone H5: Design

As per official notes, the Sony Inzone H5 headset weighs just 260 grams. The left earcup features a USB-Type C port for charging with an LED indicator as well as a flip up microphone (non-detachable) and a volume slider. Meanwhile, the right side has the power button and the Game/Chat mix button. I have used wired headphones for gaming primarily and the shift to this wireless has been a solid experience so far.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

The H5 is light and comfortable on the head. This is thanks to its plastic body that has a minimalistic design. Although the body doesn’t feel premium, it is robust and doesn’t seem flimsy at all. It also comes with a matte finish and I reviewed the black color option (I highly recommend the White variant). Often I found myself getting up to get something, without taking off my headphones since they felt so seamless. I’d walk out of the room while on Discord, still talking to my friends as I grab a quick bite or get some water.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

Going back to my wired headphones is going to be difficult since the H5 has spoiled me now. A thick and comfortable padding can be found on the headband while the earmuffs are made from a soft fabric material. I did not experience any kind of discomfort even after wearing these for hours on end. Gaming sessions can be long and I usually wear headphones for music while working, meaning this comfy design was highly appreciated. You can even adjust the headband to fit any head size and a quick tap on the power button tells you the remaining battery life.

Sound Quality & Gaming Experience

Being a gaming headset, the primary focus is on the gameplay experience. Sony is a veteran in the audio segment and their expertise is hinted at in uses outside of just video games. I will admit it’s not the best for audiophiles, but there’s decent and balanced bass with clear mids and trebles. Sony Inzone H5 features 40mm drivers with a frequency response ranging from 5Hz to 20kHz. Listening to music was surprisingly a pleasant experience but I recommend getting the Inzone Hub app.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

If you’re looking to personalize the experience, this app lets you tweak the sound profile and I suggest you download it with any Inzone headphones. It offers a Flat, Bass Boost, and Music/Video presets along with a Spatial Sound toggle, Dynamic Range Control, and Microphone settings. This app isn’t required but does get you access to a bunch of key features of the headphones. With this out of the way, we can finally talk about gaming.

In tactical shooters like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, this gaming headset came in clutch! Crisp sound paired with spatial audio support had me being accused of wallhacking. I could hear the sounds of enemy footsteps down a hallway with ease, getting a general idea of their location. Sound design in modern video games is a work of art but not all gaming headphones let you properly experience them.

This is where the Inzone H5 comes in. It had me return to some beloved franchises to relive the experience with better sound quality. The high dynamic range elevated the audio experience on titles like Metro Exodus, Hogwarts Legacy, Ready or Not, and many more.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

Having the Game/Chat mix on the headset lets you quickly switch focus between the game or the voice chat when you’re playing multiplayer games and the ease of volume controls helps for quick audio level adjustments. Low latency is a must with wireless gaming headsets and I never faced any delays or lag between the audio and visuals during gameplay. 

Setting up the headphones was also a breeze with its plug-and-play experience letting you instantly jump into a game on any Windows laptop or desktop. Its wireless range is also commendable as I found myself doing random chores around the house or getting some fresh air while wearing these without any issues. 

Battery Life, Mic Quality, & Connectivity Options

Sony promises up to 28 hours of battery life on the Inzone H5 headset and I easily managed to get over a day’s worth of playback. Thankfully, the USB Type-C charger offers fast charging with just 10 minutes of charge enabling another 3 hours of playback. I couldn’t confirm this claim outright, although the quick charge was pretty handy.

Sony Inzone H5 Review

The wireless headphones checks just about every box but there is always an Achilles heel. For the Inzone H5, the microphone is the only area that I felt could be improved. To be fair, the mic is decent and clear with AI noise suppression being a bonus. However, the audio quality is a bit lacking for this price. My voice appeared muffled at times and cheaper headphones in India have outclassed the microphone quality. 

Sony Inzone H5 Review

For connectivity, you can connect the headphones to a 2.4GHz USB Type-A dongle that also has a slider that lets it connect to both PC and PS5/PS4. Unfortunately, Bluetooth connectivity is missing on the H5. It would’ve made the headset more versatile and we can only hope that its future generation ships with it. Users can connect it to the PC through a 3.5mm audio jack for the wired mode. 

Conclusion

To sum things up, Sony’s Inzone H5 is a great wireless headset for gamers. Its build quality ensures a light, seamless, and comfortable experience. Overall audio quality was decent and gaming with these was great. Bringing Bluetooth support and a better microphone could greatly improve the experience for future generations as well. 

The official Sony India website lists this model for 19,990 INR MRP, but it can be found on Amazon for around 15,000 INR. I can easily recommend this to gamers who are looking for a wireless headset. At this price range, it isn’t exactly affordable. However, the H5 is a great buy for the specs and features it brings. I already use a wireless gaming mouse and the Sony Inzone’s offering has me considering a wireless upgrade for headphones as well.

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