Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: The Best TWS In-Ear Headphones of 2026

The king is dead, long live the king! With the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, unveiled in August, the manufacturer has claimed the throne as the best ANC in-ear headphones. This new version of the Momentum True Wireless 4 (our review) not only offers significant improvements in comfort and sound quality but also introduces a first: the batteries can be swapped out in both the earbuds and the charging case. Added to this are a redesigned, wingless housing, Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX Lossless, noticeably improved active noise canceling, and Dolby Atmos with head tracking.

Technical Specifications of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5

Design	Closed-back in-ear earbuds (True Wireless)
Driver	7 mm, TrueResponse transducer (dynamic)
Frequency Response	5 Hz – 21,000 Hz
Bluetooth Version	6.0, Class 1
Supported codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive (up to 24-bit/96 kHz), aptX Lossless, Snapdragon Sound
Multipoint connection	Yes
Additional Connection Features	Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, Robust Mode
LE Audio / Auracast	Hardware-ready, not enabled at launch
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes, adaptive hybrid ANC with automatic wind noise suppression
Transparency Mode	Yes, continuously adjustable
Microphones	8 MEMS microphones (4 per earbud) plus a bone conduction microphone on each side
Water resistance	IP54 (earbuds only; case not certified)
Earbud battery	72 mAh per side, replaceable
Charging case battery	760 mAh, replaceable
Playback time with ANC	Up to 6 hours
Playback time without ANC	Up to 12 hours
Total playback time with case	Up to 40 hours
Charging time (full charge)	Approx. 1.5 hours
Quick-charge feature	8 minutes of charging = approx. 1 hour of playtime
Charging	USB-C, plus Qi Wireless Charging 2.1
Charging power	5 V / 1,000 mA, up to 5 W
Earbud weight	Approx. 7 g each
Charging case weight	Approx. 55 g
Charging case dimensions	67.2 × 48.4 × 25.0 mm
Ear tips	Silicone, sizes XS/S/M/L, compatible with third-party tips
Colors	Graphite, Denim, Copper, Lavender, Cream
What’s Included	Earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, ear tips (4 sizes), battery replacement tool, quick start guide
Price	€ 299.00 *

Design, Comfort, and Fit

Visually, Sennheiser has really streamlined the MTW5: The eye-catching stabilizing fin from the previous model is gone; instead, the manufacturer has opted for a wingless, bean-shaped housing. The charging case has also been completely redesigned. It now stands upright, is significantly slimmer, and is therefore barely noticeable in a pants pocket. Instead of the fabric cover used in the previous generation, the new model features textured plastic, which felt pleasantly grippy in our test, though not quite as high-quality as the fabric cover on the MTW4.

The new form factor has had mixed effects on weight: The earbuds have become slightly heavier at about 7 grams each (the MTW4 weighed about 6.2 grams), while the case is noticeably lighter and more compact at 55 grams instead of 66 grams. In our everyday use test, the earbuds sat comfortably in our ears for several hours without causing any annoying pressure. Despite the absence of the flange found in the fourth edition, I find them significantly more comfortable to wear. Although, of course, that’s a matter of personal preference.

Important for practical use: The fit of the MTW5 clearly benefits from actually using the app’s built-in fit test feature. It took us several attempts before the fit was validated as optimal. Sennheiser itself points out that in its own user tests, 73 percent of participants found the new design more comfortable than the old model with the fin. We would definitely agree with that. To compensate, the MTW5 comes with four sizes of silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L), and thanks to the round nozzle shape, you can also use third-party tips.

Replaceable Batteries: The Key Feature in Detail

In our view, the most significant update compared to the predecessor isn’t found in the controls or the sound, but in the design: The manufacturer has built the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 so that the batteries can be replaced both in the charging case and in the earbuds themselves. For the case, the process is delightfully straightforward: Loosen a single Phillips-head screw (PH000) on the bottom, slide the base to the side, pull out the battery cell—done. That’s all it takes. With the earbuds themselves, a bit more finesse is required: Two tiny screws on each side must be loosened before the housing can be carefully prised open with the included tool.

