Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5: Why I’m Switching From AirPods Pro 3

After a month with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, I’m ready to set my AirPods Pro 3 aside. Apple’s earbuds still have a real advantage in how easily they fit into the company’s ecosystem, but the Sennheisers have become my pick for listening, calls and long-term ownership. Their sound suits me better, their app gives me more ways to tune it, and their batteries can be replaced.

That’s a notable change for someone who has relied on AirPods Pro 2 and then AirPods Pro 3 as daily earbuds. Convenience kept me coming back to Apple, even when I was trying other models. The Momentum True Wireless 5 have finally made me reconsider what matters most once the music starts.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5

A fuller sound, with trade-offs

The most immediate difference is the way music comes across. I’ve never found the AirPods Pro 3 unpleasant to listen to, but the Sennheisers sound fuller and richer to me. Bass has more punch, and it’s easier for me to follow separate instruments when a track gets busy. I heard that especially clearly in Far From Any Road by The Handsome Family, where the layers stood out more distinctly through the Sennheisers.

I haven’t needed to adjust their equalizer to get that result. The default setting already works for my taste, which matters: flexibility is useful, but I don’t want to have to tune a pair of earbuds just to enjoy them.

My preference doesn’t mean the Sennheisers are objectively more detailed or better balanced. Sound is personal, and the reviewer’s testing found strengths and compromises in both pairs. The AirPods Pro 3 use loudness-dependent EQ, changing bass and treble with listening volume. As Christian Thomas has explained, testing found that the AirPods can boost both ends of the range significantly at lower volumes. Depending on the listener, that can make music feel too bass-heavy or the treble too sharp.

The Momentum True Wireless 5 also shape the sound. Testing found added emphasis in deeper bass notes, which may help explain why I hear more weight and punch. Some higher-pitched sounds also come through strongly enough to make certain vocals seem harsh. That trade-off is worth keeping in mind if you prefer a more restrained sound.

Even with those caveats, I enjoy music more on the Sennheisers. Switching between them and the AirPods made the difference clear to me, although someone who values the AirPods’ tuning or Apple integration more may reach a different conclusion.

The app gives me room to tune

Sennheiser’s Smart Control Plus app is another reason I’m comfortable making these my main earbuds. It includes an eight-band equalizer, personalized sound settings, and the ability to save and share EQ presets. I’ve stayed with the default EQ so far, but I like having the option to lift the bass or soften the higher frequencies if my preferences change.

Apple has added EQ controls with iOS 27, but the Sennheiser app offers more adjustment in this comparison. Plenty of listeners will never open an equalizer, and that’s fine. For people who do want more say over how their earbuds sound, an eight-band tool and saved presets make the control practical rather than merely theoretical.

Apple’s EQ controls with iOS 27

Call quality is a closer contest than I expected

The AirPods Pro 3 have long been my preferred earbuds for calls. People have told me they can barely tell whether I’m speaking through the earbuds or directly through my iPhone. That made me expect the Sennheisers to be a step down, but I prefer their microphone sound in the recordings from our testing.

The difference is in the character of the voice. The Momentum True Wireless 5 give it a fuller, heavier presentation; the AirPods Pro 3 sound lighter and clearer. Neither quality automatically makes one microphone better for everyone. I simply prefer the more natural-sounding weight I hear from the Sennheisers.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Apple AirPods Pro 3 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Those demos let you compare the ideal-condition recordings directly. They don’t establish how either pair will sound in every setting, but they show why my preference isn’t based just on listening to music.

Replaceable batteries could extend their useful life

The Sennheisers have an advantage that’s easy to overlook when comparing sound: their batteries are user-replaceable. That applies to the earbuds themselves as well as the charging case. If battery life declines after years of use, owners can replace the batteries with the appropriate parts and a small screwdriver instead of having to replace the entire pair.

It’s a hands-on repair, not as simple as swapping batteries in a remote. Still, it gives the earbuds another potential path to continued use. For people who keep their headphones for years, that can matter as much as a sound feature. Apple’s AirPods don’t offer the same replacement option.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

What I’d choose

After a month, I’m switching to the Momentum True Wireless 5. I prefer their fuller presentation, their call recordings and the ability to replace their batteries. Their adjustable EQ is a useful extra, even though I haven’t needed to change the default sound.

There are still reasons an iPhone owner might stick with AirPods Pro 3. They work more conveniently with Apple’s ecosystem, and I wish the Sennheiser charging case were smaller. My choice comes down to which advantages I’ll notice most often: the AirPods’ convenience or the Sennheisers’ sound, microphones and repairable batteries. For me, the latter now wins.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5

• Sound quality
• Noise cancelation
• User-replaceable battery
• Shareable EQ presets

MSRP: $299.95

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 is the company’s latest top-end earbuds, with user-replaceable batteries.

See price at Amazon