---
title: "AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3: sealed or open?"
date: 2026-10-11
tags: [apple, airpods, audio, hardware, buying-guide]
summary: AirPods 5 bring noise cancelling to Apple's cheapest buds. In lab tests Pro 3 still cut far more noise, last longer and add health features. The real question is whether you can live with silicone tips in your ears.
aliases: [airpods-5-vs-airpods-pro-3, airpods-comparison]
extraCss: articles/airpods-5-vs-pro-3.css
extraJs: articles/airpods-5-vs-pro-3.js
articleClass: ap
---

<div class="ap-hero">
<div class="ap-win ap-win--open"><div class="ap-win-title">airpods5.exe</div><div class="ap-win-body"><span class="ap-hero-name">AirPods 5</span><span class="ap-price">$129</span><span class="ap-price-alt">$149 with wireless case</span><ul class="ap-hero-facts"><li>Open fit, no tips</li><li>59% less noise (lab)</li><li>5.1 h per charge (lab)</li></ul></div></div>
<div class="ap-vs" aria-hidden="true">vs</div>
<div class="ap-win ap-win--sealed"><div class="ap-win-title">pro3.exe</div><div class="ap-win-body"><span class="ap-hero-name">AirPods Pro 3</span><span class="ap-price">$249</span><span class="ap-price-alt">often discounted</span><ul class="ap-hero-facts"><li>In-ear seal, 5 tip sizes</li><li>90% less noise (lab)</li><li>8.7 h per charge (lab)</li></ul></div></div>
</div>

Apple finally put noise cancelling in its cheapest earbuds, which makes this a harder call than it used to be. In SoundGuys' lab, Pro 3 cut about 90% of the perceived noise around you against 59% for AirPods 5. They also run longer per charge and carry health features AirPods 5 don't have. None of that matters if you can't stand silicone tips in your ears, and plenty of people can't. No spec sheet will tell you which camp you're in, so start there.

<div class="ap-tldr" role="note" aria-label="Short version">
<div class="ap-tldr-col ap-tldr-col--open"><p class="ap-tldr-head">Get AirPods 5 if</p><ul><li>ear tips make you want to rip them out</li><li>your noise is office hum, not jet engines</li><li>buds go in and out of the case all day</li><li>$100 is $100</li></ul></div>
<div class="ap-tldr-col ap-tldr-col--sealed"><p class="ap-tldr-head">Get Pro 3 if</p><ul><li>you fly or commute somewhere loud every week</li><li>you want hearing-health or heart-rate features</li><li>you listen for hours without a break</li><li>you run or train in them</li></ul></div>
</div>

<p class="ap-legend-key">Every number on this page is tagged: <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">lab</span> measured by an independent lab, <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">estimate</span> worked out here (method in <a href="#where-the-numbers-come-from">the data section</a>), <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span> Apple's own rating.</p>

<nav class="ap-jump" aria-label="Jump to section"><ul><li><a href="#how-much-noise-gets-through">Noise</a></li><li><a href="#comfort-comes-down-to-your-ears">Comfort</a></li><li><a href="#what-airpods-5-give-up">Missing</a></li><li><a href="#battery">Battery</a></li><li><a href="#side-by-side">Specs</a></li><li><a href="#which-one-is-yours">Decide</a></li><li><a href="#looking-ahead">Ahead</a></li><li><a href="#where-the-numbers-come-from">Data</a></li></ul></nav>

## How much noise gets through

AirPods 5 cancel noise in software. Pro 3 do the same job harder and add a physical seal on top. Start with what the labs measured.

<div class="ap-lab">
<div class="ap-labtile ap-labtile--open"><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">lab</span><b>59%</b><span>less perceived noise, AirPods 5, ANC on. SoundGuys.</span></div>
<div class="ap-labtile ap-labtile--sealed"><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">lab</span><b>90%</b><span>less perceived noise, Pro 3, ANC on. SoundGuys.</span></div>
<div class="ap-labtile ap-labtile--sealed"><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">lab</span><b>−28.7 dB</b><span>overall noise isolation, Pro 3, ANC on. RTINGS.</span></div>
</div>

Put another way: of the noise that would normally reach you, about 41% still gets through AirPods 5 and about 10% gets through Pro 3. Apple's marketing says "up to 3x more ANC". The lab gap is closer to 4x, though CNN found it smaller in day-to-day use.

