Finally here. Relaxed, standard wireless.

“They look just like the earphones that come with an iPhone,” says jazz singer akiko. Indeed, that’s a fittingly apt observation. akiko, who has used the bundled earphones with her smartphones, particularly the EarPods that came with her iPhone, over the years, made this remark.

“I use high-quality headphones in the studio, but when I’m out and about, I don’t fuss about it; I just use something that’s easy to wear and comfortable.”

That “don’t fuss about it” attitude is actually important. If you can’t use them without fiddling with settings, they lose their purpose. It’s more considerate to have them ready to use immediately, with “pre-adjustments” that strike a good balance. Moreover, since you carry them around, there will be times when you can’t handle them with care. In such cases, it’s easier if they’re durable enough not to worry about even if treated a bit roughly. In that sense, the earphones bundled with smartphones were the perfect answer.

However, since the year before last, a growing number of people have been switching to fully wireless earphones due to their ease of use. The convenience of listening to music, freed from the constraints of cords, is invaluable.

Against this backdrop, the “GLIDiC Sound Air TW-5000” has been introduced. This model meets basic performance standards equal to or exceeding those of previous smartphone-bundled earphones, while also pursuing cost performance by deliberately omitting high-end features found in audio manufacturer earphones.

Clear sound quality, simple operation, and call functionality. This marks the birth of a standard, feature-focused fully wireless earphone.


The planning and manufacturing are by SoftBank's mobile accessory brand. Not only is its reliability high, but the simplicity of pairing mode by simply removing the receivers from the charging case simultaneously, and then automatically connecting once paired, is superb. When worn, the multi-function button allows for full smartphone control, including track skipping, volume control, call reception, and Siri activation.

Furthermore, as expected from a carrier-backed product, the call quality is perfect. It’s truly a pleasure to hear the other person’s voice clearly. Repeatedly asking simple questions can be frustrating for both parties.

Page02.Simple & small housing, an adult's choice

Simple & small housing, an adult's choice

As you can see, the size when actually worn in the ear is also noteworthy. They don't stand out and fit snugly in the ear canal.

Of course, this compactness doesn't compromise sound quality. The quality of the “GLIDiC Sound Air TW-5000” is validated by its Gold Prize and Value for Money Award at “VGP2018,” Japan's largest audio-visual award.

Despite their small size, the housing fits the ear thanks to the organic curved shape of “Ultra Multi Fitting.” Four sizes of ear tips are included to fit into the ear canal. To maximize the characteristics of the canal type, particular attention has been paid to the fit.

akiko expressed surprise, saying, “The way it moderately blocks out external noise is completely different from earphones I’ve used before.” It seems this is akiko’s first experience with canal-type earphones that seal the ear canal like earplugs. She added, “I like the moderate sense of immersion it provides.”


On the other hand, the charging case is also quite small. This means it won't bulk up your bag or pocket. With approximately 3 hours of music playback on a single charge and 10 hours with the charging case, even with daily use for commuting, charging only once every few days is sufficient, making it excellent in terms of battery life.

Targeting the mid-range for casual use, yet equipped with all essential functions.
Yes, it's quite a smart choice.


GLIDiC Sound Air TW-5000

Pairing compatible devices | Smartphones and tablets with Bluetooth® function, and other Bluetooth® enabled devices with music playback and call functions.
Supported codecs | SBC, AAC
Number of registered devices | Up to 8
Continuous usage time | Music playback/Call time approx. 3 hours, Standby time approx. 150 hours, [With charging case] Music playback/Call time approx. 10 hours, Standby time approx. 500 hours
Charging time | Approx. 1.5 hours, Case approx. 2 hours
Product size | Approx. W25 x H23 x D17mm (earphone longest part)
Weight | Approx. 5.0g per side
Suggested retail price | 9,864 yen (tax included)