Apple’s annual hardware event had a lot to offer this year. Easily the biggest splash came from the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first-ever foldable phone, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max also giving its $2,000 foldable a run for its money.
While a new generation of AirPods, the AirPods 5, might not achieve the same highs as a first-of-its-category iPhone, there are quite a few things you should know if you’re in the market for new AirPods without the “Pro” name.
AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4: ANC
Non-Pro AirPods aren’t known for their prowess in active noise cancellation (ANC). It’s not that Apple doesn’t have the chops; it’s that they’re only semi-in-ear, meaning they don’t have silicone ear tips. Because of that, they don’t have the same tight seal as the AirPods Pro, which helps block out sound.
That being said, they do have ANC, and it’s not all created equal among generations. According to Apple, the AirPods 5 have 50% better noise cancelling than the AirPods 4, which is a pretty drastic increase. It’s hard to really relay how that feels without hearing them myself, but on paper, it’s hard to argue. If you want better ANC, the AirPods 5 are the way to go, even if AirPods Pro 3 blow both of those pairs out of the water.
AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4: Sound
Good ANC doesn’t mean much if the sound isn’t just as good, and in this generation, Apple improved in that department, too. Apple says the AirPods 5 have a new “multiport architecture” that’s based on the AirPods 3 Pro. The result, according to Apple, is “richer, more detailed sound across an even wider range of ear geometries.”
Sound, again, is one of those things you have to hear to believe, but clearly Apple paid attention to improving the sound quality in this generation, so you should expect a step up over the last generation.
AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4: Battery life
Battery life is where things get a little more complicated. While the base model of AirPods 5 has the same battery life as its predecessor—a pretty pedestrian four hours on a single charge when ANC is activated—you can actually shell out a bit more money for a different tier with some extra juice.
The $149 AirPods 5 (that’s $20 more than the base) will get you an extra hour of battery life with ANC on. That’s still not great in the scheme of most wireless earbuds (about six hours is pretty standard), but if you’re strictly comparing between generations of non-Pro AirPods, then the more expensive model of AirPods 5 definitely take the cake.
AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4: Features
While both generations share a lot of the same features, there are some subtle differences to note outside of ANC.
In addition to better ANC, the AirPods 5 also have next-gen Adaptive EQ, according to Apple. Thanks to this upgraded Adaptive EQ, the AirPods 5 can tune sound to the specific shape of your ears across a larger range of frequencies. The result, Apple says, is a “more immersive and accurate sound.” AirPods 4 do have Adaptive EQ, for the record, but Apple claims that the new generation just does it better.
The differences continue to pile up when you consider the more expensive tier of AirPods 5. By shelling out $149, you get two things that neither the base tier of AirPods 5 nor the AirPods 4 have: wireless charging and stem controls.
For the first time, the more expensive tier now lets you swipe on the wireless earbuds to control volume. Not groundbreaking, but it can be better than reaching for your phone every time. Similarly, wireless charging in the charging case isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s nice to have.
AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4: Fit
This is one area where not much has changed. In its announcement, Apple didn’t say much about any kind of physical redesign, so the AirPods 5 likely look and feel pretty similar to the AirPods 4. These are still semi-open-ear, meaning they nest in your outer ear instead of being inserted like AirPods Pro.