<div class="ap-win ap-bandwin">
<div class="ap-win-title">isolation-by-band.csv</div>
<div class="ap-win-body">
<p class="ap-bands-sub">Noise reduction with ANC on, in dB. Longer bar = quieter.</p>
<div class="ap-bands">
<p class="ap-bands-group">Bass <span>engine rumble, traffic</span></p>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--open ap-band--est"><span class="ap-band-name">AirPods 5</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:17.1%"></span></span><b>−6 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">estimate</span></div>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--sealed"><span class="ap-band-name">Pro 3</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:68%"></span></span><b>−23.8 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></div>
<p class="ap-bands-group">Mids <span>voices, keyboards</span></p>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--open ap-band--est"><span class="ap-band-name">AirPods 5</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:45.7%"></span></span><b>−16 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">estimate</span></div>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--sealed"><span class="ap-band-name">Pro 3</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:92.6%"></span></span><b>−32.4 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></div>
<p class="ap-bands-group">Treble <span>AC whine, dish clatter</span></p>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--open ap-band--est"><span class="ap-band-name">AirPods 5</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:51.4%"></span></span><b>−18 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">estimate</span></div>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--sealed"><span class="ap-band-name">Pro 3</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:87.1%"></span></span><b>−30.5 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></div>
<p class="ap-bands-group">Overall</p>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--open ap-band--est"><span class="ap-band-name">AirPods 5</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:36.9%"></span></span><b>≈ −12.9 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">from lab %</span></div>
<div class="ap-band ap-band--sealed"><span class="ap-band-name">Pro 3</span><span class="ap-band-track"><span class="ap-band-fill" style="--w:82%"></span></span><b>−28.7 dB</b><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></div>
</div>
<p class="ap-fine">Scale 0 to 35 dB. RTINGS has measured AirPods 5 too, but those values sit behind its paid membership, so the AirPods 5 bands are estimated from what the labs have published. See <a href="#where-the-numbers-come-from">how</a>.</p>
</div>
</div>

Now feel it. Pick a place, flip between the two, then switch ANC off to see what the seal does on its own. The meter shows how much of the perceived loudness still reaches your ear.

<div class="ap-win ap-room ap-needs-js" id="ap-room">
<div class="ap-win-title">noise-room.exe</div>
<div class="ap-win-body">
<div class="ap-seg" role="group" aria-label="Choose earbuds"><button type="button" data-v="ap5" aria-pressed="true">AirPods 5</button><button type="button" data-v="pro" aria-pressed="false">AirPods Pro 3</button></div>
<div class="ap-chips" role="group" aria-label="Choose a place"><button type="button" data-s="desk" aria-pressed="true">Office hum</button><button type="button" data-s="train" aria-pressed="false">Train &amp; traffic</button><button type="button" data-s="plane" aria-pressed="false">Plane cabin</button><button type="button" data-s="cafe" aria-pressed="false">Cafe voices</button></div>
<div class="ap-crt"><canvas aria-hidden="true"></canvas><span class="ap-crt-tag" aria-hidden="true">ANC ON</span></div>
<div class="ap-legend"><span><i class="ap-key ap-key--noise"></i>Noise around you</span><span><i class="ap-key ap-key--out"></i>What reaches your ear</span></div>
<div class="ap-meter"><span class="ap-meter-label">Gets through</span><div class="ap-leds" aria-hidden="true"></div><output class="ap-meter-out" aria-live="polite"></output></div>
<div class="ap-readout"><span class="ap-badge" data-kind="est">estimate</span><span class="ap-readout-text"></span></div>
<p class="ap-room-note"></p>
<label class="ap-toggle"><input type="checkbox" checked><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span><span>Noise cancelling on</span></label>
</div>
</div>

<details class="ap-more">
<summary>Every value the noise room uses</summary>

Share of perceived loudness that reaches your ear. All four columns are estimates built from the band values above; the ANC-off columns are the roughest. Method in [the data section](#where-the-numbers-come-from).

| Place (bass / mid / treble mix) | AirPods 5, ANC on | Pro 3, ANC on | AirPods 5, ANC off | Pro 3, ANC off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office hum (30 / 40 / 30) | 42% | 14% | 90% | 54% |
| Train &amp; traffic (60 / 30 / 10) | 52% | 16% | 96% | 70% |
| Plane cabin (50 / 35 / 15) | 49% | 15% | 94% | 65% |
| Cafe voices (10 / 70 / 20) | 35% | 12% | 90% | 49% |

</details>

The pattern is consistent across both labs: AirPods 5 are decent in the mids and treble and weak in the low bass. That's why reviewers still heard engine drone on long-haul flights, and why a train's rumble survives. Pro 3 are strong everywhere, and strongest exactly where AirPods 5 are weakest. Pro 3 users wear theirs as earplugs.

