AirPods 5 Review: More Modest Improvements
Among the new products Apple launched this year is the AirPods 5, which, as you can tell by the name, is the fifth generation of its wireless earbuds. The new audio device replaces the AirPods 4, which launched back in 2024. Given the gap between the releases, one would expect some considerable changes, be it […] The post AirPods 5 Review: More Modest Improvements appeared first on Lowyat.NET .
Apple unveiled the AirPods 5 this year, marking the fifth generation of its wireless earbuds. As the gap between releases has been significant, one would anticipate more radical changes. However, the new AirPods primarily offer incremental upgrades, mainly in the form of enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for a superior listening experience.
The design remains largely unchanged, with the same rigid "open-ear" build and a fixed shape, featuring the same silicone eartips for fit and passive noise isolation. The charging case remains compact and flat, retaining the capacitive button from the previous model. The device is powered by the H2 chip and operates on Bluetooth 5.3, and comes in two versions: the standard AirPods 5 and the AirPods 5 with a Wireless Charging Case.
The latter is the focus of this review, albeit it doesn't significantly differ from the regular version. Both models now have ANC enabled by default, and the Live Translation feature is available by default. Charging differs between the two models, with the wireless charging variant also featuring swipe volume controls on the stems, a longer battery life, and Find My support.
The AirPods 5 also include a built-in speaker for easier location tracking. The standout feature of these earbuds is their impressive ANC, which effectively reduces ambient noise, making it suitable for daily commutes. The Transparency Mode allows for some ambient noise amplification, though it may not be as precise as desired. Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume when you're speaking to someone, with a minor delay before activation.
The audio quality is neutral, with a slight bass emphasis, providing clear highs and mids that accurately reproduce instruments and vocals.
Written by urgent.news from Lowyat.NET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
