A hands-on review published September 29, 2026, reported that AirPods 5 active noise cancellation (ANC) reduced much of the noise on a New York City subway and the clatter of a mechanical keyboard in an office. Both configurations include ANC. Apple lists the standard model at $129 in the US and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case at $149.
The reported results are encouraging for open-ear earbuds, but the fit is the key trade-off: AirPods 5 have no silicone tips to form a passive seal. The $20 difference between configurations buys wireless charging, case features and an extra hour of stated ANC playback per charge.
Subway and office noise: what the review reported
The hands-on account described ANC reducing much of the sound in two everyday settings: a New York City subway and an office with a mechanical keyboard. These are qualitative listening impressions, not a measured percentage of noise reduction.
ANC uses microphones and signal processing to reduce ambient sound. It can help with noise, but it does not make every sound disappear. With an open-ear design, there is no silicone tip sealing the ear canal against outside sound.
Apple’s ANC and battery specifications
Apple lists ANC on both AirPods 5 configurations. The company says the earbuds offer up to 1.5 times the ANC of AirPods 4 with ANC. That is Apple’s product comparison.
For playback with ANC on, Apple lists up to 4 hours per charge for AirPods 5 and up to 5 hours for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. If you use ANC for long stretches away from a charger, that extra hour may matter more than the case’s other conveniences.
The two configurations and US prices
Both versions include ANC. The wireless-charging configuration also supports volume adjustment by swiping on the earbud stem, and its case has a speaker compatible with Find My. Apple says the case can charge with a Qi-certified charger or an Apple Watch charger.
| Configuration | ANC playback per charge (up to) | Case and control features | US-listed price |
| AirPods 5 | 4 hours | USB-C charging case | $129 |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | 5 hours | Wireless charging; case speaker compatible with Find My; stem-swipe volume adjustment | $149 |
If USB-C charging suits your routine, the $129 model includes the central feature: ANC. The $149 version is the one to consider if you want wireless case charging, Find My support for the case, stem-swipe volume control or the additional stated hour of ANC playback.
The open fit and alternatives
The same hands-on account described the fit as somewhat loose. That impression won’t apply to every wearer, but it points to the practical difference between an open-ear earbud and a sealed in-ear design: ANC is available in both AirPods 5 versions, while the open fit does not provide the passive isolation of silicone tips.
If a sealed fit and stronger ANC are higher priorities, Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to three times the ANC of AirPods 5. They use silicone tips, unlike the open-ear AirPods 5.
A hands-on look at the controls
The hands-on video shows the open-ear design, product handling and stem-swipe volume control.