One honest caveat on voices. Lab tests use steady noise, and on that AirPods 5 handle mid-range chatter well; RTINGS calls it "handily blocked out". Real conversations come and go, which is harder for any ANC to track, so expect a busy cafe to sound a bit worse than the table says.

## Comfort comes down to your ears

There's no objectively comfier pair. One rests in your outer ear, the other plugs the canal. Most people know within a minute which camp they're in.

<div class="ap-fit">
<div class="ap-card ap-card--open">
<svg class="ap-fig" viewBox="0 0 300 130" role="img" aria-label="Open-fit bud resting at the entrance of the ear canal, with air flowing around it"><path class="ap-fig-ear" d="M10 30 Q120 20 170 52 L300 58 L300 78 L170 82 Q120 112 10 104"/><ellipse class="ap-fig-bud" cx="96" cy="66" rx="40" ry="30"/><rect class="ap-fig-bud" x="60" y="78" width="16" height="50" rx="8"/><path class="ap-fig-air" d="M140 44 q14 -4 28 6 M140 90 q14 4 28 -6"/><path class="ap-fig-air" d="M190 68 h80"/></svg>

### AirPods 5

Open fit, one size, no tips.

**Good**

- No plugged-up feeling or pressure from a seal. Easy to wear for hours.
- You still hear traffic on a run or a walk.
- Light: 4.3 g per bud, and a pocket-friendly case.

**Not so good**

- One shape. It fits your ears or it doesn't, and there's nothing to adjust. SoundGuys found their noise results swing with how the bud sits.
- Less secure for sprints or fast head movement.
- Some reviewers feel a faint pressure from the ANC at first.

</div>
<div class="ap-card ap-card--sealed">
<svg class="ap-fig" viewBox="0 0 300 130" role="img" aria-label="Pro bud with a silicone tip sealing the ear canal"><path class="ap-fig-ear" d="M10 30 Q120 20 170 52 L300 58 L300 78 L170 82 Q120 112 10 104"/><ellipse class="ap-fig-bud" cx="92" cy="66" rx="36" ry="27"/><rect class="ap-fig-bud" x="58" y="76" width="15" height="50" rx="7.5"/><path class="ap-fig-tip" d="M126 56 Q160 50 186 56 L186 80 Q160 86 126 80 Z"/><line class="ap-fig-wall" x1="196" y1="54" x2="196" y2="82"/></svg>

### AirPods Pro 3

In-ear, foam-infused tips in five sizes (XXS to L).

**Good**

- Tip sizes let you tune the fit, very small ears included.
- Locked in for workouts and running.
- The seal blocks noise even with ANC off.

**Not so good**

- The plugged, sealed feeling never sits right with some people.
- Some owners get sore on long sessions. Dropping a tip size often fixes it.
- RTINGS notes worn tips may block less treble over time.

</div>
</div>

<div class="ap-stats">
<div class="ap-stat ap-stat--open"><b>50.1 mm</b><span>AirPods 5 case, long side. 34.7 g.</span></div>
<div class="ap-stat ap-stat--sealed"><b>62.2 mm</b><span>Pro 3 case, long side, with lanyard loop.</span></div>
</div>

## What AirPods 5 give up

Tap a row for why it matters. The $129 model loses a few extra things, so pick which one you're weighing.

<div class="ap-seg ap-seg--filter ap-needs-js" role="group" aria-label="Which AirPods 5"><button type="button" data-v="base" aria-pressed="true">AirPods 5 ($129)</button><button type="button" data-v="wcc" aria-pressed="false">Wireless case ($149)</button></div>

