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AirPods 5 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?

macrumors.com · 6h · first reportShare

Apple's AirPods 5 bring Active Noise Cancellation to its $129 earbuds for the first time. The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add longer battery life, volume controls on the stems, and a case speaker for Find My . The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249. The ‌AirPods 5‌ arrived in September 2026, a year after the AirPods Pro 3 . They continue to narrow the feature gap between the devices, but the Pro model still offers a sealed in-ear fit, substantially better noise cancellation, and hearing and workout features. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you. ‌AirPods 5‌ (2026) ‌AirPods 5‌ with Wireless Charging Case (2026) ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ (2025) Open-ear fit without ear tips Open-ear fit without ear tips In-ear fit with foam-infused silicone ear tips in five sizes Optical in-ear sensor Optical in-ear sensor Skin-detect sensor Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation Open-ear Active Noise Cancellation In-ear Active Noise Cancellation; u