Head-to-head · spec by spec, a verdict per need

AirPods 5 vs AirPods Pro 3 2026

Apple AirPods 5 are the pick if you want an open fit at the lower price.

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It has Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design, which Apple says gives up to 1.5x more than AirPods 4. Pick Apple AirPods Pro 3 for a sealed fit, heart rate sensing and workouts, with five ear tip sizes and IP57 sweat and water resistance.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 28 October 2026

Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)See it on Amazon

Apple AirPods Pro 3See it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou find in-ear tips uncomfortable	Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the lower price	Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the longest battery on one charge	Apple AirPods Pro 3	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want heart rate sensing in workouts	Apple AirPods Pro 3	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features	Apple AirPods Pro 3	See it on Amazon

At a glance

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1★ Top pick
Apple
Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)Best for open fit at the lower price
Open-ear noise cancelling and up to 20 hours with the case
See it on Amazon
2
Apple
Apple AirPods Pro 3Best for sealed fit, health and workouts
Sweat and water resistant earbuds with heart rate sensing for workouts
See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate

The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	Price	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)	open fit at the lower price	£119	Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design, powered by the H2 chip. Apple says it gives up to 1.5x more ANC than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.	See it on Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro 3	sealed fit, health and workouts	£219	Apple says up to 8 hours of listening on one charge with Active Noise Cancellation, and up to 24 hours with the MagSafe Charging Case.	See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 25 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get the right AirPods for your iPhone, first time. Choose AirPods 5 for an open fit with Active Noise Cancellation, Live Translation and Personalised Spatial Audio. Choose AirPods Pro 3 for a sealed fit, up to 8 hours of listening with noise cancellation, heart rate sensing and IP57 dust, sweat and water resistance. Fit, battery and health features decide your pick.

Both in detail

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1★ Top pickBest for open fit at the lower price

Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)

Open-ear noise cancelling and up to 20 hours with the case.

What it is: AirPods 5 are open-ear earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which cuts out background sound, powered by the H2 chip. Apple says you get up to 4 hours on one charge with ANC, up to 20 hours with the case, and around 1 hour from five minutes in the case.
Perfect for: This suits shoppers who want noise cancelling with an open-ear fit rather than a sealed one.
Why we picked it: The new bit is up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than AirPods 4 with ANC, according to Apple. Live Translation, Siri AI and Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking come built in too.
What's new: Apple says up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
Price: £119 (apple.com, checked 25 October 2026)

Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design, powered by the H2 chip. Apple says it gives up to 1.5x more ANC than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
Apple says up to 4 hours on one charge with ANC and up to 20 hours with the case. Five minutes in the case gives around 1 hour.
It has Live Translation and Siri AI, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and Adaptive Audio.

The catch: Apple lists no heart rate sensing and no Hearing Test, Hearing Aid or Hearing Protection on AirPods 5, and the standard case charges by USB-C only.

Check today's price on Amazon

2Best for sealed fit, health and workouts

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Sweat and water resistant earbuds with heart rate sensing for workouts.

What it is: Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are wireless earbuds with a sealed fit, which means a snug seal inside your ear, plus heart rate sensing for workouts. Apple says you get up to 8 hours of listening on one charge with Active Noise Cancellation on, and up to 24 hours with the MagSafe Charging Case.
Perfect for: These suit you best if you want a sealed fit and care about health tracking and workouts.
Why we picked it: Apple says it removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2, which is the big step up from the last Pro. It is also the first AirPods with IP57 dust, sweat and water resistance, so you can wear them through a sweaty session.
What's new: Apple says it removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2, and adds heart rate sensing and an IP57 rating (a first for AirPods).
Price: £219 (apple.com, checked 25 October 2026)

Apple says up to 8 hours of listening on one charge with Active Noise Cancellation, and up to 24 hours with the MagSafe Charging Case.
Heart rate sensing during workouts is built in.
Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features are included. Apple says the Hearing Aid feature is for mild to moderate hearing loss.
Five silicone ear tip sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L) come in the box, and the earbuds and case are IP57 dust, sweat and water resistant.

The catch: At £219 it is the most expensive AirPods earbud, £100 more than AirPods 5 at £119.

Check today's price on Amazon

How we chose

Our buying criteria

To make this list, a pair had to be sold on Apple's UK site and give a clear answer on four things: fit, battery, health and toughness. AirPods 5 are open-ear, meaning no seal in your ear, while AirPods Pro 3 seal with five silicone ear tip sizes. Battery figures are quoted with ANC (active noise cancellation, which blocks out background sound) switched on. Each pair of earbuds here was checked against its maker's specs and live UK listings, and each one shows its catch.

Fit: open-ear on AirPods 5, sealed with five silicone ear tip sizes on AirPods Pro 3.
Battery with ANC: AirPods 5 give up to 4 hours (20 with the case); AirPods Pro 3 give up to 8 hours (24 with the case).
Health: heart rate sensing and Hearing Aid features are on AirPods Pro 3 only.
Toughness: AirPods Pro 3 are IP57, meaning dust, sweat and water resistant.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Is the AirPods Pro 3 worth the extra over the AirPods 5?

Want a sealed fit for workouts? Get the AirPods Pro 3. Want an open fit? Go for the AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case). Fit is the main difference, but AirPods Pro 3 also add longer battery and health features, and they are the most expensive AirPods earbud, so pick them only if those matter to you.

How long do AirPods 5 last on one charge?

Apple says the AirPods 5 last up to 4 hours on one charge with noise cancelling (ANC) on, and up to 20 hours with the case. Pop them in the case for five minutes and you get around 1 hour of use.

How long do AirPods Pro 3 last on one charge?

Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 give you up to 8 hours of listening on one charge with Active Noise Cancellation. With the MagSafe Charging Case, Apple says you get up to 24 hours.

Are AirPods Pro 3 good for the gym?

Yes, the AirPods Pro 3 are a strong gym pick. Heart rate sensing is built in for workouts, and five silicone ear tip sizes come in the box to help you find a fit. The IP57 rating means they resist dust, sweat and water.

Do AirPods Pro 3 work as hearing aids?

AirPods Pro 3 include a Hearing Aid feature, which Apple says is for mild to moderate hearing loss. AirPods Pro 3 include a Hearing Aid feature, plus a Hearing Test and Hearing Protection. Apple says the Hearing Aid feature is for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Which one is for you?

At a glance

Side by side

Both in detail

Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Our buying criteria

Your questions, answered

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