<div class="ap-lack" id="ap-lack">
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>A sealed fit and much stronger ANC</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>The biggest gap. In SoundGuys' lab, AirPods 5 cut 59% of perceived noise and Pro 3 cut 90%. The difference lives in the bass: on a long-haul flight a reviewer still heard engine drone through AirPods 5. Pro 3 can double as earplugs. AirPods 5 can't.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Hearing health features</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Hearing Test, the clinical-grade Hearing Aid mode, Hearing Protection, Conversation Boost and Loud Sound Reduction are Pro-only. If your hearing is slipping, this alone justifies Pro 3.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Heart-rate sensing in workouts</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Pro 3 track heart rate on their own, no Apple Watch needed. AirPods 5 have no heart-rate sensor.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Battery life per charge</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Lab-measured with ANC on: 8 h 42 min for Pro 3 (SoundGuys) against 5.1 h for AirPods 5 with the wireless case (RTINGS). That's the difference between a whole transatlantic leg and a mid-flight top-up.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Sound detail and Spatial Audio depth</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Reviewers found AirPods 5 muddier in the lower mids, with flatter voices on podcasts and a shallower Spatial Audio stage. RTINGS measured their bass and treble about 5 dB under its target, against +1 dB bass and −3 dB treble for Pro 3. They also play quieter, so you turn them up and leak more sound.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Precision Finding for the case</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>The Pro 3 case has an Ultra Wideband chip that points you to it with arrows on a compatible iPhone.</p></details>
<details><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>MagSafe charging and a lanyard loop</span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Minor, but only the Pro 3 case snaps onto MagSafe and takes a strap.</p></details>
<details data-base><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Volume swipe on the stem<em>$129 model only</em></span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>The $149 model swipes for volume. The $129 model doesn't, so you reach for your phone or Siri instead.</p></details>
<details data-base><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Wireless charging<em>$129 model only</em></span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>The $129 case is USB-C only. The $149 case also takes Qi and Apple Watch chargers.</p></details>
<details data-base><summary><span class="ap-x" aria-hidden="true">✕</span><span>Find My speaker in the case<em>$129 model only</em></span><span class="ap-chev" aria-hidden="true">›</span></summary><p>Without it, a case lost under the sofa stays silent.</p></details>
</div>

<div class="ap-keep">
<p class="ap-keep-head">Every AirPods 5 keeps</p>
<ul><li>Adaptive Audio</li><li>Transparency</li><li>Conversation Awareness</li><li>Live Translation</li><li>Hands-free Siri</li><li>Head gestures</li><li>Personalized Spatial Audio</li><li>IP57 dust &amp; water</li><li>iOS 27 custom EQ</li></ul>
</div>

## Battery

Apple's ratings next to what the labs got, all with noise cancelling on. Faded bars are Apple's numbers, solid bars are lab runs.

<div class="ap-bars" id="ap-bars">
<p class="ap-bars-head">Listening on one charge</p>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:40%"></span></span><b>4 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open ap-bar--none"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">lab</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-empty">not lab-tested yet</span></span><b>?</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 wireless <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:50%"></span></span><b>5 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 wireless <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:51%"></span></span><b>5.1 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--sealed ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">Pro 3 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:80%"></span></span><b>8 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--sealed"><span class="ap-bar-name">Pro 3 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">soundguys</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:87%"></span></span><b>8.7 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--sealed"><span class="ap-bar-name">Pro 3 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:90%"></span></span><b>~9 h</b></div>
<p class="ap-bars-head">Total with the case</p>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:80%"></span></span><b>20 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 wireless <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:88%"></span></span><b>22 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--open"><span class="ap-bar-name">AirPods 5 wireless <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="lab">rtings</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:90%"></span></span><b>22.5 h</b></div>
<div class="ap-bar ap-bar--sealed ap-bar--rated"><span class="ap-bar-name">Pro 3 <span class="ap-badge" data-kind="apple">apple</span></span><span class="ap-bar-track"><span class="ap-bar-fill" style="--w:96%"></span></span><b>24 h</b></div>
</div>

Apple's ratings hold up: the labs got the same or slightly more. Nobody has published a lab run for the $129 model yet. Hands-on, T3 had 12% left after about four and a half hours with ANC on, and CNN's pair gave out between four and five hours into a flight.

> If your buds go back in the case between calls, AirPods 5 battery is a non-issue. If you listen nonstop, Pro 3 last about 70% longer per session than the wireless-case AirPods 5 in lab runs (8.7 h against 5.1 h).

