AirPods 5 Announced: Swipe Controls Are the Upgrade I Wanted
AirPods 5 is not shaping up as a massive overhaul, but Apple has addressed the things that matter most to me. Swipe controls, more battery with ANC, and improved noise cancelling make this a very promising open-ear update.
By James · Picky Audio
· 4 min read
QUICK TAKE
The AirPods 5 update has me excited because the AirPods 4 ANC are already among my most-used earbuds. They are comfortable, the case is tiny, and the noise cancelling and sound are good enough for an open-ear design. My big complaint was the lack of swipe control, and Apple has finally added it.
If you hate ear tips, AirPods 5 could become one of my most recommended earbuds. I still need to test them, especially the claimed ANC, microphone and sound improvements, but Apple appears to be upgrading the important stuff rather than changing things for the sake of it.
What is new on AirPods 5?
The headline feature for me is swipe control for volume. That is an absolutely massive upgrade personally, because it was the one feature I kept wanting from the AirPods 4 ANC.
Apple also claims 1.5 times more noise cancelling, improved sound through a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture, new microphones, and an IP57 dust and water resistance rating. AirPods 4 have an IP54 rating, so the new model adds a bit more resistance.
The familiar features remain, including Transparency, Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. I use Adaptive Audio a ton because it lets me hear my surroundings, then brings in noise cancelling when something noisy such as a kettle or blender starts up. It works really well on AirPods.
AirPods 5 details discussed in the announcement
| Starting price | 219 Australian dollars, 129 US dollars |
|---|---|
| Noise cancelling claim | 1.5 times more noise cancelling |
| Battery with ANC | 5 hours |
| Total battery with ANC | 22 hours |
| Durability rating | IP57 |
| Fast charge | 5 minutes |
How the two AirPods 5 versions differ
Both AirPods 5 versions include active noise cancelling. Apple has dropped the separate non-noise-cancelling edition, but the cheaper version does not have swipe control and has shorter battery life.
The version with the charging case gets 5 hours of listening with noise cancelling enabled, while the other version gets 4 hours. The total stated battery life with noise cancelling enabled is 22 hours for the more expensive version and 20 hours for the other one.
The Apple comparison page was confusing around battery figures, but the clearest takeaway is an extra hour per charge and two extra hours overall with ANC for the version I am getting.
Why AirPods 5 could be the open-ear earbuds to beat
The AirPods 4 ANC do not have the best noise cancelling or the best sound, but I use them constantly because nothing is shoved into my ears. They fit me perfectly, and I do not have to worry as much about earwax buildup because there is nothing digging into my ear canal.
Open earbuds do not work for everybody, and the AirPods 4 ANC let low-frequency noise through more easily because there is no ear-tip seal. I would not really recommend them for a plane. Their handling of mids was okay, while inconsistent high-frequency sounds were not that great. Even so, the ANC was already impressive for an earbud without ear tips.
The AirPods 4 ANC sound pretty decent for an open earbud, almost close to a regular in-ear earbud. At higher volumes, though, I find the treble a little harsh. I am keen to hear whether AirPods 5 improves that, as well as the microphones. The older model’s microphones work well with iOS Voice Isolation, but they are not great without it.
AirPods 5 release timing
AirPods 5 are due to arrive in Australia on September 18, and I have already ordered the version with the charging case. I am looking forward to putting the ANC, calls and sound improvements to the test once I have them.
THE VERDICT
This is not a massive upgrade, but it is upgrading what is important. I wanted swipe control, slightly better battery life and, ideally, better sound. If Apple delivers on those improvements, AirPods 5 could be a standout option for people who hate ear tips. Stay picky.
