Expert Reviews95
A very enthusiastic take that sees the earbuds as big value for the money, with great comfort, sound and surprisingly capable noise cancelling.
Apple AirPods 5
5 expert reviews#3 of 29 wireless earbuds
Image: Apple5/5critics
recommend
recommend
Best for open-fit comfort
Critics’ consensus
5 professional reviewers tested the Apple AirPods 5, and 5 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and noise cancelling. Most common complaint: battery life.
Reviewed by Expert Reviews, Tom's Guide, Trusted Reviews and 2 more
The catch: Battery life is short, and the fit cannot be tuned with ear tips.
Critics agree
Scores run from 88 to 95All 5 scores printed by the outlets
Check price at Amazon
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a score.
What do critics say about the Apple AirPods 5?
Tom's Guide90
The reviewer was won over by a clear sound upgrade at a lower price, with decent ANC and strong call quality.
Trusted Reviews90
Solid open-fit earbuds with good ANC for the style and richer sound than the previous generation.
CNET89
Better sound and noise cancelling than expected, with improved value and strong calls.
Engadget88
Impressive open earbuds with ANC on every model and a clear audio step up.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
Sound quality5 of 5
Noise cancelling5 of 5
Comfort2 of 5
What critics dislike most
Battery life3 of 5
Fit and comfort2 of 5
Alternatives
Not sure about the Apple AirPods 5?
Image: Sony
Image: EarFun
Image: Soundcore
Image: TechnicsAlso reviewed, not yet scored
- OnePlus Buds 4 · 3 reviews so far
Common questions
Is the Apple AirPods 5 worth it?
Most critics think so: 5 of 5 recommend it. Battery life is short, and the fit cannot be tuned with ear tips.
Do critics agree about the Apple AirPods 5?
Critics agree: scores range from 88 (Engadget) to 95 (Expert Reviews), a spread of 7 points across 5 reviews. Reviewers broadly agree.
What do critics dislike about the Apple AirPods 5?
Battery life (3 of 5 reviews), Fit and comfort (2 of 5 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Apple AirPods 5?
The Sony WF-C710N (critic score 94), top pick, narrowly.