Apple AirPods 5 Review: Apple’s Iconic Earbuds Offer Small Boosts and Cost a Little Less

3 min readWhen they were announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, new Apple Watches, and the iPhone Duo, the AirPods 5 felt like a little bit of an afterthought. Compared to phones with new processors and foldable displays, the upgrades to Apple’s latest open-ear earbuds seem small but offer a more direct performance boost for fans of Apple’s basic headphones.Most notably, Apple has finally committed to making active noise cancellation (ANC) a standard feature across the line. With the previous model, Apple sold a version of the ’Pods without ANC for $129, and a mid-tier “with ANC” version for $50 more. Now, the same $129 gets you a “basic” pair of AirPods with ANC, but without some helpful features, like a speaker in the charging case to enable “Find My.” The “mid-tier” AirPods 5, which feature that speaker on the case, as well as slightly better battery life and touch-based volume controls à la AirPods Pro 3, are a better, cheaper option—only $149. The bottom line is, the good AirPods are now a bit cheaper, and if you have AirPods without ANC, it’s time to rectify that.ProsGreat noise cancellation for an open-ear setGreat, easily customizable soundLightweight and durableKey SpecsSoundCustom audio drivers, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, active noise cancellationDurabilityIP57 water- and dust-resistantBattery LifeUp to 7 hours, Up to 22 Hours (incl. battery case)OtherApple H2 chip, Siri AI integrationSo What’s Actually New With AirPods 5?Stefan VazharovThe AirPods 5 look like... Well, they look like every other pair of AirPods.You will need to pay close attention to notice the differences between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 5. Physically, they are nearly identical down to the 4.3-gram weight of each earbud. But you’ll feel the improvements as you use them. In addition to adding noise cancellation to the basic model, the ANC across both versions is substantially more powerful. Apple claims the cancellation is “50 percent” stronger. I won’t be that exact, but I can say they work pretty well, considering they don’t offer much in the way of passive noise blocking. They reliably tuned out most New York City subway noise and the constant clatter of my editor’s mechanical keyboard at the office.The new AirPods are also slightly more weatherproof, IP57 versus IP54 in the AirPods 4, which means they can be fully submerged underwater up to one meter—basically, they’re pool-ready, whereas the old ones were merely shower-ready. The fit is still a little loose for me. I prefer the more secure fit of the AirPods Pro and other options with customizable ear tips, but if you don’t like that feeling of having your earbuds in your ears, these are decently secure.Stefan VazharovThe open-ear design leads to a looser fit, but the buds still feel light and comfy.You Probably Know What AirPods Sound Like at This PointIn terms of sound quality, the AirPods 5 don’t really rock the boat, but that’s not a bad thing. For sub-$150 earbuds, they deliver high-quality sound with a palpable balance of deep bass, clear vocals, and crisp treble out of the box. What really sets the AirPods apart, both these and older models, is their spatial audio capabilities. Available with and without head tracking, the latter sets the earphones apart from all sub-$150 competitors, as the past two iterations did.I liked that Apple has added some sound customization to the AirPods in iOS 27, in the form of an intuitive graphic equalizer. Depending on the music I played or my mood, I could bump up or lower the bass, or enhance the vocals, to name a couple of common scenarios. The custom setting was always separate from the original AirPods sound, so I could toggle between it and a more balanced option in my iPhone’s settings.Who Should Buy the AirPods 5?The AirPods 5 are a minor update, so there’s nothing here that’s going to have Apple fans running out to grab a pair if they aren’t already in the market for new earbuds. That said, with stronger cancellation, optional volume controls, and a higher durability rating, they are the best version of the standard, open-ear AirPods.Personally, I think the most impressive part of this whole update is the price. In a time of rising tech prices, seeing the “mid-tier” AirPods for under $150 feels like a breath of fresh air. If you are looking for a new pair, you should buy these, not the AirPods 4. Of course, if sound quality and fit are priorities, I’d steer you toward the AirPods Pro 3, but those are a bit pricier. No matter what version you go with, though, the AirPods remain a fantastic audio companion if you’re an iPhone, iPad, and/or Mac devotee.Shop Apple AirPods 5Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.