Sony Inzone H5 - Review

Gaming accessories are the most significant aspects that can significantly improve our gaming experience. These devices are the first things we focus on besides a game controller (or other input devices) after getting a new gaming console or a PC. While the list of gaming accessories includes a lot of dedicated devices such as gaming mice, mechanical keyboards, driving wheels, and more, audio accessories come on the top after the essentials.

Audio accessories like headsets, earphones, or speakers are among the most important equipment that can significantly improve the gaming experience of users. In certain types of game genres like FPS, headphones can be the difference between winning or losing.

In a rather crowded gaming headphone market, Sony recently launched its latest premium gaming headset, the Inzone H5. With this latest offering, the company is competing with a number of competitors like Logitech, HyperX, Audio-Technica, Corsair, Razer and more.

Is the Sony Inzone H5 worth your money? Let's find the answer to this question in our complete review below. However, before we get into the review of the headset, here are its specifications.

Sony Inzone H5 Specifications

Connectivity Options and Comfort

Starting with the features, you can use the gaming headset with either your PlayStation 5 or PC. Users have the choice to either use a 3.5mm headphone jack for a wired connection or use the included wireless transmitter to connect with their devices wirelessly. One should note that the wireless transmitter uses a USB Type-A port to connect with other devices.

I tried both methods to connect with my PS5 and PC and did not face any issues; connecting using the 3.5mm headphone jack is instantaneous and seamless. This is not to say that the wireless connectivity option is difficult, as it just takes a click of a button. However, I would have appreciated it if H5 came with Bluetooth connectivity and the option to connect to other Bluetooth devices.

After connecting and putting the headset on, I realised that the Inzone H5 are both lightweight and comfortable. This is likely due to the headband cushion and the soft nylon ear pads that allow you to keep the H5 on for hours at length without causing any real issues. The headset has a really snug fit over the ears, which stops any sound from leaking out. At the same time, this fit also works in the opposite direction by minimising any outside sound from coming into your ears. This makes your gaming and content consumption experiences more immersive.

Competitive, Narrative-Based Gaming Experiences and more

Now, coming to the experience of the headset while gaming, I tested out the Inzone H5 across 2 titles, Fortnite and Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut. I picked Fortnite first as it is a competitive online multiplayer game where you need to always be aware of your surroundings and your enemies. Here, a good headset is bound to give you an edge over your competition. The TLDR version of my experience is that the H5 is perfect for all your online competitive needs.

I appreciated three aspects of the Inzone H5 headset: first, the comfort and wireless connectivity for a seamless experience; second, the audio quality; and third, the low latency. The sound from H5 was crisp and clean, and you could easily hear any enemy that might be planning to ambush you.

Talking about the third aspect, the audio latency is very low, which ensures that there is close to no delay when the sound makes its way to your ears. While we didn't do any technical testing about it, I am sure that an online multiplayer game like Fortnite is a capable enough test to measure the latency.

Even with all these strong points, the Inzone H5 isn't perfect. I faced an issue while communicating with friends using the built-in mic. Here, many of them stated that my voice sounded like it was coming from an old transistor radio or an announcement from a cockpit; this isn’t ideal when you are trying to communicate the enemy’s position to your friends.

Coming to Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, I want to see if the headset was able to do justice to the incredible sound direction of this game, and the quick version is, "It is decent". The H5 is nothing out of this world, but it does provide a good low-end and a decent top-end in terms of audio frequencies. It can sound a little boxy at times, and the mids are slightly overexaggerated. However, it is certainly able to make up for this average performance with the 360-degree spatial audio feature.

I also noticed a similar experience with the headsets during casual music sessions. It was particularly noticeable with rap songs, as there was a slight distortion in the low end, but it had a moderately clear and open top end. It is certainly a fine pick for narrative-based gaming, but something that puts more focus on audio quality will be a better option. Instead, the Inzone H5 headset seems like a perfect fit for competitive gaming. However, we do hope that the issues with the built-in microphone are fixed soon.

Battery and Software Features

One of the standout factors about this headset is its battery life; without a doubt, it is out of this world. Sony advertises Inzone H5 with a battery life of up to 28 hours, and that is certainly true. During the time I tested out the headset, I hardly had to charge it. Besides, thanks to the USB Type-C port along with relatively speedy charging speeds, the actual charging experience is effortless.

The H5 works like bread and butter with the PlayStation 5. It also has some special features that can enhance the performance of the device on the console.

Beyond the console experience, the Sony Inzone H5 offers decent personalisation options for PC users through the "Inzone Hub" software. This software allows you to customise a whole range of sound and hardware settings so that you can tune it to your preferences. In addition, you must use this software to enable the "Spatial Sound" functionality on your PC.

Value for Money

Coming to the main question at hand, is it worth the asking price? The answer to this question is definitely subjective. The Inzone H5 Headset is available for INR 19,990; for that price, players receive several features that help with competitive gaming. However, that does not mean that it can be the go-to choice for everyone. The headset has definitely been priced on the more premium side, costing even more than the DualSense Edge Controller.

If you primarily play online multiplayer games, want a first-party accessory and can spend this amount of money, go ahead with the Inzone H5. Otherwise, if you are just a casual gamer who plays as a hobby, it would be ideal to opt for a more affordable pair of wireless gaming headsets. At the same time, given that H5 isn't perfect across the range, a cheaper price point would have made it more suited for a price-sensitive market such as India.