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The AirPods 5 start at €149 and come with active noise cancellation in every version. With the AirPods 4, this feature was only available in the €199 model. The casing and chip remain the same – the difference lies in the features and the price.
Apple unveiled the AirPods 5 on September 9th, and they will be available in stores starting September 18th. They come in two versions: with a USB-C charging case for €149 and with a wireless charging case for €169. Apple is no longer selling the AirPods 4.
This comparison is based on the two datasheets – that of the AirPods 5 and that of the AirPods 4. The key specifications of the new generation are also available in our announcement.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Both AirPods 5 variants have active noise cancellation; in the AirPods 4, it was reserved for the €199 model.
- The entry-level price for noise cancellation thus drops from 199 to 149 euros.
- The protection rating increases from IP54 to IP57.
- The casing, dimensions, weights and the H2 chip remain unchanged.
- The wireless charging case adds a swipe gesture for volume control and an extra hour of battery life.
Noise cancellation is now standard
The most important difference isn't in the spec sheet, but in the model strategy. The AirPods 4 were available in two versions: one without noise cancellation for €149 and one with for €199. Only the more expensive version also featured Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and conversation detection.
With the AirPods 5, this distinction is gone. Apple lists both versions with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and Conversation Recognition in the specifications. Those who want these features now pay €149 instead of €199 – €50 less for the same functionality.
Regarding quality, Apple states on the product page that the noise cancellation is up to 1.5 times better than the previous generation. This refers to the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. This improvement can only be verified by using the device itself.
What has remained the same
The earbuds still measure 30.2 × 18.3 × 18.1 millimeters and weigh 4.3 grams. The charging case measures 46.2 × 50.1 × 21.2 millimeters, weighs 32.3 grams in its standard configuration, and 34.7 grams with wireless charging. These dimensions are identical to those of the AirPods 4 – the housing remains unchanged, and the open-ear design without silicone ear tips is retained.
The chip is also the same: Both generations use the H2, and both use Bluetooth 5.3. Apple attributes the additional performance of the AirPods 5 to a revised acoustic architecture and improved microphones, not to increased processing power.
A feature often mistaken for new actually existed: Live Translation, according to Apple's support document, works on AirPods Max 2, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Pro 2 or newer. It depends on the ANC model, not the generation. It is enabled for German-speaking regions, as German is one of the supported languages.
Battery life and charging case
| Info | AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 with wireless charging case | AirPods 4 (ANC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each charge with noise cancellation | up to 4 hours. | up to 5 hours. | up to 4 hours. |
| Each charge without noise control | up to 6 hours* | up to 7 hours* | up to 5 hours. |
| Total with case, noise cancellation on | up to 20 hours. | up to 22 hours. | up to 20 hours. |
| Five minutes in the case | approximately 1 hour. | approximately 1 hour. | approximately 1 hour. |
| Wireless charging | no | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers in the case | no | Yes | Yes |
| Swipe gesture for volume | no | Yes | no |
*Apple does not list these two values in the main list, but only in the footnotes to the battery tests.
The more expensive version lasts an hour longer with noise cancellation enabled than the cheaper one – an increase of 25 percent per charge. Across all charges of the case, this amounts to 22 hours instead of 20.
The rating for protection against dust and water increases from IP54 to IP57. In practical terms, this means: short-term immersion instead of just splashing water, tested according to the same standard.
The prices
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | 149 euros |
| AirPods 5 with wireless charging case | 169 euros |
| AirPods 4 (latest) | 149 euros |
| AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (latest) | 199 euros |
The starting price remains the same, but the value increases. And those who want the wireless charging case with swipe gesture will pay €169 instead of the previous €199 for the ANC version.
A charging cable is still not included. This was also the case with the AirPods 4 and applies to both new versions.
For whom the switch makes sense
Upgrading from the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation to the AirPods 5 is hardly worth it: same chip, same casing, same 4 hours of battery life per charge. What you do get is improved noise cancellation, the effectiveness of which Apple itself only specifies as "up to," and a higher water resistance rating.
This will be interesting for everyone who has previously used the version without noise cancellation. For the same price of €149, they will receive exactly the same features that previously cost an extra €50. The same applies to new customers: the question of whether the extra cost for noise cancellation is worthwhile is no longer relevant.
The choice remains between €149 and €169. The extra €20 buys wireless charging, the speaker for finding your earbuds, the swipe gesture on the stem, and an additional hour of music playback per charge. Those who already place their case on a charging mat will quickly justify the higher price – those who always charge via cable, probably not. The sound quality, compared to the previous generation, can be fine-tuned using the equalizer in the AirPods settings anyway.
What's missing is a visible generational shift: If you compare the new models to the old ones, you'll see no difference. Apple has rearranged the features and lowered the price instead of redesigning the hardware.
Is noise cancellation your main reason to buy now – or are you waiting for a model that also looks different from its predecessor? Let us know in the comments what you think is still missing from the open-ear design.
Frequently Asked Questions: AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 4
Yes, both versions. With the AirPods 4, it was reserved for the €199 model; the cheaper version did not have it.
The more expensive model charges wirelessly, has a speaker for finding the device, a swipe gesture for volume control on the stem, and lasts an hour longer per charge.
No. Dimensions and weight are identical down to the decimal point; the open-ear design without silicone tips remains. Both weigh 4.3 grams per earbud.
Yes, with the version featuring Active Noise Cancellation. Apple specifies AirPods Max 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 2 and newer as compatible, each paired with an iPhone equipped with Apple Intelligence.
Up to 4 hours per charge, up to 5 hours with the wireless charging case. With the charges from the case combined, that's 20 or 22 hours respectively.
Both models are protected against dust and splashing water; IP57 additionally protects against brief immersion. Testing is carried out according to IEC standard 60529; the level of protection decreases over time.
No. Apple does not include a cable or power adapter, just like with the AirPods 4.
