Apple AirPods 5 評測：迄今最佳開放式耳機

Apple’s latest AirPods set a new standard for open-fit buds with upgraded noise cancelling that now rivals many plugged-in designs of the same price.

The AirPods 5 have the same design the popular AirPods 4 offering an option for those that do not like silicone ear tips used by most noise cancelling earbuds. They come in two versions, with or without a wireless charging case and swipe controls, costing from £119 (€149/$129/A$219) – £10 cheaper than the launch price of their predecessors.

The earbuds and case are almost indistinguishable from the AirPods 4, which makes the case very small and easy to pocket, fitting in the watch pocket of a pair of jeans.

The buds are some of the most comfortable open-fit designs available and stayed put when commuting, running for the train and generally going about the day. But for those that didn’t get on with the previous design of the AirPods, these are unlikely to change that, and they have no stability wings or similar to keep them in place for vigorous exercise.

The stalk has a pressure-sensitive panel you squeeze once, twice or thrice for playback controls. A squeeze and hold changes the noise cancelling mode or activates Siri. On the more expensive versions with a wireless charging case, the panel is also touch-sensitive for swipe volume controls – the same system used in the AirPods Pro to great effect.

Specifications

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, SBC, AAC, H2 chip

• Battery life: four or five hours with ANC (22 hours with case)

• Water resistance: IP57 (up to 1 metre for 30 minutes)

• Earbud dimensions: 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.1mm

• Earbud weight: 4.3g each

• Charging case dimensions: 46.2 x 50.1 x 21.2mm

• Charging case weight: 32.3g/34.7g

• Case charging: USB-C or wireless (Qi or Watch)

Up to five hours of battery life

The cheapest AirPods 5 have up to four hours playback with noise cancelling and a case that can charge them four times for a total of 20 hours playback.

The AirPods 5 with wireless charging case have longer battery life lasting slightly more than five hours of playback with noise cancelling with a total of 22 hours playback using charges in the case. That’s long enough for a week of commuting, but far behind the best in the business. A compromise for the design and super-compact case.

Upgraded sound and noise cancelling

The new AirPods have noticeably improved noise cancelling and sound. They produce fairly detailed sound with good separation of tones and can handle complex and overlapping tracks very well. But it is the additional bass that helps them produce a fuller, more rounded sound that wipes the floor with most other open-fit rivals and compares well to many decent earbuds with silicone tips. They may not satisfy audiophiles but they are a great listen.

The noise cancelling is equally effective, managing to quiet busy roads, the drone of engines or fans, and dampen background chatter. It struggles with higher tones, such as loud keyboard clicks or the screeches from train wheels, but does as good a job as many similarly-priced noise cancelling earbuds with silicone tips and is miles ahead of the open-fit competition.

They suffer a little from wind noise and can’t rival the sound dampening of the best earbuds with tips from Sony, Bose or the AirPods Pro 3, but still do a solid job.

The transparency mode is first class, sounding almost exactly like not wearing them at all, which is great for awareness on the street. Call quality is equally good coming through loud and clear with only a hint of sudden background noise when passing something particularly loud.

The AirPods 5 support Apple’s various smart features with an iPhone, such as direct access to the new Siri, live translation, automatic volume adjustment, spatial audio, audio sharing, the ability to pause music when falling asleep and optimised battery charging to increase its longevity.

Sustainability

Batteries in earbuds typically maintain at least 80% of their original capacity for 500 charge cycles. Apple offers a battery service for £49 per earbud or case and replacements cost from £69. The specialists iFixit awarded the earbuds two out of 10 for repairability. The AirPods 5 are made with 40% recycled material, which the company breaks down in its environmental impact report. The company offers trade-in and free recycling schemes, including for non-Apple products.

Price

The AirPods 5 cost £119 (€149/$129/A$219) or £139 (€169/$149/A$249) with a wireless charging case and touch controls.

For comparison, the AirPods Pro 3 cost £219, the AirPods Max 2 cost £499, the Google Pixel Buds 2a cost £129 and the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 cost £129.

Verdict

The AirPods 5 take the comfortable open-fit design of their predecessors and upgrade the sound and noise cancelling to rival many plugged-in earbuds with silicone tips, which is quite a feat.

They provide a good amount of bass for a full, detailed sound that’s a great general listen and a step above most open-fit rivals. The noise cancelling is capable of dampening unwanted sound to tolerable levels, comparing well with better than average silicone-equipped earbuds. It can’t match the best plugged-in earbuds, but it is certainly good enough. Apple’s transparency mode and call quality are top-notch, and it’s hard to fault the earbuds for daily use with a compact design that’s easy to pocket.

The battery life is a little short, and while they work with any Bluetooth device, I wouldn’t recommend them to people who don’t have at least one iPhone, iPad or Mac.

There are few great open-fit earbuds, but if you didn’t get on with other AirPods, these won’t tip the balance. The extra money for swipe volume controls and longer battery life is worth it, if you’re considering them.

The fifth-generation earbuds are marginally more repairable than their predecessors, which opens up the possibility of replacing the batteries down the line, but otherwise they are just as disposable as most other earbuds.

Pros: comfortable open fit, good sound and noise cancelling, great case, great playback and volume controls, great connectivity, special features with Apple devices including spatial audio, great call quality.

Cons: battery life could be better, little passive noise isolation, lack of features when connected to non-Apple devices, no Bluetooth multipoint or higher quality audio format support, difficult to repair.