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Apple just launched the AirPods 5, and they have a lot of great upgrades over the AirPods 4. I used both side by side to figure out what actually changed and whether you should upgrade or keep your AirPods 4.
The short version: the AirPods 5 sound fuller, block more noise, and now include noise cancellation on every model. If your AirPods 4 already sound fine to you, you are not missing much. If sound quality or blocking out noise matters to you, the upgrade is easy to hear.
Upgrade for clearly better sound and noise cancellation. Keep your AirPods 4 if they already sound fine to you.
- Fuller sound with better low end
- Noise cancellation Apple rates at 1.5 times better, and it held up in my testing
- Noise cancellation on every model now
- IP57, up from IP54, so they can handle a dunk
- Same 4 hours with noise cancellation on unless you buy the $150 case
- Same shape and fit as the AirPods 4
- Still no seal, so loud noise like a leaf blower gets through
- Wireless charging still costs extra
Sound quality
The biggest upgrade I noticed is the sound. The AirPods 5 have better low end and slightly better high end than the AirPods 4, and they sound a lot fuller even at lower volumes.
The low end is where it is most obvious. Bass sounds much better and fuller on the AirPods 5, and I did not have to turn them up as loud as the AirPods 4 to feel the bass. Part of that is the better noise cancellation, since they block more of the outside world.
Noise cancellation, tested outside
Apple claims the noise cancellation is 1.5 times better on the AirPods 5 than the AirPods 4, and in my testing that held up.
I wore both while mowing and weed eating, and the AirPods 5 did a much better job of blocking sound. The AirPods 4 were okay, but there were times, like hitting a rock with the weed eater, where a sharp sound came through. On the AirPods 5 that was pretty much eliminated.
They are not perfect. The leaf blower still got through on the AirPods 5, probably because neither of these has silicone tips to fully seal your ears like the AirPods Pro 3. Transparency and adaptive audio work great on both, and I really could not tell a difference there.
Noise cancellation is now standard
With the AirPods 4, you had to pay extra for noise cancellation. The cheaper model had a USB-C case and no noise cancellation, and the more expensive model added the wireless case and noise cancellation together.
With the AirPods 5, both models have noise cancellation. You still pay more for wireless charging, and the $150 wireless case also gets you better battery life and a speaker in the case for Find My. I think it is really silly that Apple did not just launch one version. It would have been a lot simpler. I cover that choice in $130 vs $150 AirPods 5.
Battery life
With noise cancellation on, the $130 AirPods 5 get the same 4 hours as the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation. The $150 wireless case model gets 5 hours. With noise control off, the AirPods 4 get 5 hours, the $130 AirPods 5 get 6 hours, and the $150 version gets 7. Counting the case, the AirPods 4 and the $130 AirPods 5 both get 20 hours, and the $150 model gets 22.
| AirPods 4 with ANC | $130 AirPods 5 | $150 AirPods 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise cancellation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery, ANC on | 4 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours |
| Battery, noise control off | 5 hours | 6 hours | 7 hours |
| Total with case | 20 hours | 20 hours | 22 hours |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No | Yes |
| Speaker in case | Yes | No | Yes |
| Water and dust | IP54 | IP57 | IP57 |
Durability and water resistance
An IP rating has two numbers. The first is for dust and the second is for water. Both of these have a 5 for dust, which means they are dust protected. The water number is what changed.
The AirPods 4 have a 4, which means they can handle splashes from any direction, like sweat or light rain. The 7 on the AirPods 5 means they are tested to be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. So they are a better option if you get caught in a downpour or sweat a lot in workouts.
Fit and design
They look like the same shape and feel the same in my ear, although they fit in each other’s cases slightly differently. Both do an okay job of staying in your ear. They are not going to be as secure as the AirPods Pro 3, because they do not have silicone tips to keep them seated and sealed.
Side by side they look almost identical. I have the wireless charging case on both, and the main difference is the text on the back of the case. The AirPods 5 say “Apple AirPods,” and the AirPods 4 say “Designed by Apple in California.”
Should you upgrade?
The two real reasons to upgrade from the AirPods 4 are better noise cancellation and better sound quality.
| Upgrade to the AirPods 5 if | Keep your AirPods 4 if |
|---|---|
| Sound quality is something you pay attention to | They already sound fine to you |
| You wear them mowing or anywhere loud | You do not feel like you need better noise cancellation |
| You want more noise blocking without the sealed feel of the Pro 3 | You mostly listen in quiet places |
The bottom line
If you think you could get better sound out of your AirPods 4, get the AirPods 5. You are absolutely going to notice the difference. But if your AirPods 4 sound fine to you and you do not need better noise cancellation, keep them. They are still a great option.
Wondering whether to skip ahead to the Pro? Read AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3, or my full AirPods 5 review.
