AirPods 5 review from published tests: SoundGuys' 59% ANC figure, battery complaints from T3 and Tom's Guide, and who should skip the $129 open-fit buds.
This AirPods 5 review pulls together five published verdicts and the spec sheet, because x9m8 does not test earbuds. Apple’s new entry-level pair went on sale on September 18, 2026, at $129, or $149 with a wireless charging case. The reviews arrived from September 15 to September 29, and they converge more than usual.
What they agree on: this is Apple’s best open-fit earbud so far, the noise cancelling is better than before, and the battery with ANC on is the weak point. What they disagree on is how good the noise cancelling actually is, and whether the fit works for you at all.
If you are comparing against sealed earbuds, the details below matter more than the headline score.
The spec sheet in brief
SoundGuys lists the AirPods 5 with Apple’s H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3 and AAC as the only codec, so no aptX or LDAC. Each earbud weighs 4.3 g, and the case 34.5 g in SoundGuys’ listing against 34.7 g in BGR’s. Water and dust resistance rises to IP57 from the AirPods 4’s IP54.
Both versions now include active noise cancelling, which the AirPods 4 offered only in a $179 variant, according to Tom’s Guide. The $129 version has a USB-C case. The $149 version adds a wireless charging case, volume swipe gestures on the stems, a Find My speaker in the case and about an hour more ANC battery, per SoundGuys and BGR. The sound hardware and ANC are identical between the two.
Tom’s Guide found the base model at $124 on Amazon at the time of writing, and lists multipoint support. Those are retail observations that will drift.
Noise cancelling: the numbers and the quarrel
Apple claims up to 50 percent more noise reduction than the AirPods 4 with ANC, per BGR, which points out that the claim is narrower than it sounds. Apple also says the AirPods Pro 3 offer up to three times the noise cancelling of the AirPods 5, also per BGR.
SoundGuys is the only outlet here with measured data. Its lab found ANC reduced perceived outside noise by an average of 59 percent, ahead of the AirPods 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4. Attenuation is strongest between roughly 1 kHz and 9 kHz and weak below 500 Hz, so engine and airplane rumble still gets through. SoundGuys scores the ANC at 5.9 out of 10 and isolation at 2.9, which tells you how much open-ear design costs.
Where reviewers disagree is the comparison. Gizmodo’s Raymond Wong found the ANC roughly on par with Nothing’s Ear 3, an in-ear model priced at $180, while SoundGuys says the sealed Nothing Ear (3a) at $99 has stronger ANC. Tom’s Guide calls the ANC impressive for non-silicone buds but heard high-frequency sounds like car horns and chatter in a 68 dB city-ambience test, and noted a fizzing sound in ANC mode with no music playing. T3 says ambient sound such as train announcements still gets in, so the effect feels closer to noise reduction than isolation.
Battery: the one complaint everyone shares
Apple’s own figures are 4 hours of listening with ANC and 20 hours with the case for the $129 model, and 5 hours and 22 hours for the $149 model, according to BGR. SoundGuys says its lab results are pending, so those are claims. Apple rates the AirPods Pro 3 at 8 hours with ANC, per BGR and T3.
The hands-on accounts match the claims, which is the bad news. T3 reports about 4.5 hours of continuous ANC use left the buds at 12 percent. Gizmodo’s reviewer says a cross-country flight drained the buds to just under 5 percent at landing. Tom’s Guide says during a 22-mile run the earbuds were running low after about three hours, and recommends the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or CMF Buds 2 Pro for better battery life.
Charging speed helps a little. T3 and Gizmodo both report that five minutes in the case gives roughly an hour of listening, and T3 measured 12 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. T3’s argument still stands: fast charging does not offset a runtime that can end before lunch. SoundGuys scores the battery at 5.6 out of 10.
Sound and fit
Tom’s Guide says sound is much better than the AirPods 4, and T3 credits a fuller sound. Gizmodo is more careful, saying sound quality is not always better and that some older tracks sounded muddier at higher volumes. BGR finds solid bass and clear vocals, but flatter speech and podcasts and less depth in Spatial Audio than the Pro 3.
Most of the variance comes from the ear canal. SoundGuys concludes that fit decides almost everything: bass and treble shift with volume, bass thins quickly with a poor fit, and some wearers feel rubbing after about 30 minutes. SoundGuys gives comfort a 5.0, while T3 and Tom’s Guide describe comfortable open-fit designs, and Tom’s Guide specifically says it works for small ears. BGR notes a less secure fit for intense exercise.
