AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: with ANC this good, why pay more for AirPods Pro 3?

TechRadar Verdict Apple's AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging are powerful little ice-white sonic bullets and no mistake. They add wireless charging support to a leveled up case that can now also make cute (and actually, helpful) noises. Moving on to the buds, when paired to my iPhone 15 Pro, there's the addition of decent volume-swipe stems and a vastly improved ANC performance. Sonically, I have very few complaints about the zealous music, especially when using Apple's famed head-tracked Personalized Spatial Audio. Head gesture support, an excellent Conversation Awareness perk and decent Live Translation complete a hugely value-conscious offering. The one fly in the ointment is the continued, woefully low battery life. Yes, the quoted stamina is an hour better than the basic AirPods 5, but at up to five hours with ANC, these wireless earbuds are not winning any awards for longevity — especially when we know that every time we charge such juice-packs, it affects their lifespan. Why? Because charging and keeping lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries at high states of charge, which is what I'd do here (if it's only five hours, I want every one of them before a trip), accelerates chemical ageing and permanently degrades performance. It's the one reason I cannot give these AirPods, which I'd love to call the 5+ to save my word-count, the full five marks. Reasons to buy +Vastly improved ANC +Absolutely tiny charging case +Fuss-free fit; stuffed with features +Live Translation adds value Reasons to avoid -Poor battery life -Occasional iOS device-switching snafus Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Apple's second-cheapest new AirPods are a fantastic little buy. But you'd be forgiven for overlooking them given Apple's curious naming strategy. After all, the last time Apple unveiled two sets of entry-level AirPods, one had ANC and the other didn't — easy to work out where the extra money went there. But with AirPods 5, both the base model and the step-up option tote ANC. So what's the deal?It's not as simple as it first appears. As the name implies, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging offer a better case that charges wirelessly. But what the name doesn't tell you is that here there are a few other perks the cheaper model lacks, which I think makes this set far worthier of the nominal extra fee.Said case also includes a speaker for audible pairing status pings and Find My help, for instance, which you won't get with the cheaper set. Then, there's the force sensor with volume swipe functionality in both stems, for playback and call handling. To clarify, you can't change the volume on-ear with the cheaper model, which for me is a huge deal — as a woman who often commutes alone at night, I don't want to be digging my phone out if I don't have to, thank you very much.Latest Videos FromTechRadarLastly, there's an extra hour's playback available to you in this model, with ANC deployed. Don't get overly excited; said figure is only upped to five hours from the buds (or up to 22 with the case) from four and, for me, this is AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging's biggest issue. Almost any price-competitive rival can beat that, in 2026.But now that I'm done with my main criticism, let's get to the praise — there's plenty of it. Some of the best budget earbuds around? Oh definitely. For iPhone owners, there's nothing else that can cut through the noise for this money. (Image credit: Future)More on differences between AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless ChargingKicking things off with their design, the case is tiny. I've put it next to my regular reference Technics EAH-AZ100 below, but even that doesn't really do its neatness justice. The magnets also snap shut reassuringly so you won't lose an earbud; I've slung this charging nest in my pocket for a few weeks now without issue.The buds are Apple's open-fit option (think a much-tweaked update on the company's wired EarPods) so there are no ear tips to switch out. You either love this design or hate it. I love it since it means the buds sit slightly less intrusively in the ear, with no 'twist to lock' screwing them into my ear canals to contend with. However, I wouldn't recommend this slightly more relaxed fit for energetic sports use. AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging are secure in the ear, but only to a point. Why? Because you're not creating a seal between a silicone ear tip and the skin of your ear canal.Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxSign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.Also, I occasionally found switching between iOS devices, even using the same Apple account, wasn't as seamless as billed. I actually had to reset them once (it's simple, you just double-tap the front of the case a few times, 'til the light glows orange) and even then, the promised pop-up telling you, 'AirPods used on another device. Connect?' isn't always forthcoming. It's a small issue at this level but still, it's my job to notice. (Image credit: Future)Another note on the buds: I find that making a 'pinch' shape with my thumb and index finger to swipe up or down along the indent/force sensor of the stem is the best way to change the volume on these particular AirPods. Apple suggests keeping your thumb on the bottom of the stem to steady them, then swiping up using only your index or middle finger. What I'm trying to say is, there's a knack to this and you need to find your own path with it, but it'll