## Side by side

<div class="ap-specs">

| | AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 wireless | Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $129 | $149 | $249 |
| Fit | Open, no tips | Open, no tips | In-ear, 5 tip sizes |
| Noise cut, lab (SoundGuys) | 59% | 59% | 90% |
| Noise isolation, lab (RTINGS) | Members only | Members only | −28.7 dB |
| Battery, Apple (bud / total) | 4 h / 20 h | 5 h / 22 h | 8 h / 24 h |
| Battery, lab | Not tested yet | 5.1 h / 22.5 h | 8.7 h |
| Stem controls | Press | Press + volume swipe | Touch + volume swipe |
| Case charging | USB-C | USB-C, Qi, Watch | + MagSafe |
| Find My speaker | No | Yes | Yes + Precision Finding |
| Hearing health | No | No | Yes |
| Heart-rate sensor | No | No | Yes |
| Dust &amp; water | IP57 | IP57 | IP57 |
| Released | Sep 2026 | Sep 2026 | Sep 2025 |

</div>

Both AirPods 5 models use the same buds, so one noise result covers both. Eurozone list price for the base AirPods 5 is €149. Retailers discount Pro 3 regularly, which can shrink the gap a lot.

## Which one is yours?

Flip on whatever applies to you.

<div class="ap-quiz ap-needs-js">
<label class="ap-q"><span>I fly or commute somewhere loud every week</span><input type="checkbox" data-k="loud"><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span></label>
<label class="ap-q"><span>Silicone ear tips bother me</span><input type="checkbox" data-k="tips"><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span></label>
<label class="ap-q"><span>I want hearing-health or heart-rate features</span><input type="checkbox" data-k="health"><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span></label>
<label class="ap-q"><span>I listen 5+ hours without a break</span><input type="checkbox" data-k="long"><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span></label>
<label class="ap-q"><span>Saving $100 matters more than the best ANC</span><input type="checkbox" data-k="budget"><span class="ap-toggle-ui" aria-hidden="true"></span></label>
</div>

<div class="ap-win ap-result" id="ap-result" aria-live="polite">
<div class="ap-win-title">verdict.txt</div>
<div class="ap-win-body"><b class="ap-result-title">Pick what fits</b><p class="ap-result-text">Short version: if tips bother you or the $100 matters, AirPods 5 with the wireless case. Loud commutes, health features or long sessions point to Pro 3.</p></div>
</div>

## Looking ahead

<div class="ap-ahead">

### Pro 3 won't go stale soon

Pro 2 lasted three years before Pro 3 replaced it. That's a pattern, not a promise, but buying Pro 3 a year in isn't buying at the end of its run.

### Software is closing the gap, hardware isn't

Live Translation, the new Siri, head gestures and iOS 27's custom EQ land on both. What keeps Pro ahead is physical: the seal, the sensors and the bigger battery. The bass gap in the band chart is a seal problem, and no update fixes that.

### Watch the price, not the calendar

Black Friday is a few weeks out. Pro 3 discounts can cut the $100 gap meaningfully, so if you lean Pro, wait for a deal.

</div>

## Where the numbers come from

Three kinds of number appear on this page, and each one is tagged. Here's where every one of them comes from, so you can check them or throw them out.

### Measured by a lab

| Number | Product | Lab | How it was measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59% less perceived noise, ANC on | AirPods 5 | [SoundGuys][sg5] | Test head (B&amp;K 5128) recorded with ANC on, ANC off and no earbuds, then averaged as a cut in perceived loudness. SoundGuys warns open-fit results vary with how the bud sits. |
| 90% less perceived noise, ANC on | Pro 3 | [SoundGuys][sgp3] | Same method. |
| −28.7 dB overall; bass −23.8, mid −32.4, treble −30.5 dB | Pro 3 | [RTINGS][rtp3] | RTINGS' noise isolation test, ANC on. Taken from RTINGS' public comparison tables; RTINGS now shows these values to paying members only. |
| Bass and treble about −5 dB vs target | AirPods 5 | [RTINGS][rt5] | Frequency response against RTINGS' target curve. Pro 3: +1 dB bass, −3 dB treble. |
| 5.1 h continuous, 22.5 h total, ANC on | AirPods 5 wireless | [RTINGS][rt5] | Continuous playback until the buds die, then recharged from the case. |
| 8 h 42 min, ANC on | Pro 3 | [SoundGuys][sgp3] | Music peaking at 75 dB SPL until the first bud stops ([method][sgmethod]). |
| About 9 h, ANC on | Pro 3 | [RTINGS][rtp3] | Continuous playback, ANC on. |
| About 20 dB in the mids and treble | AirPods 4 with ANC | [SoundGuys][sg4] | Not on the chart; used as a reference point for the estimates below. |

### Estimated here

**AirPods 5 per band: bass −6, mid −16, treble −18 dB.** No public per-band measurement exists yet. The shape comes from what both labs say about them: SoundGuys found they work best between about 1 and 9 kHz and struggle below 500 Hz, and RTINGS writes that they "struggle to block out sounds like engine rumble" while whine and chatter are "handily blocked out". AirPods 4 with ANC measured about 20 dB in the mids and treble, which sets a sensible ceiling for an open-fit design. I then checked the three values against the lab: they average out to a 57% cut in perceived loudness, next to SoundGuys' measured 59%.

