Objective Comparison
AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3
The Verdict
For a daily commuter, the AirPods Pro 3 are worth the extra investment if blocking out transit noise is your priority, as their in-ear seal provides significantly more effective isolation than the AirPods 5's open-ear design. If you find in-ear tips uncomfortable, the AirPods 5 offer surprisingly capable ANC that is excellent for general podcast listening.
Detailed Attribute Comparison
| Attribute | AirPods 5 | AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Fit Style | Open-ear (semi-in-ear) | In-ear (with silicone tips) |
| Noise Cancellation Capability | Active Noise Cancellation (Open-ear) | Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (In-ear) |
| Health Features | Not available | Heart rate sensing, Hearing Health Suite |
| Battery Life (ANC Enabled) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Starting Price | $129 | $249 |
| Volume Control | Available on $149 model only | Standard on all models |
| Chipset | H2 Chip | H2 Chip |
| Water/Dust Resistance | IP57 | IP57 |
Sources
6 sites were read by a live web search while this comparison was written.
Searches run:
- “current status of AirPods Pro 3 release date specs”
- “current status of AirPods 5 release date specs”
- “are AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 available for purchase September 2026”