AirPods 5 Review: The Best Open-Ear Earbuds Apple Has Ever Made

Apple Pulls Off a Rare Price Cut

There's an unwritten rule in consumer tech: new versions either cost the same as their predecessors or more — especially over the past few years, when price hikes have become almost expected. But Apple broke that pattern with the AirPods 5.

The AirPods 5 with wireless charging case is priced at $149, a full $30 less than the previous generation. For a company known for holding firm on pricing, a voluntary price cut is worth paying attention to. It dramatically improves the value proposition of Apple's entry-level AirPods, and signals that Apple wants to expand its user base and cement its lead in the wireless earbuds market.

Open-Ear Design Done Right

In terms of product positioning, the AirPods 5 continues the open-ear design that has defined the AirPods lineup. Unlike in-ear earbuds, open-ear headphones don't fully seal the ear canal — they're more comfortable to wear, maintain awareness of ambient sound, and are well-suited for daily commutes, office use, and any situation where you need to stay tuned in to your surroundings.

The AirPods 5 has been called "the best open-ear earbuds Apple has ever made," a verdict that speaks to Apple's continued refinement of open-ear acoustics, fit stability, and overall sound quality. For users who find in-ear buds uncomfortable, the AirPods 5 offers a compelling balance of comfort and audio performance.

Open-ear and in-ear headphones differ fundamentally in how they work acoustically. In-ear designs use silicone tips to seal the ear canal, creating an enclosed cavity that benefits low-frequency response and passive noise isolation. Open-ear designs allow the acoustic chamber to interact freely with the surrounding air — sound waves flow in and out, producing a more natural, airy listening experience that resembles "a small speaker placed close to your ear." The challenge is that low frequencies can bleed out easily, and external noise enters the ear canal directly, placing higher demands on tuning and driver quality. Apple has spent years refining this form factor across the AirPods lineup, using its proprietary H-series chips to process audio signals in real time — partially compensating for the inherent limitations of open cavities in bass response and spatial presence.

The Thinking Behind the Pricing Strategy

At $149 with a lower entry price, the AirPods 5 represents a strategic play by Apple in the mid-range market. The wireless earbuds space is fiercely competitive, with Android-ecosystem devices and third-party brands continuously undercutting the entry tier. By lowering the price of the AirPods 5 — wireless charging case included — Apple can maintain a consistent product experience while fending off pressure from budget alternatives.

For consumers, this means accessing the core Apple ecosystem experience — quick pairing, seamless device switching, and deep integration with iPhone, Mac, and other Apple devices — at a lower cost than before. A "price cut with no compromises" approach is genuinely rare in Apple's product history.

Who Should Buy It

If you're in the Apple ecosystem and prefer the comfort of open-ear wear, the AirPods 5 is a genuinely attractive option. It delivers a wireless charging case and Apple's signature connectivity experience at a lower price point, making it well-suited for daily commutes, workouts, and extended wear.

One caveat: open-ear designs inherently lack active noise cancellation. In loud environments — subways, airplanes — isolation will fall short compared to in-ear or ANC-equipped models. If you have strong needs for immersive listening and noise cancellation, you'll likely want to look at the AirPods Pro lineup instead.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) works by using built-in microphones to capture ambient noise, then having a processor generate an inverted sound wave in real time to cancel it out — reducing the noise the listener actually hears. This technology requires a good seal between the earbud and the ear canal to work effectively, which is why it's almost exclusively found in in-ear or over-ear headphones. In open-ear designs, since the ear canal isn't sealed, the inverted sound waves leak out along with the ambient noise, making ANC extremely inefficient — a physical constraint dictated by the form factor, not a technological shortcoming. The AirPods Pro series achieves industry-leading noise cancellation precisely because its silicone ear tips create a seal, paired with Apple's proprietary H2 chip ANC algorithm. The two product lines serve clearly distinct use cases.

Verdict

The biggest story with the AirPods 5 is Apple's rare willingness to lower the price, combined with a polished performance in the open-ear category. At $149 with a wireless charging case included — $30 less than before — it becomes one of the best value entry points into the Apple ecosystem. For users who prioritize wearing comfort and everyday usability, this is a product well worth considering.