Apple AirPods 5 Review: Top-Notch Earbuds with So-So Battery Life

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are widely regarded as some of the best, and I tend to agree with that assessment. But here’s the gotcha for many people: You have to wrangle their silicone tips into your ears, which helps with noise-cancelling but doesn’t feel great, especially for long periods. There’s also the “eww” factor when you take them out, because ear-wax.

Enter Apple’s non-Pro AirPods, specifically the new AirPods 5. These hard-plastic ‘buds lay gently inside your ears rather than screwing into them, yet somehow manage terrific sound and very effective ANC (active noise-cancelling). In fact, they’re even better at it than the previous model, despite arriving with a lower price.

So what’s the catch? Deciding which of the two versions to buy. (Spoiler alert: It’s a no-brainer, but read on for the details.)

What’s new in the Apple AirPods 5

The AirPods 4 came in two flavors: with and without ANC, priced at $179 and $129, respectively. With the AirPods 5, again there are two versions, but both have ANC. And again the starting price is $129, but the “pro” option here is just $149.

What does that extra $20 buy you? Plenty, starting with a case that supports wireless charging: Instead of having to plug in a USB-C cable, you can just lay the case on any Qi charging pad. It’s a simple convenience, but a convenience all the same. The more practical upgrade is the built-in Find My speaker; you can use Apple’s locator tool to make a misplaced case beep, just like an AirTag.

Second, you get volume controls on the stems of the earbuds; just swipe up or down to raise or lower it. This is a feature brought over from AirPods Pro, something that’s hard to give up once you’re used to it. I’m glad to see it here — but, again, it’s only on the $149 model.

Finally, the pricier AirPods 5 promise up to five hours of listening time, versus four hours on the cheaper ones. Neither runtime is great — many earbuds can last a lot longer on a charge — but it’s still a 25% bump for that $20.

Frankly, it’s weird that Apple even bothered with two versions of the AirPods 5, they’re so close together on price. I love that the higher-end SKU dropped $30 compared with AirPods 4, but why not lean into that and make the lower-end $99? (Apple really should consult me on this stuff.)

Bottom line: Get the $149 AirPods 5. Don’t even consider the other ones unless they drop to $99 for, say, Black Friday. (A real possibility, by the way.)

AirPods 5 sound quality and ANC

Audio performance is such a subjective thing; what sounds great to my ears might not sound so great to yours, and vice-versa. All I can tell you is that I thought the AirPods 4 delivered extremely good audio — pleasant, well-balanced, crystal-clear — and I can definitely say the same for AirPods 5.

Do they rival, say, the AirPods Pro 3? Not quite, because their more “open” design — they don’t use the aforementioned silicone tips to get a seal inside your ears — lets more outside noise in and reduces that “sound coming from inside your head” experience. It also results in less bass. What’s more, I can’t definitively say the AirPods 5 sound better than their predecessor, despite the “redesigned acoustic architecture.” To my ears they’re just as good.

Similarly, while Apple promises “up to 1.5x more active noise cancellation than AirPods 4,” that’s a hard claim to verify without fancy testing equipment. I relied on my decidedly unfancy ears, which couldn’t tell much difference when I was out walking the dog, parked next to a loud fan, or trying to overcome office noise. The ANC here remains remarkably good given the open design, but it’s still not on par with AirPods Pro 3 and other in-ear earbuds.

That means in really loud environments, like on an airplane, you’re not going to get the same blissful levels of quiet. But for everyday situations, you can definitely enjoy greater peace.

And if you’ve never experienced Apple’s spatial audio, you’re in for a treat: It keeps the sound at a fixed point, creating an amazing sense of realism. This is best when you’re watching a movie or TV show; when you turn your head, the sound still seems to be emanating from your phone (or tablet) screen. Very few earbuds at this price point even offer this feature, which I adore.

What Apple got wrong in the AirPods 5

I already noted battery life; it’s oddly short, especially considering that AirPods Pro 3 can last up to eight hours with ANC enabled, and some competing earbuds are good for even longer.

And speaking of battery, I dislike the way the case shows charging status: Its tiny LED lights up briefly when you first start, but then goes dark. The only way to know if it’s done charging is to check it with your phone or tap firmly in just the right spot on the front of the case. (Even then, the LED doesn’t always illuminate.) Why doesn’t it stay lit while charging and turn off when it’s done? Like pretty much every other set of earbuds? Come on, Apple.

Meanwhile, there’s no actual pairing button on the case, so if you want to connect the AirPods 5 to second device, you have to double-tap — again in just the right spot, with no indication on the case where that actually is — to put it in pairing mode. What was wrong with the button?

Finally, if you’re looking for Apple’s highly regarded hearing-assistance features, you won’t find them here. For now, they remain available only in the AirPods Pro.

Should you buy the Apple AirPods 5?

If you’re an Android user, no. While you can pair AirPods with an Android phone, you’ll lose out on a lot of its best features.

If you’re on the Apple side of things, however, these are arguably the best earbuds to get for your iPhone, iPad, and/or Mac. They sound great, they deliver surprisingly robust ANC, and they’re cheaper than last year’s higher-end AirPods 4.

The only real consideration here is fit: If you have especially large or small ears, these AirPods may fall out too easily or feel a little too snug. But that’s often the case with earbuds. If you can, visit an Apple Store and test-drive them before buying.

Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

PROS:

• Great sound, improved ANC
• Priced $30 below AirPods 4
• Charging case includes Find My speaker
• Volume controls on stems
• Improved battery life
• Superb spatial audio

CONS:

• Battery life still not great compared to other earbuds
• One size doesn’t fit all
• No hearing-assistance features

💡 VERDICT: If you hate screwing earbuds into your ears but don’t want to sacrifice great sound and active noise-cancelling, Apple has crafted a superb answer — at price that’s $30 below the last one.