AirPods 5 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?

Apple's AirPods 5 bring Active Noise Cancellation to its $129 earbuds for the first time. The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add longer battery life, volume controls on the stems, and a case speaker for Find My. The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249. The ‌AirPods 5‌ arrived in September 2026, a year after the AirPods Pro 3. They continue to narrow the feature gap between the devices, but the Pro model still offers a sealed in-ear fit, substantially better noise cancellation, and hearing and workout features. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you. ‌AirPods 5‌(2026) ‌AirPods 5‌ with Wireless Charging Case(2026) ‌AirPods Pro 3‌(2025) Open-ear fit without ear tips Open-ear fit without ear tips In-ear fit with foam-infused silicone ear tips in five sizes Optical in-ear sensor Optical in-ear sensor Skin-detect sensor Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation In-ear Active Noise Cancellation; up to 3x more effective than ‌AirPods 5‌ Force sensor controls Force sensor controls with volume swipe Touch controls with volume swipe Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection, Automatic Conversation Boost, and Loud Sound Reduction Heart rate sensing during workouts Up to 4 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC Up to 5 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC Up to 8 hours of listening time on one charge with ANC Up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC using the case Up to 22 hours of listening time with ANC using the case Up to 24 hours of listening time with ANC using the case Case charges via USB-C Case charges via USB-C, Apple Watch charger, or Qi charger Case charges via USB-C, Apple Watch charger, Qi charger, or MagSafe charger Speaker in case for ‌Find My‌ Speaker in case for ‌Find My‌ Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in case for Precision Finding with a compatible iPhone Charging case is 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) wide Charging case is 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) wide Charging case is 2.45 inches (62.2 mm) wide and has a lanyard loop Starts at $129 Starts at $149 Starts at $249 The ‌AirPods 5‌ with Wireless Charging Case are the best choice for most buyers. For $20 more than the base model, you get an extra hour of listening time per charge with ANC, volume swipes on the stems, wireless charging, and a speaker that makes a misplaced case easier to find. Choose the $129 model if the lowest price matters most and you are content with its shorter battery life and USB-C-only charging case. However, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are worth the extra $100 over the higher-end ‌AirPods 5‌ if noise cancellation is your priority and you prefer a snug in-ear fit. Apple says they provide up to three times as much ANC as the ‌AirPods 5‌, since the ear tips create a physical seal. Their eight-hour listening time per charge is particularly useful on long journeys. In our hands-on testing, the ‌AirPods 5‌ sounded muddier than the Pro 3, particularly in the lower midrange. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are also the clear choice if you want their hearing health features or heart rate sensing during workouts without relying on an Apple Watch. Their charging case adds Precision Finding, too. If you dislike silicone ear tips, the ‌AirPods 5‌ let you keep the open-ear fit while getting nearly all of the everyday listening features shared by the Pro model. AirPods frequently receive discounts from third-party retailers, which can narrow the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌'s $100 list-price premium over the $149 ‌AirPods 5‌. Check the latest prices using our Deals roundup before buying. Popular StoriesApple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and MoreWednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by Jordan GolsonApple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware With iOS 27 FeaturesMonday September 14, 2026 11:42 am PDT by Juli CloverApple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware is available for all of the above devices, and it will enable support for new iOS 27 features. The firmware has a build number of 9A348. In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface, a slider for Adaptive mode, and support for custom EQ....Beyond iPhone 18 Pro: AirPods 5 in September, iPad Mini With OLED Display in OctoberIn his newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that AirPods 5 will be released as early as this September, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, a foldable iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 12, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Apple is holding an event on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. He also reiterated that he expects an iPad mini with an OLED display and...