Wireless earbuds · Ranked #3 of 31 · Best for open-fit comfort

Apple AirPods 5

90
Acclaimed
Average of 5 professional reviews
5 of 5 recommend it · critics agree
Where the 5 reviews landedRange 88–95

Exact average 90.4 · all scores printed by the outlets

Apple AirPods 5Image: Apple

5 professional reviewers tested the Apple AirPods 5, and 5 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and noise cancelling. Most common complaint: battery life.

Reviewed by Expert Reviews, Trusted Reviews, Tom's Guide and 2 more

The catch: Battery life is short, and the fit cannot be tuned with ear tips.

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What 5 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 95
    Expert ReviewsThe outlet's top rating, counted as 95 · Hands-on review · 2026

    A very enthusiastic take that sees the earbuds as big value for the money, with great comfort, sound and surprisingly capable noise cancelling.

    Read Expert Reviews review
  2. 90
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2026

    Solid open-fit earbuds with good ANC for the style and richer sound than the previous generation.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  3. 90
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2026

    The reviewer was won over by a clear sound upgrade at a lower price, with decent ANC and strong call quality.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  4. 89
    CNETHands-on review · 2026

    Better sound and noise cancelling than expected, with improved value and strong calls.

    Read CNET review
  5. 88
    EngadgetHands-on review · 2026

    Impressive open earbuds with ANC on every model and a clear audio step up.

    Read Engadget review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Sound quality5 of 5
Noise cancelling5 of 5
Comfort2 of 5

What critics dislike most

Battery life3 of 5
Fit and comfort2 of 5

Other wireless earbuds critics rate highly

Sony WF-C710NImage: Sony
Top pick, narrowlySony WF-C710N4 reviews · critics agree94
EarFun Air Pro 4+Image: EarFun
Best budget earbud soundEarFun Air Pro 4+4 reviews · broad agreement91
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2Image: Jabra
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 24 reviews · broad agreement88
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)Image: Bose
Best noise cancellingBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)12 reviews · broad agreement87

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Common questions

Is the Apple AirPods 5 worth it?

Most critics think so: 5 of 5 recommend it. Battery life is short, and the fit cannot be tuned with ear tips.

Do critics agree about the Apple AirPods 5?

Critics agree: scores range from 88 (Engadget) to 95 (Expert Reviews), a spread of 7 points across 5 reviews. Reviewers broadly agree.

What do critics dislike about the Apple AirPods 5?

Battery life (3 of 5 reviews), Fit and comfort (2 of 5 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Apple AirPods 5?

The Sony WF-C710N (critic score 94), top pick, narrowly.