AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: which Apple earbuds should you buy?

Key figures

Prices and models

Apple announced the AirPods 5 on 9 September 2026 and released them on 18 September. There are two versions: $129 with a USB-C case and $149 with a wireless charging case. Some early reports circulated other figures, but Apple's announcement confirms these two US prices. Unlike the AirPods 4 range, both versions include active noise cancelling (ANC). The $149 model adds a case that charges on Qi pads, Apple Watch chargers or USB-C, a speaker for Find My, and swipe volume control on the stem. The AirPods Pro 3, launched in September 2025, still cost $249, according to Tom's Guide.

Design: open fit or ear tips

The AirPods 5 keep the open, tipless shape of the AirPods 4: they rest in the outer ear rather than sealing the canal. Gizmodo found them "light and airy" on a cross-country flight. The catch is fit. SoundGuys says comfort "depends entirely on your ears", and that bass thins out when they do not sit well. The AirPods Pro 3 use silicone ear tips in five sizes, from XXS to L, which give a seal but can feel intrusive to some people. Both pairs are now rated IP57 for dust and water, up from IP54 on the AirPods 4, AVForums notes.

How good is open-ear noise cancelling?

This is the main change. Apple says the AirPods 5 remove up to 50% more external noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. Reviewers broadly agree the improvement is real:

• Steady noise: Engadget found they handle constant mechanical sounds such as air conditioning well; voices are reduced but still audible.
• Measured result: SoundGuys recorded an average reduction of 59%, effective in the mid and upper frequencies but weak below 500 Hz, where engines and rumble sit.
• Against in-ear rivals: Gizmodo puts them roughly level with the Nothing Ear (3), but says the Pro 3's tips and stronger ANC block louder sounds better.
• Verdict on the tech: AVForums calls the result "deeply impressive" for open-ear buds, while still behind the sealed Pro 3.

For comparison, our AirPods Pro 3 analysis notes SoundGuys measured about 90% average reduction on the Pro 3. If you fly often or commute on loud trains, that gap matters.

Sound

Engadget and AVForums both hear clearer detail and stronger bass than on the AirPods 4. Gizmodo adds a caveat: older, low-bitrate tracks can sound muddy above half volume. All reviewers still give the edge to the Pro 3; Tom's Guide calls them some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds available, and AVForums says their audio is "even better", at a higher price.

Battery and features

Apple rates the $149 AirPods 5 at 5 hours with ANC (22 hours with the case) and the $129 model at 4 hours (20 hours). Engadget lists 6 to 7 hours with ANC off. The Pro 3 reach 8 hours with ANC and 24 hours with the case.

Both models run on Apple's H2 chip and share most software features: Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio and head gestures to answer Siri. Live Translation needs an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, Tom's Guide notes. Only the Pro 3 add a heart rate sensor and hearing health tools such as hearing aid features; Engadget lists their absence on the AirPods 5 as a drawback.

Head to head

Verdict

For most iPhone owners who dislike ear tips, the $149 AirPods 5 are the better buy: noise cancelling is finally useful on an open design, the sound has improved, and Engadget calls this model "clearly the better choice" for just $20 more. Try them before buying if you can, since SoundGuys found the fit makes or breaks them. Choose the AirPods Pro 3 if you travel a lot, want the strongest noise cancelling and longest battery, or would use heart rate and hearing features. Android users should look at our earbuds guide instead.

This article analyses reviews published by other outlets, in our own words. RealDigitalTech did not test the AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3 itself.