Is New ALWAYS Better?? - Airpods 5 Review

Product reviewed

Apple AirPods 5 (wireless charging case), reviewed as an upgrade to AirPods 4 (with ANC).

Key features mentioned

• Packaging/accessories: A “typical Apple” box with a pamphlet/how-to; basically only the earbuds are included (no major extras highlighted).
• Design/build: Similar to recent AirPods models—white plastic with metal grills and sensors that detect when you put the earbuds in/out.
• $150 model upgrades (vs a cheaper version):
  • Volume sliders on the earbuds (similar to AirPods Pro)
  • Slightly longer battery life (exact increase not specified beyond total figures below)
  • Built-in speaker in the case for locating it via Apple devices
  • Case supports wireless charging and an Apple Watch charger (instead of only USB‑C)
• Charging/listening battery life (reported):
  • ~5 hours use per charge with ANC on
  • ~22 hours total with the charging case
• Fit & durability:
  • Same fit as AirPods 4: good for walking/sitting, less stable while eating
  • Not ideal for heavier activity—gym/workouts can cause them to fall out, though upright lifting may be better
  • IP57 rated for water/dust/sweat
• Audio features:
  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
  • Transparency mode
  • Adaptive Audio
  • Siri support via the earbud mic
• ANC performance claim: Cancels “about 90% of sounds” around you.
• Call support: Built-in mic for calls/meetings/video calls.

User experience & comfort

• Comfort: Fits similarly to AirPods 4 and is fine for normal movement and desk use.
• Stability issues:
  • Eating can make them feel like they’re slipping
  • Workouts (beyond basic upright lifting) likely won’t be reliable
• Transparency mode: Clear enough to gauge speaking volume; background can sound slightly tinny, but not harsh or louder than real life.
• Adaptive audio behavior: Distant sounds become quieter while closer sounds stay more natural—useful for “partially turning the world off.”

Sound quality (main findings)

Volume loudness

• Tested on a MacBook Pro at about 9/16, and they’re described as plenty loud.

Overall tonal balance (reviewer’s take)

• Bass: Very heavy / “wall of bass”

  • Bass guitars are forward/thick with lots of power
  • Electronic bass feels extremely intense (“felt like being at a rave”)
  • Drums are punchy and wide/deep, but the overall tuning is geared more toward fun/exaggerated impact than accuracy

• Mids (vocals/instruments):

  • Female vocals: detailed timbre with low shout/sibilance; slightly veiled and recessed vs low end, but still positive overall
  • Cellos/brass/guitars: more dampened/recessed, sounding less lively/speedy
  • Brass (including sax) described as somewhat uninspired/dampened, causing dullness
  • Electric/acoustic guitars can be buried by low end
  • Overall complaint: mids are “disappointing,” described as veil-like—specifically likened to the Sennheiser HD 600 treble/veil issue, but here it occurs in the mids

• Treble:

  • Neutral-to-dark, with no sibilance at all (even on tracks that normally show harsh consonants)
  • Treble instruments/consonants can sound flat/dull, with quick roll-off and lack of “air” (“dead” top end)
  • Cymbals/hi-hats keep some timbre but remain recessed and fade quickly

Soundstage & imaging

• Soundstage: Very wide/open for earbuds; compared to a medium-sized stage / open-back headphone feel.
• Imaging: Strong tracking and separation for the class.
• Separation limitation: Still constrained by lossy Bluetooth and a small driver; instruments can feel a bit “meshed.”

EQ / tuning & comparison to iOS EQ

• Notes that iOS 27 adds a three-band EQ for AirPods.
• Reviewer’s experience: EQ is hard to make work due to limited control:
  • Lowering bass to reduce sub-bass makes bass guitars anemic/dead
  • Adjusting mids can help vocals, but may introduce other problems (e.g., guitars becoming nasal on some tracks)
  • Treble boost helps slightly, but doesn’t fully fix dullness/recessed top
• Verdict: EQ is helpful but full of compromises; reviewer wants at least a five-band EQ.

Pros (unique points)

• Volume sliders on the $150 model (no need to reach for your phone)
• Better usability features on the $150 model:
  • Built-in case speaker to help locate the case
  • Wireless charging / Apple Watch charger support for the case
• Strong ANC (claims ~90% noise reduction)
• Transparency mode is clear; adaptive audio helps partially reduce the world
• Battery life: ~5 hours (ANC) and ~22 hours with the case
• Soundstage and imaging: open/wide presentation with good instrument positioning for earbuds
• No sibilance: smoother treble on harsh tracks

Cons (unique points)

• Imbalanced tuning for long listening:
  • Overwhelming bass can feel like “rave” intensity
  • Mids are dampened/recessed; brass/guitars can sound dull or buried
  • Treble lacks “air” and can sound flat/dull due to recessed/rolled-off top
• EQ limitations: iOS three-band EQ can’t correct the signature without tradeoffs
• Fit stability issues:
  • Slipping risk while eating
  • Likely poor for gym/workouts (better mainly for upright lifting)

Comparisons mentioned

• AirPods 4: similar design/fit; AirPods 5 ANC is described as similar to AirPods 4.
• Previous AirPods history:
  • Liked AirPods Pro 2
  • Disliked AirPods Pro 3
  • Tolerated AirPods 2 mostly for low-volume listening
• Upcoming comparison: The reviewer says an AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 comparison is “coming real soon.”
• Tonal comparison concept: “Veil” effect compared to Sennheiser HD 600, but specifically noted as occurring in the mids on the AirPods.
• Hearing loudness reference: Soundstage/imaging compared to larger/open-back headphones; mentions Sennheiser HD 800 as a benchmark, with the note that earbuds can’t match big-driver separation.

Verdict / recommendation (based on the review)

Worth it only if you want a bass-forward, smooth/low-harshness sound and strong ANC features. If you care about bright, detailed treble and more balanced/accurate mids, the reviewer suggests looking elsewhere—possibly AirPods 4—because the sound tuning “falls flat” despite the excellent ANC and wide soundstage.

Speaker breakdown

Single primary speaker throughout; no distinct multi-speaker segments clearly separated in the subtitles.