For us, this is a feature that goes beyond the mere testing period: The most predictable cause of failure for true wireless earbuds—the deteriorating, built-in battery after a few years of use—is thus truly addressed for the first time, rather than simply being glossed over with marketing promises of sustainability. However, there is one drawback at the time of this review: The price for the replacement batteries had not yet been determined as of press time, and the parts were not yet listed in the German Sennheiser store at the time of this review.

How well this promise actually holds up in practice therefore also depends on how accessible and affordable Sennheiser ultimately makes the replacement parts. Still, a similar trend was already evident with its over-ear sibling, the Momentum 5 Wireless (our review), which also marked a noticeable step forward.

Features: Bluetooth 6.0, Codecs, and Connectivity

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 takes a noticeable step forward: Instead of Bluetooth 5.4 like its predecessor, it now uses Bluetooth 6.0 Class 1, which ensured a consistently stable connection in our test, even over greater distances from the paired device. In terms of codecs, the MTW5 offers a wide range of options: In addition to SBC and AAC, it supports aptX, aptX Adaptive with up to 24-bit and 96 kHz, as well as the new aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound. Important for anyone who values lossless playback: In our experience, Lossless and Adaptive modes should always be enabled together, as failing to do so can, in rare cases, result in unintended mono playback.

The multipoint feature has also proven handy in everyday use, allowing us to connect the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 to both a laptop and a smartphone simultaneously without having to manually reconnect when switching between them. Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair each completed the initial setup on our test devices in a matter of seconds.

A note for anyone who insists on the latest connectivity standards: According to Sennheiser, the hardware is already prepared for LE Audio and Auracast, but these features are not yet enabled at launch. The manufacturer attributes this to the still-limited market acceptance of the new standards. Those who frequently use the headphones in environments with heavy radio interference—such as conferences or open-plan offices—will also benefit from the switchable Robust Mode, which further ensures connection stability in such situations.

Battery Life and Charging in the Test

In terms of battery life, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 performs solidly for its price range, though it falls slightly short of its predecessor when active ANC is enabled: Instead of the MTW4’s roughly 7.5 hours, we achieved just over 6 hours per charge with the MTW5 with noise canceling continuously enabled—close to the manufacturer’s specification. Without ANC, our test results clearly approached the promised 12 hours. With mixed everyday use and varying ANC settings, we achieved a total of about 8.5 hours of playback time before we had to use the charging case. Together with the charging case, this adds up to a total of up to 40 hours, though in practice we had to recharge the case itself every few days on average.

The fast-charging feature is helpful for everyday use: In our test, just 8 minutes in the charging case provided about an hour of music playback. This is ideal if you’re running low on battery in the morning before leaving the house. A full charge from empty to full took us about 90 minutes. In addition to the standard USB-C port, the case also supports Qi Wireless Charging 2.1, so the MTW5 can be conveniently placed on a compatible charging mat.

App Integration: Sennheiser Smart Control Plus

We controlled and customized the MTW5 using the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app, which is available for iOS and Android. We found the Fit Test feature—which checks the earbuds’ fit and recommends a different ear tip size if needed—and the search function for misplaced earbuds particularly useful in everyday use.

One feature we haven’t seen in this form before (aside from Sennheiser) is Sound Zones: Based on your GPS location (with about 100-meter accuracy), EQ and ANC settings can be automatically linked to specific locations. For us, for example, this means a quieter, ANC-heavy setting for the office and a more transparency-focused one for the home office.

In terms of sound, the MTW5 can be fine-tuned via an 8-band equalizer with several editable genre presets, which proved to be a surprisingly effective tool in our test for adjusting the factory settings to your own taste (more on this in the sound section). The app is rounded out by controls for Dolby Atmos and head tracking, as well as automatic firmware updates, which ran reliably and without complications in the background during our testing period.

Sound Quality, ANC, and Microphones

In terms of sound, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 builds on the strengths of its predecessor while noticeably gaining in intensity and depth. With the factory tuning, we hear a rich, controlled bass that sounds organic—rather than boomy—even at very low frequencies. This is complemented by warm, lively mids with good speech intelligibility and present but not straining highs. When listening to pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, the tuning consistently impressed us during testing. Basslines and string instruments have enough body without overshadowing other frequency ranges.

