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Every AirPods 5 now has noise cancellation, and they cost $100 to $120 less than the AirPods Pro 3. That makes the Pro 3 a lot harder to justify, because much of what used to be Pro-only now comes in the cheaper pair.
So what does the extra money actually get you? I tested both side by side for fit, sound, and noise cancellation, including out in the yard mowing and weed eating. Here is where each one wins, who should get the Pro 3, and who should save the money.
The AirPods 5 give you most of the Pro 3 for $100 to $120 less, so they are the pick for most people. The Pro 3 still win on sealed sound, battery, and loud-noise cancellation.
- AirPods 5 have noise cancellation on every model
- AirPods 5 cost $130, or $150 with the wireless case, vs $250
- Both share adaptive audio, transparency, conversation awareness, and IP57
- Open fit for people who hate silicone tips
- Pro 3 sound crisper with deeper bass
- Pro 3 last 8 hours vs 4 or 5 hours
- Pro 3 add a heart rate sensor, hearing features, and precision finding
- AirPods 5 feel a little loose for workouts
Fit and ear tips
The moment you take these out of the box, the difference is obvious. The Pro 3 use foam-infused silicone tips that seal your ear canal. The AirPods 5 keep the classic open design, so they sit in your ear and you never get that fully plugged-in feeling.
The Pro 3 come with five sizes of ear tips, from extra extra small to large, and I found that super handy for getting the best seal possible, which gives you better sound and better noise cancellation. The Pro 3 are also more comfortable than any other AirPods Pro I have used. I honestly did not notice a comfort difference between these two, but if you do not like that sealed-up feeling, you are going to prefer the AirPods 5.
The AirPods 5 do not fall out of your ears, but they do not feel as snug as the Pro 3. They kind of slide around until you get them locked in.
Price
The AirPods 5 are $130 with the standard USB-C charging case, or $150 with the wireless charging case. The AirPods Pro 3 are $250, and there is only one version. That is a $100 to $120 gap depending on which AirPods 5 you buy.
| AirPods 5 | AirPods Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130, or $150 with wireless case | $250 |
| Fit | Open, no tips | Sealed silicone tips, 5 sizes |
| Battery, ANC on | 4 hours, or 5 with wireless case | Up to 8 hours |
| Total with case | 20 or 22 hours | 24 hours |
| Speaker in case | $150 model only | Yes |
| Swipe volume | $150 model only | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | No | Yes |
| Hearing test and hearing aid | No | Yes |
| Precision finding (ultra wideband) | No | Yes |
| Water and dust | IP57 | IP57 |
What both pairs share
This is the part that changed the math. The two now share a long list of features:
- Adaptive audio, which adjusts the sound to the environment you are in
- Microphones that tune the sound to the shape and response of your ears
- Transparency mode to let the outside world in
- Conversation awareness, which lowers the volume when someone starts talking to you
- EQ settings you can adjust on your iPhone
- Automatic switching between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch
- Find My support
- A 5-minute charge in the case for about an hour of listening
- The same force sensor on the stem for skipping songs, answering calls, and more
- The same IP57 rating. The 5 is dust protection, and the 7 means they are tested to survive up to a meter of water for about 30 minutes. Neither is for swimming.
Two catches on the AirPods 5: the speaker in the case and swipe volume on the stem are only on the $150 model.
Sound quality
Out of the box, the Pro 3 sound crisper and have extra low-end oomph that the AirPods 5 are missing, simply because the AirPods 5 do not seal your ear. They were closer than I expected, though. The Pro 3 bass is deeper and tighter, and that really comes from the seal. If you are a true music lover, you are going to appreciate that extra low end and clarity.
For everyday listening the AirPods 5 hold up well, and I was surprised by how much bass and clarity they have. They are just not quite at the Pro 3 level. And if you find the Pro 3 too crisp, you can always adjust them in your iPhone settings.
Noise cancellation, tested outside
I tested both while mowing and weed eating. For mowing they sounded almost identical, and barely any sound from my EGO mower got through either one.
The weed eater is where I noticed a difference. The Pro 3 blocked a little more sound, especially sharp, loud sounds like hitting a rock. The AirPods 5 still blocked more than the older AirPods 4 did.
Neither handled my EGO leaf blower perfectly. I could still hear some rushing sound through both, so either one will struggle with really loud noise.
Battery life
The Pro 3 are rated for up to 8 hours with noise cancellation on, before going back in the case. The AirPods 5 get 4 hours with the cheaper case, or 5 hours with the wireless case. With the case included, the Pro 3 reach 24 hours and the AirPods 5 top out at 22 hours. If all-day battery matters to you, you are going to prefer the Pro 3.
What only the Pro 3 do
- A heart rate sensor for workouts, which is nice if you do not have an Apple Watch or do not want to wear one for some workouts
- The hearing test, plus hearing aid and hearing protection features
- A skin-detect sensor instead of the AirPods 5 in-ear sensor, which is a little better at telling when they are actually in your ear. In my testing, both paused reliably when I took one out.
- An ultra wideband chip in the case for precision finding with Find My
The charging cases
The Pro 3 case weighs a little more, is a little larger, and has a lanyard loop on the side. It also has the ultra wideband chip for precision finding. The Pro 3 case always has a speaker for Find My, and on the AirPods 5 you only get the case speaker with the $150 model.
Which one should you buy?
Start with one question: do you like the feel of silicone ear tips? Some people just do not like how snug the Pro 3 feel. If that is you, get the AirPods 5. They sound great, and it is honestly incredible how well the noise cancellation works without sealing your ear.
| Get the AirPods 5 if | Get the AirPods Pro 3 if |
|---|---|
| You do not like silicone ear tips | You want the best sound quality |
| You want to save $100 or more | You fly or travel a lot and want the best noise cancellation |
| You mostly listen around the house or yard | You work out in them |
| You do not need all-day battery | You wear them all day, every day |
If you are buying these for workouts, I really recommend the Pro 3. I ran a couple of laps with the AirPods 5 and they did not fall out, but they felt a little looser the whole time.
The bottom line
Apple put so many of the Pro 3 features into the AirPods 5, and it is amazing to get all of that for $130. I would spend the extra $20 for the wireless charging case, since you get more battery and more ways to charge (here is everything the extra $20 gets you).
Get the Pro 3 if you are going to wear them all day, every day, or if you need the best noise cancellation and sound isolation. Otherwise, save the money and get the AirPods 5. You are still going to be really happy with the sound and the features. For everything else about them, read my full AirPods 5 review.
