Hatch Sleep ClockEarly Black Friday DealsBest Alexa SpeakersBest Tech GiftsDeals DeliveredGift Guides The Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED Consulting With stronger noise cancellation and a lower starting price, AirPods 5 are a solid upgrade. Just don’t expect them to outperform the Pros. Improved noise cancellation.
Wireless charging model gets a battery boost. Battery life could be better. Can get slippery with sweat.
I’ve owned AirPods since the original pair launched in 2016. Over the years, I’ve tested earbuds from many brands, but I always come back to my trusty AirPods. They’re easy to pair, they integrate well with the Apple ecosystem, and they deliver some of the best-sounding active noise cancellation (ANC) on the market.
The latest AirPods 5 continue the trend and deliver more of Apple’s best audio features at a lower price than their predecessor. The AirPods 5 come in two models: $129 with a standard case and $149 with a wireless charging case that works with Apple Watch chargers, Qi-compatible chargers, and USB-C. Both include ANC, which is a welcome change from the AirPods 4, where you had to pay extra ($179) for the privilege of a feature that’s increasingly standard on most wireless earbuds.
For $149, the AirPods 5 (with a wireless charging case) are an easy recommendation. But after a month of testing, I’d still pay extra to get the AirPods Pro 3. The difference comes down to noise cancellation, fit, and controls.
First and foremost, if you’re buying the AirPods 5, spend the extra $20 on the version with a wireless charging case. You’ll get an extra hour of battery life (up to five hours) on the earbuds and an extra two (up to 22 hours) with the charging case compared to the $129 model. That's the same battery life as the AirPods 4 without ANC, so you’re actually getting more listening time even with noise cancellation.
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