Upon closer listening and in direct comparison with more neutral reference earbuds, we noticed that the sound signature can be slightly forward in the 200 Hz range, which occasionally makes bass-heavy recordings sound less airy. But that’s a detail most listeners are unlikely to notice. Even in the upper frequency range—roughly between 7 and 15 kHz—the sound can occasionally come across as a bit sharp or sibilant with very bright recordings or on cymbals and percussion.

Overall, though, it has to be said: The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 is one of the in-ear headphones with the best sound. It’s significantly better than the competition from Apple, Google, or even Sony. The sound comes across as much more refined and less intrusive than many other ANC earbuds with their out-of-the-box sound settings. In our experience, if you use the app’s built-in EQ function to specifically roll back the frequency ranges mentioned above, you’ll achieve a noticeably cleaner, more balanced sound.

The MTW5’s feature set also includes Dolby Atmos with head tracking. We were pleasantly surprised by how well it worked with movies and videos: voices, effects, and individual sound sources can be clearly distinguished from one another, while bass drums remain pleasantly defined rather than muddled. However, we still didn’t get the genuine sense that the sound was actually taking place outside our heads—as with most head-tracking implementations in this price range, the effect remains a supplement, not a replacement for true surround sound systems. When listening to music alone, the added value was noticeably less for us than when watching movies.

Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

In our opinion, the biggest improvement over the previous model is in noise cancellation. The adaptive hybrid ANC operates across a broad frequency range and, in our test, significantly reduced low-frequency background noise such as train or turbine noise. It’s noticeably closer to what we’re used to from Apple or Sony than its predecessor ever was. In direct comparison, reference models like the AirPods Pro 3 still had a minimal edge for us, at most, in the very low frequencies, while the MTW5 performs exceptionally well in the low and mid-frequency ranges. This is made possible, among other things, by automatic wind noise reduction as well as newly developed ear tips that provide a better passive seal, supported by a micro-perforated microphone cover that protects against wind turbulence.

Transparency mode also impressed us in everyday use, even if it doesn’t quite measure up to the best competitors: voices and ambient sounds are blended in pleasantly, naturally, and authentically, though a faint background hiss remains noticeable, especially in quiet environments. During conversations with Transparency Mode active, we also noticed that our own voice sounds particularly clear and not at all muffled.

When walking briskly with ANC or Transparency Mode active, we occasionally noticed a slight crackling sound during heavier footsteps—such as when walking downhill—caused by minimal loss of seal due to vibration. This isn’t a problem for everyday use in the office, on the train, or during a leisurely walk, but anyone who jogs frequently or is out and about in mountainous terrain should keep this in mind.

Microphone Quality and Call Performance in the Test

Our test impressions paint an overall positive picture when it comes to voice quality. In quieter environments like the office or at home, the people we spoke with consistently described the voice as natural and clear, with little to no background music from our test room being transmitted.

This is a good result, attributable to the eight MEMS microphones combined with the bone conduction microphone and AI-powered voice isolation. In noisier outdoor environments, such as a busy street, voice isolation in our test was noticeably less effective than with the best models in its price range. This is certainly sufficient for short, private calls on the go, but anyone who regularly takes important work calls from noisy environments shouldn’t expect miracles here.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: Conclusion

With the Momentum True Wireless 5, Sennheiser solves a problem that has plagued the entire true wireless earbud category for years: the built-in battery that inevitably degrades over time. The fact that the batteries in the earbuds and charging case can now be replaced is, by far, the most important innovation for us.

But the latest model has also made such significant technical strides that Sennheiser has truly earned its place at the top of the in-ear headphone market. Technical advances in Bluetooth, ANC, and sound quality demonstrate meaningful and significant improvements. In our real-world test spanning several weeks, we were particularly impressed by the combination of warm, powerful sound, significantly improved noise canceling, and the well-designed Smart Control Plus app.

On the other hand, those expecting maximum fit stability for sports and exercise, flawless voice quality in noisy environments, or LE Audio and Auracast right at launch will be reminded of the MTW5’s limitations in some areas. However, for anyone primarily looking for a future-proof, superb-sounding everyday companion with a genuine commitment to sustainability, the Momentum True Wireless 5 remains, in our experience, one of the most compelling models in its price range.