The Apple AirPods 5 are the silicone-tip-free wireless earbuds that replace the Apple AirPods 4 as the entry point to Apple's wireless earbud lineup. Unlike the previous generation AirPods 4 lineup, which included both the regular version without Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, ANC now comes with all variants of the AirPods 5. However, there are still two tiers in the AirPods 5 lineup, with the step-up Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case featuring a wireless charging case, a feature to help locate the earbuds if they get lost, and on-stem volume controls. Like other AirPods, though, many of their software features are limited to Apple devices.
Our Verdict
The Apple AirPods 5 are good for sports and fitness, provided their fixed shape suits your ears. They're extremely light and stay secure during walking and moderate workouts like jogging, but the one-size open fit can be much less stable for some people and isn't ideal for intense movements like sprints or burpees. Apple rates both the earbuds and case for dust and water resistance, so they can handle exposure to dust or rain during a stroll outdoors. Their compact case also makes them easy to carry around.
Excellent ANC performance.
Water and dust-resistant earbuds and case.
Sound stays remarkably consistent between wears.
One-size fit doesn't work well for every ear.
The Apple AirPods 5 are very good for travel. Their ANC provides excellent attenuation across the frequency range and works very well against airplane, street, and conversation noise. They're extremely light and very compact, but comfort depends on whether the fixed shell fits your ears. The Wireless Charging Case version lasts 5.1 hours continuously in our test, which can require a top-up on longer trips, though the case extends total battery life to 22.5 hours.
Excellent ANC performance.
Water and dust-resistant earbuds and case.
Sound stays remarkably consistent between wears.
One-size fit doesn't work well for every ear.
Short continuous battery life.
The Apple AirPods 5 are good for office work. Their ANC does an impressive job blocking out the noise of chatty coworkers, and they also leak little audio, so anyone working nearby won't hear much of your audio. They're comfortable, though their one-size-fits-all design won't be a perfect fit for everyone's ears. The main caveat is microphone performance. The mic sounds mediocre when not paired with an Apple device, like if you pair it with a Windows laptop, but when paired with a device such as an iPhone, the performance is very good. If you work across Apple devices, automatic switching between devices signed into the same Apple account is a useful convenience.
Excellent ANC performance.
Sound stays remarkably consistent between wears.
Good mic performance when paired with Apple devices.
Short continuous battery life.
Microphone performance depends heavily on the connected device.
The Apple AirPods 5 aren't suitable for most wireless gaming. They don't support a proprietary wireless dongle or other non-Bluetooth wireless connection, and their measured Bluetooth latency is fairly high, though synchronization varies by device and app. That means they're not a good choice for games that depend on timing. That said, you can use them for casual mobile gaming or non-timing-based games such as turn-based RPGs.
The Apple AirPods 5 can't be used via a wired connection.
The Apple AirPods 5 have decent audio reproduction accuracy. Their sound doesn't deviate much from their overall flat and mid-forward sound. Vocals and mid-range instruments like acoustic guitars sound accurate. However, there's little low-bass, so deep electronic kick drums lack thump, and the treble range is subdued, which can make sounds like cymbals feel a bit dull. Nonetheless, the left and right earbuds are well-matched, so objects are correctly located in the stereo field. All that said, it's important to note that these earbuds don't have a fixed sound: their Adaptive EQ boosts bass and treble more at lower playback levels when these earbuds are paired with compatible Apple devices.
The Apple AirPods 5 have excellent noise isolation performance. Their ANC substantially reduces noise across almost the entire frequency range despite their open fit. Everything from high-pitched AC whine to mid-range pedestrian chit-chat is handily blocked out. The main room for improvement is in the low bass, where they struggle to block out sounds like engine rumble. Nonetheless, these earbuds leak very little audio. If you're listening at very loud levels in a quiet room, nearby people may hear a thin, high-pitched version of your audio. Otherwise, you're unlikely to disturb those around you.
The Apple AirPods 5's microphone performance depends heavily on the device they're connected to. When connected to our standard Bluetooth test rig, voices lack body and clarity, and the mic system doesn't do the best job of separating your voice from loud, dynamic sounds like passing trains. But performance improves noticeably when paired with an iPhone: your voice sounds much more balanced and clear, and the noise processing is vastly improved. In general, for good mic performance with these earbuds, pair them with an Apple device.
The Apple AirPods 5 have remarkable frequency response consistency. Their sound changes very little between reseats, so once you've found a position that works, you can expect a very similar sound each time you put them in.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Apple AirPods 5 come in two variants. The standard Apple AirPods 5 use a USB-C-only charging case and don't support stem volume controls. We tested the Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which adds stem-based volume controls, Qi and Apple Watch wireless charging, and a built-in case speaker, along with app support to locate your device if it gets lost. Both variants come in only one color: 'White.'
We took two photos (1, 2) of the labels that came with the unit we purchased.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphone Comparisons
The Apple AirPods 5 replace the Apple AirPods 4 as the entry point to Apple's wireless earbud lineup, while also filling the role previously played by the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. ANC now comes as standard, and the step-up AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add on-stem volume controls, wireless charging, and a case speaker with a location feature. Regardless, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 remain the flagship earbuds in Apple's line, offering a more secure in-ear fit, better isolation from low-frequency noise, and much longer continuous battery life than the AirPods 5. That said, their deeper silicone-and-foam-tip fit isn't for everyone, and may be exactly what some AirPods 5 buyers will want to avoid. Many people simply prefer the AirPods 5's looser, one-size-fits-all fit, even if the performance can't match that of the AirPods Pro lineup.
For more recommendations, check out the best wireless earbuds, the best AirPods alternatives, and the best earbuds for iPhones.
The Apple AirPods 5 are a worthwhile upgrade over the Apple AirPods 4, and they manage that without changing the basic open-fit formula. The biggest difference is noise isolation: the 4th generation don't have ANC and so don't block out much noise at all, while the 5th generation do an impressive job of blocking out almost everything except the very lowest engine rumbles. The protection against dust and water ingress has also been upgraded. The Wireless Charging Case version of the 5th generation also adds on-stem volume controls, which the 4th generation lack.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are better than the Apple AirPods 5, unless you don't like a sealed in-ear fit. The Pro 3's silicone-and-foam tips provide a more secure fit and help them block out more noise, particularly low-frequency rumble, while their nine-hour continuous battery life easily outlasts the AirPods 5's five. They also reproduce kick drums with more punch and add features like heart-rate monitoring. The AirPods 5 make more sense if you specifically dislike ear tips. Their open design feels less intrusive, and their earbuds and case are smaller, while retaining many of the same Apple conveniences, including automatic device switching, Adaptive Audio, and Spatial Audio.
The Apple AirPods 5 are an iterative but worthwhile replacement for the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The exterior design remains very similar, so both offer the same basic trade-off: a tip-free fit that's comfortable for the right ears but can't be adjusted if the shape doesn't suit you. The 5th generation's biggest improvement is noise isolation, as their ANC cuts down substantially more noise than the previous generation. The Wireless Charging Case version also adds stem-based volume controls, and the battery lasts slightly longer than the previous generation.
The Apple AirPods Max 2 and Apple AirPods 5 target very different kinds of Apple users. The Max 2 are large premium over-ears with much stronger noise isolation, fuller bass, a battery that lasts four times as long, and wired USB-C and analog playback. They're a better fit for situations where portability isn't the priority, although their weight and stronger clamping force can become tiring. The AirPods 5 disappear into a pocket and are far more practical for walking around or exercising. Both benefit from Apple's H2-powered ecosystem features like seamless switching.
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Test Results
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