Engadget Review Finds Apple AirPods 5's $149 Model Worth the Extra $20

Both AirPods 5 models now include active noise cancellation (ANC) and Live Translation, features that were previously limited to pricier AirPods. They also upgrade water resistance from IP54 on the AirPods 4 to IP57, meaning the new earbuds can withstand full submersion under up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, whereas before they were only protected against splashes. Apple also improved ANC performance and sound quality on both models, citing a new multiport acoustic architecture, tweaked ANC algorithms, and an updated Adaptive EQ tool. According to the review, ANC blocks 50 percent more noise than the AirPods 4 and delivers richer, more detailed sound.

The $149 model's swipeable volume controls are described by the reviewer as the biggest upgrade, a feature that should have been standard on earlier models like the AirPods 4. This model also provides audible Find My abilities, wireless charging via any Qi or Apple Watch charger, and extended battery life in both the earbuds and the case. The $129 model lacks these features, which the review says makes it a tough sell.

In use, the reviewer found the sound quality immediately impressive, with strong bass and detailed instrumentation across genres, even without Spatial Audio activated. The ANC upgrade is most noticeable with constant noises such as a humming HVAC system or a white noise machine, though human voices remain a challenge. Live Translation, which relies on ANC and the H2 chip, lowers the volume of the person being translated and plays Siri's language conversion through the earbuds. It can be activated by asking Siri, pressing and holding both stems, setting the iPhone Action Button, or using the Translate app; the iPhone serves as a display for live transcription.

Battery life on the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case is rated at up to five hours of listening with ANC enabled and up to seven hours with ANC off. During the reviewer's tests, which were conducted entirely with ANC on and Spatial Audio off, the earbuds still had 5 to 7 percent battery remaining at the five-hour mark.