{
  "id": 8663734,
  "title": "I tested the AirPods 5 vs the AirPods 4 ANC — should you upgrade?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/i-tested-the-airpods-5-vs-the-airpods-4-anc-should-you-upgrade",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-20T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/airpods/airpods-5-vs-airpods-4-anc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two years after the AirPods 4 ANC launched, Apple has released the AirPods 5, which are even more affordable. At prices starting at $124, these earbuds are the cheapest AirPods ever released. Notably, the AirPods 5 come with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) as standard, whereas the AirPods 4 ANC required an additional $50 for ANC. Although there's a slight difference in battery life between the $124 standard charging case model and the $149 wireless charging case model, this isn't significant.\n\nHowever, the question remains: should you upgrade from the AirPods 4 ANC to the AirPods 5? I'll compare the two models to help you decide.\n\nThe AirPods 5 are significantly cheaper than their predecessor, starting at $124 compared to the $149 price of the AirPods 4 ANC. They also feature ANC as standard and Apple's powerful H2 chip, which enables integrated Siri AI features. While the AirPods 4 ANC are still available for $149, the AirPods 5 offer better value for money.\n\nBoth models boast similar connectivity, with Bluetooth 5.3. The AirPods 5 have a longer battery life, offering 5 hours (ANC), 20-32 hours (ANC) with the wireless charging case, and 4 hours (No ANC), 30 hours (ANC) with the standard charging case. The AirPods 4 ANC, on the other hand, provide 4-5 hours (ANC) and 20-32 hours (ANC) with the standard case.\n\nIn terms of durability, the AirPods 5 now match the AirPods Pro 3 with an IP57 rating, making them capable of surviving underwater for half an hour. Furthermore, the AirPods 5 have added volume swipe control, an upgrade that's welcomed compared to the slightly smaller AirPods 4 ANC and wireless charging case.",
  "summary": "What are the differences between the AirPods 4 ANC and the brand-new AirPods 5? Are the AirPods 5 worth the upgrade?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Guide",
        "title": "I tested the AirPods 5 — they're $50 cheaper than the AirPods 4 but 100% better",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/i-tested-the-airpods-5-theyre-50-cheaper-than-the-airpods-4-but-100",
        "published": "2026-09-18T18:45:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "AirPods Pro 3 keep getting better, here’s what’s new in iOS 27",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/airpods-pro-3-keep-getting-better-heres-whats-new-in-ios-27",
        "published": "2026-09-18T19:45:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}