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AirPods 5 Review: The Best Noise Cancellation In Affordable Earbuds
bgr.com • • technology
Key Points:
- Apple’s AirPods 5 start at $129 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) now standard on both models, lowering the entry price for ANC by $50 compared to AirPods 4, while offering improved hardware and software features.
- The $149 model includes wireless charging, volume swipe controls, a Find My speaker in the case, and an extra hour of battery life, making it the recommended choice over the base model.
- ANC performance on AirPods 5 is impressive for open-ear earbuds at this price, effectively blocking continuous background noise, though it falls short of AirPods Pro 3, especially with aircraft noise.
- Battery life is a notable weakness, with 4-5 hours of ANC-enabled playback on the buds and 20-22 hours total with the case, which may be insufficient for long flights or extended use without frequent charging.
- Sound quality is slightly improved over AirPods 4 but less detailed in voice-heavy content, and while AirPods 5 offer good value and comfort without ear tips, AirPods Pro 3 remain superior for noise cancellation, audio fidelity, and longer battery life.
