The AirPods 5 are the best value offering in Apple’s current audio lineup – there’s no doubt about it. They offer noise cancellation starting at just $129, slightly better sound than the AirPods 4, IP57 water and dust resistance, and the same software offers the rest of the AirPods line, for less money than the generation they replace, which is rare for an Apple launch.
Before I got my hands on the AirPods 5, I wrote that they could replace the AirPods Pro 3 as my recommendation for most people, and a week has reaffirmed that initial expectation. For flights and anywhere you want the best noise cancellation, I suggest putting the AirPods Pro 3 in your bag, because the noise cancellation gap is too wide to pretend otherwise. The AirPods Pro 3 are also the best buy if you listen for hours without interruption or if audio detail is what you’re looking for.
But for just about everything else, I’d recommend the AirPods 5, because they do virtually the same job for $120 less. I’d also recommend the AirPods 5 if the silicone tips irritate you, want to hear traffic while you run outside, or if you’re using an older pair of base model AirPods and want to cancel out noise without spending the price of the AirPods Pro.
That being said, the $149 AirPods 5 model is worth the extra $20 for adding volume sweeps, the wireless charging case, and the extra hour of battery life. If you’re having a hard time choosing between the two, I’d spend the extra $20 without thinking twice. Plus, after AirPods 4 owners had to pay $179 for noise cancellation, the AirPods 5’s $149 price seems much more attractive.
The AirPods Pro 3 will cost you $249, which will get you better noise cancellation, better audio quality, 8 hours of battery life, and heart rate detection during workouts. AirPods 4 are currently discounted by third-party retailers, with Amazon reducing the base model to just $99. Outside of the AirPods line, Bose offers one of the best alternatives when it comes to open audio. Its Ultra Open Earbuds start at $299, although Bose is adding a second-generation model for the same price and a slightly cheaper Sport Open Earbuds model at $199 on October 1. However, both cost more than the AirPods 5 and neither offer noise cancellation, which is the only reason to buy the latest AirPods in the first place.
