Compare AirPods models

AirPods 5 brings noise cancellation to Apple’s most affordable AirPods. Compare it with AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2 on fit, ANC, battery and health features.

Specs checked September 14, 2026. Figures are Apple’s published specifications and claims, not hands-on tests. We don’t list prices.

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AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case vs AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC
Spec	AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case	AirPods Pro 3	AirPods 4 with ANC
Fit and sound
Fit	Open-ear (No silicone tips)	In-ear, sealed (Foam-infused silicone tips)	Open-ear (No silicone tips)
Chip	H2	H2	H2
Noise control
Noise cancellation	Active Noise Cancellation (Apple: removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC)	Active Noise Cancellation (Sealed fit with ear tips)	Active Noise Cancellation (Open-ear)
Listening modes	Transparency and Adaptive Audio (Plus Conversation Awareness)	Transparency and Adaptive Audio (Plus Conversation Awareness)	Transparency and Adaptive Audio (Plus Conversation Awareness)
Battery
Listening time	5 h (ANC on)	8 h (ANC on)	4 h (ANC on), 5 h (ANC off)
With the case	Up to 22 h (With ANC on)	Up to 24 h (With ANC on)	Up to 20 h (With ANC on; 30 h with it off)
Health and hearing
Heart rate in workouts	Not available	Built in	Not available
Hearing health	Not available	Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, Hearing Protection	Not available
Smarts and controls
Siri Interactions	Nod or shake to respond	Nod or shake to respond	Nod or shake to respond
Live Translation	Supported	Supported	Supported
Controls	Force sensor with volume swipe (A first for open-ear AirPods)	Force sensor with volume swipe	Force sensor (No volume swipe)
Case and durability
Case charging	Apple Watch charger, Qi and USB-C	MagSafe, Qi, Apple Watch charger and USB-C	Apple Watch charger, Qi and USB-C
Find My speaker	Speaker in the case	Speaker in the case	Speaker in the case
Water and dust	IP57 (Earbuds and case)	IP57 (Earbuds and case)	IP54 (Earbuds and case)
Availability	September 18 (Pre-orders opened Sep 9, 2026)	Launched Sep 2025	Launched Sep 2024

Quick pick

Choose AirPods 5 (wireless case) if you refuse ear tips but want noise cancellation, 5 hours with ANC on, volume swipe and a Find My speaker.
Choose AirPods Pro 3 if you’ll wear tips and want sealed-fit ANC, 8 hours with ANC on, heart rate in workouts and the hearing features.
Choose AirPods 4 with ANC if you already own a comfortable pair or find a worthwhile discount. Compare the complete package: its wireless case and Find My speaker are absent from base AirPods 5.

Where to buy

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Every AirPods model on this page

AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case: Open-ear ANC with 5 hours per charge and stem volume swipe.
AirPods 5: Open-ear ANC in Apple’s most affordable AirPods.
AirPods Pro 3: Sealed foam-infused tips, heart rate and hearing features.
AirPods 4 with ANC: Previous open-ear ANC with wireless case charging and a Find My speaker.
AirPods 4: The simplest open-ear AirPods, without noise cancellation.
AirPods Max 2: Over-ear headphones with H2 and 20 hours with ANC on.