AirPods 5 vs. AirPods Pro 3: Why I’d Wait for a Pro Deal

The AirPods 5 make Apple’s open-ear earbuds more capable: both versions add active noise canceling (ANC), while the $149 model also brings wireless charging, swipe volume controls, a case speaker and an extra hour of rated battery life. But after wearing AirPods for nearly a decade, I’d skip them. Their fit-dependent sound and noise reduction are a big compromise, and the $149 price puts the better-sealed AirPods Pro 3 within reach, especially when those are discounted.

That doesn’t make the AirPods 5 a poor choice for everyone. Their open design can be more comfortable than silicone or foam tips, which some people find painful or pressurized during long listening sessions. The problem is that the design leaves little room to adjust the fit. If it doesn’t suit your ears, the features on the spec sheet can’t fix that.

The fit determines what you get

Like earlier open-style AirPods and wired EarPods, the AirPods 5 use a hard plastic shell and send sound toward the ear canal through a mesh opening. They don’t include interchangeable ear tips. That makes them quick to put on, but it also means you can’t choose a different tip size to help one earbud fit more securely than the other.

That matters for me because my ears aren’t shaped the same way. I need a smaller tip on the earbud that sits in my right ear, an adjustment that’s easy with tip-based earbuds and impossible with the AirPods 5. One fixed shape may work well for some people, but it can leave others with a loose fit or discomfort.

Fit also affects sound and isolation. Ear tips create a physical seal that helps contain bass and block outside noise. ANC can reduce some unwanted sound, but it can’t fully make up for a poor seal. As our AirPods 5 review found, both sound quality and perceived noise reduction can change substantially depending on how the earbuds sit. With a good fit, they perform well for unsealed earbuds, even besting the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4. With a bad one, their appeal drops quickly.

There’s a real reason to choose an open design: ear tips don’t feel comfortable for everyone. If you get pressure or soreness from sealed earbuds, the AirPods 5 may let you listen for longer with less fatigue. They’re designed for people who don’t get along with the fit of the AirPods Pro 3 and similar models, as much as for shoppers seeking a less expensive pair. The question is whether Apple’s particular shape works for you.

Clip-ons are another option

Shoppers who want open earbuds have more choices than the AirPods 5. The Galaxy Buds 4 share some of the same fit challenges, based on my experience. Clip-on earbuds take a different approach: they sit around the earlobe rather than relying on an ear tip or the same in-ear fit. That can preserve the open, low-pressure feel while adding a more secure hold.

The CMF Clip Pro is listed at $79 at Amazon, about half the price of the AirPods 5 with wireless charging. At a higher price, the Sony LinkBuds Clip costs $229.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, and includes optional silicone stabilizers. The Bose Ultra Open 2 is another option at the high end, listed at $299 at Amazon.

Clip-ons generally lack ANC, which gives the AirPods 5 an advantage on features. Yet the base model’s rated battery life is only four hours, and that limited runtime weakens the case for accepting a fit that may not work. For me, the secure fit of clip-ons would matter more than having some ANC in an open design. The right choice depends on whether noise reduction or comfort is the bigger priority.

AirPods Pro 3 close the price gap

The AirPods Pro 3 add features that make them a significant step up for listeners who can wear ear tips.

The $129 AirPods 5 leave out swipe volume controls and have the shorter battery rating. I’d look instead at the $149 version if I wanted the AirPods 5: it’s rated for five hours and adds wireless charging, a Find My speaker in the case and swipe controls. But at that price, the $249 AirPods Pro 3 are close enough to enter the conversation.

The Pro 3’s feature set is a more substantial upgrade if you’re comfortable with its hybrid silicone and foam ear tips. They include an optical heart rate monitor for workouts, better sound and ANC that reduced outside noise by an average of 90% in SoundGuys’ testing. The sealed fit helps explain the performance difference, but it’s also the reason these earbuds won’t suit people who dislike ear tips.

Our AirPods Pro 3 review details the model’s performance. For shoppers who can tolerate its fit, the more capable ANC and sound make it the stronger Apple option. If ear tips cause discomfort, that added performance won’t be much use during a long listening session.

Watch the Pro 3 price

AirPods Pro 3 discounts can bring them close to the price of the better-equipped AirPods 5.

Although the AirPods Pro 3 list for $249, they’re frequently discounted. They’re currently listed at $199 at Amazon; another Amazon listing shows $249. At $199, the difference from the $149 AirPods 5 is $50. That’s an easier upgrade to justify if you want a sealed fit and can wear ear tips comfortably.

Discounts could improve as the holiday shopping period approaches. CamelCamelCamel lists the lowest Amazon price recorded for the AirPods Pro 3 as $169, just $20 above the $149 AirPods 5’s retail price. That history doesn’t guarantee another drop, but it gives shoppers a useful reference point when comparing offers.

My pick would be to watch AirPods Pro 3 prices as Black Friday approaches, or consider the $199 Amazon listing now. If ear tips aren’t an option, try open and clip-on designs in person where possible. The AirPods 5’s ANC and Apple features are appealing, but the fit is what decides whether those features matter.