Wireless Earbuds · owner-verdict comparison

Apple AirPods 4 vs Apple AirPods 5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods 5: 65% of 129 owners recommend it, vs 58% of 113 for the Apple AirPods 4.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Apple AirPods 4

58%of 113 owners recommend
58% recommend · 15% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Very comfortable for long wear, no silicone tips in the ear canal
  • ANC is impressive for an open, non-sealed earbud
  • Noticeably better sound than older AirPods
Owners complain about
  • Fall out or work loose with movement since there are no ear tips
  • Short battery life, especially with ANC on
  • ANC is weaker and more limited than the sealed Pro 2
Full owner report →

Apple AirPods 5

65%of 129 owners recommend
65% recommend · 9% neutral · 26% don't
Owners praise
  • Comfortable open fit for owners who can't stand silicone ear tips
  • Noise canceling that owners call surprisingly strong for an earbud without a seal
  • Sound that most owners who mention it like
Owners complain about
  • Fit doesn't suit every ear: some owners say one or both buds keep falling out, and a few say they hurt
  • Noise canceling falls short of sealed models like the AirPods Pro 3
  • Sound tuning divides owners, with complaints of muddy or overpowering bass from some and a lack of punch from others
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Apple AirPods 4 if
  • ✓People who dislike silicone in-ear tips
  • ✓Unusual ear shapes that reject Pro tips
  • ✓Calls in windy, noisy places needing a strong mic
  • ✓Everyday commuting and around-the-house listening
Skip it if
  • Running and workouts, where they slip out
  • Long days needing extended battery life
Get the Apple AirPods 5 if
  • ✓People who find silicone ear tips uncomfortable but still want noise canceling
  • ✓Owners of first- or second-generation AirPods ready for noise canceling
  • ✓Casual, all-day listening at work or at home
Skip it if
  • People whose ears don't hold a tipless earbud, since some owners say one or both buds keep falling out
  • Buyers who want the strongest noise canceling, where owners who compare the two say the AirPods Pro 3 blocks more

What Apple AirPods 4 owners say

“SON GENIALES ! El sonido es muy bueno”
— @ing.alanaranda1317 on YouTube
“they're way more comfortable than other versions, even without noise cancellation they're very, very good”
— @emmanuelcastro749 on YouTube
“la verdad son un desperdicio los 4ta y no traen cable”
— @silvestre_7439 on YouTube

What Apple AirPods 5 owners say

“these are by far the best airpods apple has made great fit (although the gen 2 are my favorite fit) best sound and has the option of anc / transparency plus the new equalizer is really handy and the volume swipe and extra battery are worth it in my opinion”
— @Ghostface1216 on YouTube
“Just bought the 5’s with the upgraded case coming from 1st gen that finally died. Wow, night and day difference. ANC is really good and they sound great”
— @stevenhintz5508 on YouTube
“I just got them, the bummer thing is the ANC being too strong I can't stand the pressure in my ears”
— @captainsparrow1229 on YouTube

Apple AirPods 4 vs Apple AirPods 5: frequently asked questions

Is the Apple AirPods 4 or the Apple AirPods 5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods 5: 65% of 129 owners recommend it, vs 58% of 113 for the Apple AirPods 4.

Who should get the Apple AirPods 4?

Owners point the Apple AirPods 4 at people who dislike silicone in-ear tips, and unusual ear shapes that reject Pro tips.

Who should get the Apple AirPods 5?

Owners point the Apple AirPods 5 at people who find silicone ear tips uncomfortable but still want noise canceling, and owners of first- or second-generation AirPods ready for noise canceling.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Apple AirPods 4 is fall out or work loose with movement since there are no ear tips. For the Apple AirPods 5, it's fit doesn't suit every ear: some owners say one or both buds keep falling out, and a few say they hurt.