There is no way to settle this from a spec sheet. Open-fit earbuds that fit one person perfectly can fall short for another, and the Apple return window is the practical test.
Features and the ecosystem lock
BGR lists listening modes carried over from the AirPods Pro 2 and a three-band custom EQ on iOS 27. It also says Live Translation is too slow for real conversation and requires an iPhone capable of Apple Intelligence. Gizmodo points out that the buds lack Ultra Wideband, so no Precision Finding.
SoundGuys lists limited functionality outside iOS as a con, and calls the $20 upcharge for wireless charging and volume swipes unnecessary. T3, by contrast, calls the volume slider a major upgrade. This looks like a case where the reviewer’s own habits determine the verdict.
How the verdicts stack up
SoundGuys gives the AirPods 5 6.4 out of 10 with a 7.8 user rating, driven down by battery, comfort and isolation. Gizmodo gives 4.5, with an Editor’s Choice badge. Tom’s Guide gives no numeric score and an Editor’s Choice badge, and T3 gives its recommended badge. BGR calls them the best-value offering in Apple’s audio lineup but suggests the Pro 3 for stronger ANC or sound.
The spread between SoundGuys’ 6.4 and the others is mostly a matter of method. SoundGuys scores isolation and battery heavily, and an open-fit design loses points on both by construction.
Pros and cons from the published record
Drawn from SoundGuys, T3, Tom’s Guide, BGR and Gizmodo, not from use of the product.
- Pro: ANC included at $129, measured at about 59 percent average noise reduction (SoundGuys).
- Pro: IP57 rating, up from IP54 (SoundGuys, T3, BGR).
- Pro: Open fit with no ear tips, comfortable for many ears (T3, Tom’s Guide, BGR).
- Pro: Very good Transparency mode and clear call quality (T3, Tom’s Guide, SoundGuys).
- Con: 4 to 5 hours of ANC listening per charge (Apple claims, confirmed in practice by T3 and Gizmodo).
- Con: Weak below 500 Hz, so rumble gets through (SoundGuys).
- Con: Fit-dependent bass and comfort (SoundGuys).
- Con: AAC only, and limited use outside iOS (SoundGuys).
- Con: Fizzing sound in ANC with no music (Tom’s Guide).
Who should buy it
iPhone owners who dislike silicone tips, want some noise reduction for offices and streets, and charge often enough to ignore a 4 to 5 hour runtime are the target. For them, the $149 version is the one T3 reviewed, and the $20 buys the extra hour and the volume gestures. Gizmodo calls the price drop against the AirPods 4 with ANC $30.
Skip them if you commute by plane or train, where low-frequency rumble is the problem and SoundGuys shows the buds struggle below 500 Hz. Skip them if you run or train hard, or need a day-long runtime. SoundGuys points such buyers to sealed models like the Nothing Ear (3a) at $99, Tom’s Guide to the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or CMF Buds 2 Pro for battery, and BGR to the AirPods Pro 3 at $249.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AirPods 5 have noise cancelling?
Yes, on both versions. Apple claims up to 50 percent more noise reduction than the AirPods 4, and SoundGuys measured an average 59 percent reduction in perceived outside noise, with weak performance below 500 Hz.
How long does the AirPods 5 battery last?
Apple claims 4 hours with ANC for the $129 model and 5 hours for the $149 model. T3 found about 4.5 hours of continuous ANC use left the buds at 12 percent on the wireless-case model.
Should I get the $129 or $149 AirPods 5?
The $149 model adds a wireless charging case, volume swipes, a Find My speaker and about an hour more ANC battery. SoundGuys thinks the $20 upcharge is unnecessary; T3 calls the base model much less appealing.
Are the AirPods 5 better than the AirPods Pro 3?
Not for noise cancelling or battery. BGR cites Apple’s claim of up to three times the cancellation and 8 hours of ANC listening on the Pro 3, which costs $249.
The AirPods 5 are a sensible $129 purchase for a narrow set of listeners and a poor one for everyone else, and the reviews are honest about which is which. The ANC is the best Apple has put in an open earbud, SoundGuys’ lab number supports that, and the price is lower than the AirPods 4 with ANC used to be. The battery and the fit are the two things you cannot know from reading. Buy them from a seller with an easy return policy, test them on a real commute for a week, and keep your expectations for rumble and long flights low.
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