be worth the rehearsal.Said stems also can be squeezed in a more traditional way, to perform every action you'll want. To play or pause audio, you press a stem once; to skip forward (next track) you double-press a stem; skipping back (previous track) is a triple-press. You can also press a stem when a call comes in to answer it, press and hold to summon Siri (or not, in your settings), start a Live Translation by pressing and holding both stems, or scroll through Noise Cancellation profiles with a press and hold of one stem.It's a comprehensive solution — and since I've just hit on Live Translation, let's send some more praise that way, shall we? (Image credit: Future)Thanks to the inclusion of Apple's H2 chip, not only do these buds offer Personalized Spatial Audio, you can also chat about the bus timetable in Northern Spain with a local Asturian. You'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer and you need to download certain language packs (one for the prep-and-packing stage of your trip, rather than when you're on vacation and without wi-fi) on iOS 26 or later with Apple Intelligence turned on. It's largely a case of opening the Settings app on your iPhone, tapping your AirPods, tapping 'Live Translation (Beta)' and going from there, but worth knowing you can't simply have it from the box.Once up and running, though, it's a dream. I used it with ANC on and Conversation Awareness also toggled on (this, while not exclusive to AirPods 5, is an excellent feature that lowers your music's volume and pipes in external voices when you start speaking). I happen to have a partner who speaks fluent Spanish. Squeeze both stems of the AirPods 5 and behold! See some snippets of our conversation, which is also piped into the buds vocally with very little lag. Image 1 of 8 (Image credit: Apple) I mention my conversation with my partner because, when I deployed ANC to try to talk to him (in either of its Adaptive or Regular variants) I simply couldn't hear his voice. It was quite astonishing. I cannot explain the wizardry Apple's invoked to make the ANC 50% better over the AirPods 4 any more than I can explain the driver size under the hood, because Apple hasn't said. But I can at least vouch for the truth in the company's statement. Most household noises, street life or hubbub of your everyday will melt away here at the tap of a finger, if you want them gone.Call handling? Good and clear during my testing, both for callers and for me, the wearer. Head gestures regarding said calls? They're fine, but you need to be quite animated with your head nods and I tend to operate on a more subtle level — when AirPods can respond to an eyebrow raise over who's decided to pick up the phone after all this time, we'll be in business.And sonically, they're a triumph for the level — yes, despite their lack of hifalutin codec support. Fontaines D.C.'s Six Shot Morning is as darkly vivacious as it is foreboding, with Grian Chatten's oddly angelic bass registers coming in centrally and conveying knowledge that belies his years. In Brandon Flowers' Tiger's Blood there's a delightful accuracy to the various guitars in my left and right ear. Sure, they're not for critical listening — if you wanted flat, untouched detail you won't look to these earbuds — but for expanse, impetus and good old-fashioned fun, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging won't let you down. There's space around each musical instrument, underpinned by the kind of layering you'd normally find in much pricier options.Yes, if I switch out to my much pricier Technics buds, there's an extra ounce of detail to the intake of Flowers' breath or the inflections at the end of his new-found (to us) country vocal, but that's hardly a fair test. For an energetic listen that has you living in your head and reveling in music, these unassuming little Apple buds have really surprised me. And given my 'good, not fantastic' take on AirPods 4, I hadn't expected to like them as much as I do. Bravo, Apple.Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: price & release date$149 / £139 / AU$249Announced on September 9, 2026 (released September 18, 2026) This is 2026, I don't need to tell you that there's a lot of competition at the $149 / £139 / AU$249 level for a set of wireless earbuds.And it's not just 'traditional' sets now, open earbuds such as the similarly priced Sennheiser Accentum Clip are taking up a significant chunk of the market too. And in the over-ear arena, the also-new Sony WH-CH730N can be yours for a little more or a little less, depending on where you live (at $179 / £99.99 / AU$229).In all honesty, Apple's closest competition here is probably its own entry-level AirPods 5, at a slightly cheaper $129 / £129 / AU$219 or possibly even its AirPods Pro 3, which will set you back a little under $249 / £219 / AU$429 now and add a heart-rate monitor, Apple's extensive Hearing Health suite and, er, ear tips…The bulk of this review should serve to explain why I think Apple's AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging outdo the former for sound-per-pound value. And unless you want to use them for workouts or for the excellent hearing-help tech, I'd even suggest you go for these over the Pro set. (Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Waterproof rating IP57 Drivers 'Custom high-excursion Apple driver and high dynamic range amplifier, powered by the H2 chip' Battery life 5 hours (buds, with ANC on, or 7 without ANC), up to 22 hours with charging case Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 Weight 4.3g (per bud) Frequency range 20Hz-20kHz (Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging? Swipe