Apple AirPods 5 review: A better baseline

AirPods 5 are a breath of fresh air in a year where it feels like every other gadget has gotten more expensive. Not only do AirPods 5 still start at $219, the “base model” is substantially better.

While the AirPods 4 came in two seperate configurations - a cheaper option without active noise cancellation (ANC) and a more expensive one with it -, ANC is now standard across both sets of AirPods 5. That’s a big win if you’re just after the cheapest AirPods you can get.

There are still two different AirPods 5 models to pick from this year, however. There’s the “standard” AirPods 5, and the clunky-named AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. As you might have gathered, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case have wireless charging, while the standard AirPods 5 don’t. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case also benefit from slightly better battery life and on-stem volume controls. I tested the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case for the purpose of this review.

But let’s go back to ANC first. On top of it being a standard feature, Apple says the AirPods 5 ANC is about 1.5 times more effective than the AirPods 4 ANC. Of course, the AirPods 5 still use an open-ear design, so don’t expect miracles. (The AirPods 5 sit in your ear, rather than having tips that protrude into your ear canal like the AirPods Pro.)

The ANC strikes a balance of keeping you aware of your surroundings while still being able to listen to your music or podcasts. Some open-ear buds I’ve tested have effectively been unusable on public transport or while walking down the highway, with the ambient noise blocking out content. This isn’t an issue with the AirPods 5.

But like I said, don’t expect miracles. While I was able to use the AirPods 5 while running on a treadmill, the ANC struggled against the thud of my feet. My music still cut through, but it wasn’t an ideal listening experience. They were surprisingly okay for gentler cardio workouts, however, like an elliptical session or walking on the stairmaster.

Which brings me to fit. Despite being open-ear buds (with no clipping measure), the AirPods 5 sit pretty securely in my ears. They don’t fall out if I’m head banging, are feel comfortable for a moderate jog. I did get a bit worried they’d fall out when I was doing higher speed interval training, however, and I found myself readjusting them as a I ran. While the AirPods 5 have a solid IP57 water-resistance rating, they’re not the best buds for fitness.

When it comes to sound quality, the AirPods 5 are easily the best sounding open-ear earbuds I’ve tested, and offer some of the best audio you’ll get around the $200 mark. While the bass response isn’t as the same level as you’ll get from in-ear buds like the AirPods Pro 3 or Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, it’s a solid step up from the AirPods 4. The sub-bass on the Childish Gambino’s “3005” doesn’t quite tickle my brain the way it does on in-ear options, but it still feels appropriately huge, for example. There’s honestly very little to complain about here.

For the first time, Apple also lets you tweak how your AirPods sound with a three-band EQ as part of the Settings app. You can adjust bass, mids, and treble if you’re not 100% happy with the out of the box sound, but like most AirPods software features, this exclusively works with Apple devices. You’ll need to be running iOS 27 on your iPhone to access this, but it also works on other recent AirPods models, like the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max 2.

The main AirPods 5 drawback is battery life. The standard AirPods 5 get up to four hours of battery life on a single charge with ANC on, for a total of 20 with the case. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case improve that to five hours on a single charge with ANC on, and up to 22 total. That’s pretty short as far as wireless earbuds go, with many now pushing closer to ten per charge.

Given the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are only $30 more, I’d suggest forking out the extra cash for the longer battery. Batteries degrade over time, so having a larger battery as a starting point should help with longevity.

The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case also have on-stem volume controls, but I found these a little finicky. When I tried to adjust the volume, the movement often resulted in the AirPod popping out of my ear. This isn’t an issue I have with the AirPods Pro 3, which have a snugger fit.

Apple AirPods 5 – Final Thoughts

If you’re happy with the open-ear design (or even prefer it), the AirPods 5 are some of the earbuds you can get around $200. They sound excellent, and ANC coming as standard makes them a lot more versatile. Battery life could be better, especially on the “base model”, but otherwise, the AirPods 5 are a great buy for those in Apple’s ecosystem.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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