**AirPods 5 overall: about −12.9 dB.** Converted straight from SoundGuys' 59% with the rule below.

**ANC off: AirPods 5 0 / −1 / −4 dB, Pro 3 −2 / −10 / −20 dB** (bass / mid / treble). These are the shakiest numbers on the page. Neither lab publishes ANC-off results for these models. An open shell doesn't seal, so AirPods 5 block next to nothing on their own. The Pro 3 figures are typical passive isolation for silicone-tipped earbuds: little bass, a fair bit of treble.

**Per-place results.** Each place in the noise room is a mix of bass, mids and treble: office hum 30/40/30, train and traffic 60/30/10, plane cabin 50/35/15, cafe voices 10/70/20. Those mixes are my judgement of where each noise sits, not measurements.

### The maths

Rule of thumb from psychoacoustics: every 10 dB of reduction roughly halves how loud something sounds. So the share of loudness that gets through is `2^(−dB / 10)`. For each place:

```
gets_through = Σ mix[band] × 2^(−reduction[band] / 10)

Pro 3, train, ANC on:
  0.60 × 2^(−23.8/10) + 0.30 × 2^(−32.4/10) + 0.10 × 2^(−30.5/10)
= 0.60 × 0.192 + 0.30 × 0.106 + 0.10 × 0.121
= 0.16  →  16% gets through
```

Sanity check: run RTINGS' three Pro 3 bands through the same formula with equal weights and you get an 86% cut. SoundGuys measured 90% on a different rig. Two labs, two methods, one story. The noise room's moving wave is decoration; the meter and the percentages come from this formula.

[sg5]: https://www.soundguys.com/apple-airpods-5-review-163483/
[sgp3]: https://www.soundguys.com/airpods-3-pro-vs-airpods-4-with-anc-which-apple-earbuds-should-you-buy-144911/
[sg4]: https://www.soundguys.com/airpods-3-pro-vs-airpods-4-with-anc-which-apple-earbuds-should-you-buy-144911/
[sgmethod]: https://www.soundguys.com/how-we-test/
[rt5]: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-5
[rtp3]: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-pro-3

## Sources

Lab data:

- [SoundGuys: AirPods 5 review](https://www.soundguys.com/apple-airpods-5-review-163483/)
- [SoundGuys: AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC (Pro 3 and AirPods 4 lab results)](https://www.soundguys.com/airpods-3-pro-vs-airpods-4-with-anc-which-apple-earbuds-should-you-buy-144911/)
- [SoundGuys: how we test](https://www.soundguys.com/how-we-test/)
- [RTINGS: AirPods 5 review](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-5)
- [RTINGS: AirPods Pro 3 review](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-pro-3)
- [RTINGS: AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/compare/apple-airpods-5-apple-airpods-pro-3/154358/113044)

Specs, prices and hands-on:

- [Apple Newsroom: AirPods 5 announcement (Sep 9, 2026)](https://www.apple.com/li/newsroom/2026/09/apple-introduces-airpods-5/)
- [MacRumors: AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3 buyer's guide](https://www.macrumors.com/guide/airpods-5-vs-airpods-pro-3/)
- [CNN Underscored: AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 5](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/airpods-pro-3-vs-airpods-5)
- [BGR: AirPods 5 review](https://www.bgr.com/2269100/airpods-5-review/)
- [T3: AirPods 5 review](https://www.t3.com/tech/earbuds/apple-airpods-5-review)
- [iClarified: AirPods 5 vs Pro 3](https://www.iclarified.com/102282/airpods-5-vs-airpods-pro-3-which-should-you-buy)
- [TODAY: AirPods 5 hands-on](https://www.today.com/shop/apple-airpods-5-review-rcna599286)

Prices are US list unless noted. Lab figures checked October 11, 2026.