to scroll horizontally Attribute Notes Score Features At this level, there's nothing more you should reasonably expect — and ANC and Live Translation get special praise 5/5 Performance Sonically and for ANC I cannot pick fault here — but the disappointing battery life means they lose a full mark 4/5 Design Tiny case that makes sounds; gloriously fuss-free buds that fit well — unless you're doing more extreme sports 5/5 Value In every area except stamina, these buds are class-leading for iPhone owners 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future)Buy them if…You want the cheapest iPhone ANC aroundI know, I know. Before you write in: the basic AirPods 5 also tote ANC. But here, you get it for an extra hour — and believe me, it's so good you want that extra 60 minutes for a $20 / £20 surcharge. You think small is beautiful The case is remarkably pocketable, but it's neither flimsy nor insignificant. There's a beauty to the simplistic, function-first design here. You often start conversations while wearing your budsIn case I haven't emphasized the point enough, Apple's Conversation Awareness is beautifully implemented here. Pipe up and your music pipes down, while voices of others nearby are subtly amplified so you can hear them. (Image credit: Future)Don’t buy them if…You own an AndroidI hope it goes without saying, but I feel the need to say it anyway: these Apple buds are designed to keep you ensconced in an iOS ecosystem. Outside it, you'll be better served by products such as the slightly older Nothing Ear (a) or Earfun Air Pro 4 Plus. You want Apple's Hearing Health and heart-rate perksNo dice here, friend. If you're looking to get a handle on your heart-rate or would like to have your buds boost certain frequencies where you need them, you'll need to seek out Apple's AirPods Pro 3 instead.You want your earbuds to outlast a long-haul flightThe ANC will certainly be good enough to drown out cabin noise, but if you're flying from LAX to London Heathrow, their five-hour stamina means you won't get to use them for the duration of the flight without popping them back in the case for a charge (and thus, enduring a jolt back to reality). (Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging review: also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0 Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Apple AirPods 5 Nothing Ear (a) Price $149 / £139 / AU$249 $129 / £129 / AU$219 $99 / £99 / AU$169 (possibly even cheaper) Drivers Custom high excursion Custom high-excursion 11mm custom driver Waterproof rating IP57 IP57 IP54 buds / IPX2 case Battery life 5 hours (buds, with ANC; 7 hours without), 22 hours (with charging case) 4 hours (buds), 20 hours (with charging case) Buds: 5.5hrs (9.5hrs without ANC) Total with case: 24.5hrs (42.5hrs without ANC) Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC Weight 4.3g (per bud) 4.3g (per bud) 4.8g per earbud Frequency range 20Hz-20kHz 20Hz-20kHz Not stated (other than 5000Hz range) AirPods 5Apple's even cheaper AirPods 5 launched at the same time as the set you came here to read about. They are also open-fit earbuds (rather than the Pro's design that seeks to create a seal betwixt its ear-tips and your ear canal), and there's still ANC to block out the outside world. They’re just as waterproof as the set with wireless charging, at IP57, and they are beautifully lightweight as well. Again, non Apple-users may find their functionality limited, and their battery life is even more disappointing at only four hours. But if volume swipes on the stems, a chirpier case and an hour of extra stamina don't seem worth an extra $20 / £20, they could be for you. Read more about the Apple AirPods 5.Nothing Ear (a)They're a little older, but this simply means you'll likely get them for even cheaper than their $99 / £99 original asking fee. They're also gloriously good-looking and offer better stamina, especially if you switch off the ANC. Android owners will be happy to note that you get LDAC support too (none of that with AirPods) and although the noise-nixing isn't quite as good as Apple's latest batch of AirPods and you're sacrificing a waterproof design for a water resistant one, they're very nearly as energetic and engaging, sonically speaking. Read my full Nothing Ear (a) review How I tested Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging (Image credit: Future)Tested using an iPhone 15 Pro (running iOS 27.2) and MacBook ProStreamed Apple Music (with Spatial Audio and without) also Qobuz and TidalCompared against AirPods 4, Nothing Ear (a), AirPods Pro 3 and Technics EAH-AZ100I spent four weeks testing the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging, using a wireless charger to recharge (they juice up very well on it, too, although of course at a slower rate compared with direct USB-C charging) and streaming Apple Music tracks, a music platform of which I was an early adopter.As always, I used the TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to a lot of newer music — I don't know you, dear reader, but I know that human beings have vastly varied music tastes and all are valid here.I've been testing audio products as my full-time job since 2019, alongside occasional freelance jobs as a performer and dancer/singer. My love of music means I will never tire of trying to find the best audio kit to suit fellow music lovers, whatever their budget. Believe me, I have been a starving artist, too. Music always helps us get through challenging times.Read TechRadar’s reviews guaranteeFirst reviewed: October 2026 Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success. 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