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AirPods 5

AirPods 5 Review: Getting Surprisingly Close to the Pros

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AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation (ANC) to an open-ear design, making them a compelling option if silicone ear tips are uncomfortable or unwanted. They get closer to the Pro experience in convenience and features, but not in cancellation: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to three times more ANC. Choose AirPods 5 for an open fit; choose Pro 3 if stronger isolation or its additional health and workout features matter more.

What the AirPods 5 review says

NDTV reviewer Ketan Pratap describes the ANC as surprisingly effective for an open design, and the sound as clean, balanced, and detailed. The review excerpt also characterizes Transparency mode as natural-feeling. Those are the reviewer’s reported impressions, not independently measured results available here; the excerpt does not specify a test protocol, listening conditions, or comparison method. NDTV’s title-matching excerpt, dated October 3, 2026, frames the central appeal: ANC without silicone tips.

How close are AirPods 5 to AirPods Pro 3?

The main difference is how they fit. AirPods 5 are open-ear earbuds, while AirPods Pro 3 use silicone tips that seal the ear canal. A seal can make the Pro model a better fit for listeners seeking stronger isolation, but comfort is personal; Apple’s specifications cannot predict which design will suit an individual listener.

Comparison AirPods 5 AirPods Pro 3
Fit Open-ear design In-ear design with silicone tips
ANC claim Apple says up to 1.5 times better noise blocking than the previous generation and calls it its best ANC in an open-ear design. Apple says Pro 3 provide up to three times more ANC than AirPods 5.
Advertised ANC listening time Up to four hours per charge for the regular model; up to five hours per charge with the Wireless Charging Case version. Up to eight hours per charge.
Listed extra features H2-powered audio and listening features, including Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Spatial Audio. Heart-rate sensing and Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features.

The ANC and battery figures above are Apple’s advertised specifications, not independent measurements. Apple’s “up to” comparison does not mean every listener will perceive a threefold difference. See Apple’s AirPods 5 specifications and AirPods Pro 3 specifications for the manufacturer’s current details.

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Noise cancellation: impressive for an open fit, not a Pro replacement

AirPods 5’s significance is that Apple has added ANC to an open-ear model. Apple says its noise blocking is up to 1.5 times better than the previous generation and describes it as the best ANC available in an open-ear design. That is a meaningful claim for people who dislike sealed earbuds, but it should not be confused with a promise of Pro-level isolation.

Apple’s current comparison says AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to three times more ANC than AirPods 5. If blocking noise is the priority, the Pro 3 are the clearer choice on the published specifications. If you prefer to keep your ears unsealed, AirPods 5 offer a different compromise rather than matching that cancellation claim.

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Sound, features, and daily use

Apple lists an H2 chip, redesigned multiport acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ, Voice Isolation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for AirPods 5. NDTV’s reported listening impressions are favorable, but the available excerpt does not provide measured sound results or enough methodology to establish how AirPods 5 compare with Pro 3 in a controlled test.

Apple also lists Live Translation and Siri-related AI features, but availability can depend on region, language, compatible devices, and software. Check Apple’s current feature details for your setup rather than assuming every feature works everywhere.

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The Wireless Charging Case version adds a force sensor with volume swipe, and its case supports USB-C, Apple Watch, and Qi charging. Apple lists an IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance rating for AirPods 5. Check the product specifications for the exact scope of that rating and any care guidance.

Battery life depends on the AirPods 5 case version

Apple’s advertised ANC listening time differs between AirPods 5 configurations: the regular model is rated for up to four hours per charge, while the Wireless Charging Case version is rated for up to five hours per charge and up to 22 hours total with ANC. These are manufacturer estimates, not results from independent battery testing. Apple rates AirPods Pro 3 for up to eight hours per charge with ANC.

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Who should buy AirPods 5?

Choose AirPods 5 if you prefer an open fit

  • You dislike the pressure or sealed feeling of silicone-tip earbuds.
  • You want Apple’s advertised ANC in an open-ear design and can accept less cancellation than Apple claims for Pro 3.
  • You want the H2-based audio and convenience features, and the Wireless Charging Case configuration suits how you charge.

Choose AirPods Pro 3 if isolation or extra features come first

  • You want Apple’s higher published ANC claim and prefer silicone tips.
  • You need longer advertised ANC listening time per charge than either AirPods 5 configuration.
  • Heart-rate sensing or the listed Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features are important to you.

Try both fits if you can. Open-ear and silicone-tip designs feel markedly different, and neither Apple’s specifications nor one reviewer’s impressions can settle personal comfort.

Verdict

AirPods 5 get surprisingly close to the Pros in the sense that they bring substantial Apple listening features and ANC to an open-ear design, with favorable subjective impressions reported by NDTV. They do not match Apple’s Pro 3 cancellation claim. For listeners who prioritize an unsealed fit, AirPods 5 are the more relevant choice; for stronger claimed ANC, silicone-tip isolation, or the listed health features, AirPods Pro 3 are the stronger candidate.

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