Admittedly, Apple no longer tempts us with sweeping generational leaps in its AirPods lineup, yet the jump from AirPods 4 to AirPods 5 seems technologically modest. And yet, the brand sometimes rewards us, beyond the tepid announcements, with deeper and more tangible improvements than expected. A game of smoke and mirrors that pays off once again?
The AirPods 5 are largely based on the ANC version of AirPods 4. Open-ear earbuds (button-style) powered by the sturdy but already aging H2 chip, which provides compatibility with adaptive audio, conversation detection, adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with head-tracking, live translation, and of course voice-triggered Siri. Despite an apparently identical form factor and internals, Apple claims greater element-resistance, 1.5x better ANC, and improved sound quality. These promises come with, in the top-tier variant of the AirPods 5 (the model tested here), sound adjustment via a stem swipe, and a case with wireless charging, all while being priced lower than the AirPods 4 ANC (169 euros, compared to 199 euros for the AirPods 4 ANC at launch).
8 / 10
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- Very good sound quality for an open-format
- Effective isolation, improvement in the low-mids
- Comfortable
- Good call quality
- IP57 earbuds and case
- Towards imprecision at the extremes
- Attenuation of very low frequencies and highs
- Very average battery life on a single charge
- Features and connectivity locked to the brand ecosystem
What Our Measurements Show
We are rarely disappointed with Apple, and this shows up almost inevitably in the measurements, even though we are dealing with an open-format product, with the inherent limitations of the form factor.
In terms of sound, the manufacturer almost uses the fourth iteration’s good attributes as is, with a not-unpleasant emphasis in the bass and a touch of brightness in the treble. Beyond that, the AirPods 5 show a pleasing balance, but above all an exemplary linearity. Even without smoothing our frequency response measurement, we do not observe any anomalies or exuberant peaks.
In terms of noise reduction, things evolve quite subtly. Apple seems to flirt with, at least in this format, the technical boundary of the H2 chip. No surprises, very low frequencies are hardly attenuated, and high frequencies still slip through depending on frequency. However, the midrange is surprisingly well managed, with notably better attenuation of low mids (the deeper voices, for example) than on the previous generation. Apple clearly leads the pack in this niche format, even if the transition from AirPods 4 to AirPods 5 is almost anecdotal.
Listening: Still the Best Open Sound
Again, Apple remains notably enigmatic about the acoustic architecture of its latest creation, simply mentioning acoustic remodellings and a new-generation adaptive EQ. A whole program.
Frequency Response: Our Measurements
Clearly, the two earbuds present a very similar sound profile. The new AirPods 5 are slightly technically superior, with better bass control and a more expansive soundstage. Very slight differences for these true wireless buds that, nevertheless, do not reach the level of the best in-ear models.
In practice, the difference between the two generations is quite subtle, not surprising. The AirPods 5 are slightly superior to their predecessors, being a touch more controlled and powerful in the bass frequencies, with a slightly larger soundstage. The dynamics (difference between soft and loud sounds) also seemed higher. Note, however, that at the same listening level, the AirPods 5 sound a bit louder than the AirPods 4 ANC, which can be misleading in direct comparisons.
During listening and measurement alike, the buds deliver a fairly powerful sound, with a slightly rounder profile (bass boost) rather than balanced, and a touch of brightness indicating a late emphasis in the highs, an emphasis that can heavily depend on the morphology of the ear canal. Apple, with Samsung Buds (generally more balanced but less technical), offers the best open-format true wireless headphones. The Cupertino company avoids extremes, with AirPods 5 being a touch more balanced than AirPods Pro 3.
The details are there, the soundspace is very open given the format, and instrument separation is decent. Our conclusion does not change compared to the AirPods 4 ANC test: the AirPods Pro 3 and especially AirPods Pro 2 (better-tuned) are technically superior thanks to their closed design. The AirPods 5 are very good headphones, but they still lack nuance at the extremes. The very low frequencies rumble a little, and the highs could be a bit more natural. Apple would likely benefit from a two-path architecture, using the same dynamic driver for bass and mids, and a planar or xMEMS driver for the high frequencies. Heavy and crowded genres, such as metal and certain kinds of electronic music, highlight the limits of these earbuds.
The details are here, the sonic space is very ample for the format, and instrument separation is proper. Our observation does not change compared to the AirPods 4 ANC test: the AirPods Pro 3 and especially AirPods Pro 2 (better tuned) are technically superior thanks to their closed form factor. The AirPods 5 are very good earbuds, but they still lack nuance at the extremes. Very low frequencies still drone a bit, and the highs could be a bit more natural. Apple would do well to move to a two-way architecture, for example using the same dynamic transducer for bass and mids, and a planar or xMEMS transducer for the high frequencies. Very dense and heavy genres, like metal and certain electro styles, highlight the limits of these earbuds.
The details are there, the sound space is very expansive for this format, and instrument separation is adequate. Our conclusion does not change compared to the AirPods 4 ANC test: the AirPods Pro 3 and especially AirPods Pro 2 (better tuned) are technically superior thanks to their closed form. The AirPods 5 are very good earbuds, but they lack nuance at the extremes. The very low frequencies still rumble slightly, and the highs could be a bit more natural. Apple would likely benefit from a two-path architecture, for example using the same dynamic driver for bass and mids, and a planar or xMEMS driver for the high frequencies. Very aggressive and dense genres, like metal and certain electronic music, highlight the limits of these earphones.
Nevertheless, the ergonomics of the AirPods 5 are sensible and will please people allergic to tips. The AirPods 5 are by no means intrusive, which eliminates most fatigue. In our case, the fit is excellent in all circumstances, suitable for some workouts. However, because the shape of the buds is not more universal than before, a portion of users will still find the fit unstable. Also, remember that active isolation is not magical. The acoustic design partially covers the entrance of the ear canal, a sine-qua-non condition to implement ANC.
The open-button format, within the open-ear category, is arguably the best compromise for achieving good sound quality, but it is neither the most athletic nor the most comfortable. The best-fitting models clip around the ear, while around-the-ear formats offer much more stability.
Nonetheless, the claims of sportiness for the AirPods 5 are real, backed by the IP57 rating (versus IP54 for the AirPods 4), a certification that also applies to the charging case. With the European Commission having (I’m astonished) retraced on the battery replacement obligation for wearables, AirPods 5 will essentially still need to go through Apple for replacement. In short, nothing changes. We suspected the brand would not push on this topic, even if we must acknowledge the robustness of its batteries over the long term.
Ergonomics and Connectivity: a Small Change, but an Ecosystem Still Locked
Once again, not a great deal to report. The AirPods 5 with the wireless charging case finally introduce what has existed since AirPods Pro 2: an integrated volume control on the stem. The other controls remain unchanged, with a stem-based click system that is clever enough to perform all actions with a single earbud.
The advanced features are roughly the same as those on the AirPods 4 ANC, at least when considering updates from the past two years. We again commend Apple’s long-term maintenance. The staples remain, such as Spatial Audio mode, voice-triggered Siri, or Adaptive Audio, which itself modulates the level of noise reduction and/or transparency depending on the situation. As always, the real tech showcase, particularly the AI features tied to Siri, are unavailable in Europe.
Not particularly rich in settings, at least in advanced ones, the AirPods 5 can nevertheless, when connected to iOS27-compatible devices, use a three-band equalizer. Not enough to fine-tune a signature, but enough to boost certain frequencies or mitigate general excesses.
