Apple AirPods 5 Review: The New Default

The AirPods lineup gets a notable update with the AirPods 5, and the biggest headline this time around is that active noise cancellation is no longer reserved for a higher tier. Both variants now come equipped with ANC, with the base model priced at RM599 and the Wireless Charging Case version retailing for RM699.

For context, the AirPods 4 launched at RM599 for the base version, while the ANC-equipped option retailed for RM829, making this lower entry price a welcome move across the board.

What Is New?

Under the hood, the AirPods 5 features a redesigned acoustic architecture, upgraded IP57 dust and water resistance up from IP54 on the previous generation, and a built-in speaker on the case to help locate misplaced pods via Find My. It retains the signature tip-less open-ear design.

Unlike the AirPods Pro, which lets you swap silicone ear tips to achieve a tight seal, the open-ear shape means fit and sound isolation will vary drastically from person to person. With ANC turned off, there is virtually no passive noise cancellation to speak of.

How Does It Sound?

In terms of audio performance, the AirPods 5 presents a warm sound signature with a sub-bass forward profile. Bass-heavy tracks can sound a bit muddy, while the midrange feels flat and slightly boring, leaving vocals sounding somewhat thin. Up top, the treble is rolled off, lacking brightness and sparkle. That being said, it still provides decent enough sound quality for casual listening and everyday voice calls.

However, much of this sound profile comes down to fit. Designing a tip-less earbud that comfortably fits most ears is a double-edged sword; broad compatibility often means sacrificing a tight seal for any single user.

On the software side, Apple has introduced a new Equalizer mode within the iOS 27 settings. It is a simple 3-band EQ covering Low, Mid, and High adjustments. While audiophiles might find it too basic, it offers general users an accessible way to tweak the audio profile without getting overwhelmed by a multi-band setup.

Comfort

For day-to-day wear, comfort is solid for the most part. The earbuds are small and lightweight, making them easy to wear during shorter listening sessions. One major benefit of this open-ear design compared to the AirPods Pro is the total absence of ear canal pressure. Because there are no silicone tips wedged inside your ears, you avoid that stuffy, underwater sensation that sensitive listeners often dislike with in-ear models.

However, during longer stretches of continuous use, my ears started to itch and feel somewhat uncomfortable, meaning they are still better suited for casual, intermittent listening rather than all-day wear, at least for my ears.

Noise Cancellation and Controls

Active noise cancellation on an open-ear design sounds like a contradiction, but the implementation here is surprisingly effective. It handles low-pitched rumbles and background fan noise well, making it completely viable for daily public transport commutes, even if higher frequency sounds like mechanical keyboard clicks or bird chirps still leak through. High pitched construction noise like sawing is also very much apparent.

Voices in the background remain audible, but playing music at moderate volumes is enough to mostly drown them out. It certainly won’t replace a sealed pair of ANC earbuds or headphones on a long flight, but for city travel, it does the job.

Apple also added Adaptive Audio to dynamically shift noise cancellation based on your surroundings, along with Conversation Awareness to automatically dip playback volume the moment you start speaking. There is a bit of delay when the shifts and dips occur but the transition is smooth without feeling like the music abruptly cuts off.

Transparency mode on the AirPods series has always been a gold standard in my books, that remains the same here. Environmental audio and voices sound natural and organic, avoiding the artificial, mic-filtered sound found on competitors. Apple has also included Live Translation in beta testing.

While Bahasa Malaysia is not currently supported, testing with Chinese showed decent performance for simple, everyday conversations. Call quality is equally solid, the beamforming microphones paired with machine learning effectively suppresses background cafe noise and wind while keeping voice calls clear.

Controls on the stem are responsive and intuitive. Swiping the stem up or down to adjust volume works reliably without accidental adjustments, while a single press handles play/pause, a double tap skips tracks, and holding down the stem cycles between listening modes. Hands-free Siri interactions add extra convenience, letting you simply nod or shake your head to answer or reject incoming calls when your hands are full.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery performance holds up well to Apple’s claims. On the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, Apple advertises up to five hours of listening time with ANC enabled and up to seven hours with ANC turned off. In actual testing with ANC continuously on and Spatial Audio disabled, the battery sat at roughly 5 to 7 percent after five full hours.

By comparison, the base AirPods 5 gets up to four hours with ANC and six hours without. A quick five-minute stint in the case also provides about an hour of emergency playback. The wireless charging case works seamlessly with standard Qi chargers as well as Apple Watch chargers, making top-ups straightforward if you already own Apple Watch accessories.

Is It Worth It?

With the base AirPods 5 priced at RM599 and the Wireless Charging Case variant coming in at RM699, Apple making active noise cancellation standard across the lineup is a smart, logical step in a market where budget true wireless earbuds routinely feature ANC.

If you are deciding between the two, spending the extra RM100 for the Wireless Charging Case variant is an easy recommendation. The upgrade gets you intuitive stem volume controls, an extra hour of battery life, a built-in Find My speaker, and the convenience of wireless charging on Qi and Apple Watch pads, making it the more complete package and the new default for Apple users.