Apple has refreshed its popular earbuds lineup again with the new AirPods 5, bringing significant hardware and software upgrades over the previous AirPods 4. This time, the biggest change is that both AirPods 5 base and with wireless case variants now offer ANC, the first for Apple's open-ear lineup. Apple also claims they offer up to 50% more noise reduction than the AirPods 4 with ANC and deliver the industry's best ANC in earbuds.

The base variant of AirPods 5 starts at $129, the same launch price as the standard AirPods 4. Whether you already own AirPods 4 or you're deciding between the two for the first time, here's everything you need to choose with confidence.

Table of Contents

• What Are the Differences: A Quick Comparison
• Detailed Comparison of AirPods 5 and AirPods 4
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
• Design and Comfort
• Sound Quality
• Microphone and Call Quality
• Battery Life and Charging
• Volume Control
• Durability
• Live Translation
• Apple Ecosystem and Connectivity
• Siri and Hands-Free Controls
• Spatial Audio and Personalized Features
• Find My Support
• AirPods 5 and 4 Price in Bangladesh
• AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Which One Should You Buy?
• Should You Upgrade from AirPods 4 to AirPods 5?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Are the Differences: A Quick Comparison

Here is a simple side-by-side look at both models:

After this comparison, we can say that the AirPods 5 match the AirPods 4 with ANC on almost every spec, while costing $30 less depending on the model. The new AirPods 5 with wireless charging case even outperforms the AirPods 4 series in terms of actual battery life, which the AirPods 4 series couldn't offer at any price.

Detailed Comparison of AirPods 5 and AirPods 4

The comparison table above gives you the quick numbers, but specs alone don't tell the full story. Below, we break down AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 feature by feature, covering design, sound, ANC, battery, and everything in between. Each section explains what actually changed, what stayed the same, and whether the difference matters for how you'll use your Apple earbuds day to day. If you're deciding between the two, this is where the real comparison happens.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

This is where AirPods 5 truly sets itself apart. The AirPods 4 only had Active Noise Cancellation on its pricier ANC variant, leaving the standard version with none. The AirPods 5 changes that completely, since every variant now comes with built-in ANC. Apple says it blocks up to 1.5x more outside noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, which makes these AirPods best for noisy environments.

Also, their transparency mode sounds more natural, and features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness carry over from the AirPods 4 ANC variant. The AirPods 5 are worth the extra price as the industry's best ANC earbuds.

Design and Comfort

The AirPods 5 feel good in hand, but to be honest, they're already familiar, like the AirPods 4. They share the same open-ear design, so the impact on fit and comfort is largely unchanged. Usually, open-ear earbuds have reduced bass because they don't fully seal your ear canal.

Apple improved the internal acoustics and vents on AirPods 5 to create a tighter seal of sound in your ear. The outer casing still looks and feels exactly like AirPods 4. So the regular AirPods 5 case keeps that same nice, small, pocket-friendly form factor. The only part that feels a bit different is the AirPods 5 Wireless Charging Case, which sits slightly heavier because it includes a charging coil for wireless charging.

Sound Quality

Both AirPods use the same H2 chip, but the 5 adds a new multiport acoustic architecture. Apple says this gives richer bass and a clearer voice, no matter your ear shape. The AirPods 5’s sound processing also gets an upgrade with the next-generation Adaptive EQ, which tunes low and mid frequencies to your unique ear shape more accurately than the AirPods 4's standard EQ. In everyday listening, the AirPods 5 will be ahead, especially during podcasts and calls, due to stronger bass and more balanced clarity.

Microphone and Call Quality

When comparing AirPods 5 and AirPods 4 for call quality, their performance is pretty much the same. Both use the same dual beamforming microphones plus an inward-facing mic for picking up your voice. Call quality stays strong on either pair, with solid voice isolation that cuts down background noise. Since the mic hardware hasn't really changed much, the person on the other end of your call won't notice a difference between generations. If call quality is your only reason for buying AirPods 5, stick with AirPods 4 and save your money.

Battery Life and Charging

The new AirPods 5 offer a little more battery life than the AirPods 4. The AirPods 4 with ANC give you 4 hours of listening with ANC turned on and up to 20 hours total with the case. Turn ANC off, and you get 5 hours from the earbuds and 30 hours total with the case.

The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case do a bit better with ANC enabled, offering 5 hours from the earbuds and 22 hours total with the case. The base AirPods 5 match the AirPods 4 with ANC: 4 hours from the buds and 20 hours total with the case. The base AirPods case charges via a USB Type-C port for added convenience. At the same time, AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods 5 Wireless Charging Case variants support wireless charging via Qi or Apple Watch chargers.

Volume Control

With AirPods 4, you can't change the volume from the earbuds. The force sensor only handles play, pause, and calls, so you need your iPhone or Siri to adjust the volume. The AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case fixes this. It adds a force sensor with volume swipe, so you slide your finger along the stem to raise or lower the volume. One thing to know: this only works on the AirPods 5 Wireless Charging Case. The regular AirPods 5 don't have it.

Durability

The AirPods 5 get an IP57 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance, an upgrade over the IP54 rating on AirPods 4. This means AirPods 5 can survive brief dips in water, while AirPods 4 is only rated to resist splashes and sweat. For anyone using AirPods during workouts or in Bangladesh's rainy season, this upgrade gives you real peace of mind.

Live Translation

Live Translation lets two people speaking different languages understand each other through the earbuds, with Siri translating speech in near real time. Both AirPods 5 variants support this. AirPods 4 doesn't have it at all. Live Translation requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 27, and it currently works only in select languages and regions. So before you use it for travel or work, check that your phone and language are supported.

Apple Ecosystem and Connectivity

AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 work well with your Apple devices. Pop either pair near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and they pair instantly. Switching between your devices is just as easy, as long as they're signed into the same Apple ID. Both also work with Android, Windows, and other devices over regular Bluetooth. Just know that features like automatic switching, personalized spatial audio, and Siri only work within the Apple ecosystem.

Siri and Hands-Free Controls

Both AirPods support hands-free "Hey Siri" commands, and both let you nod or shake your head to answer Siri's yes-or-no questions. But AirPods 5 takes it a step further with Siri AI, a smarter, more conversational assistant that can handle open questions and multi-step requests on your iPhone.

Spatial Audio and Personalized Features

The AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 tie on this feature. Both support personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, which wraps sound around you and adjusts as you move your head. Apple says AirPods 5's improved acoustic architecture makes this spatial audio feel more immersive.

Find My Support

Both the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods 5 Wireless Charging Case variants include a built-in speaker in the charging case for Find My, so a lost case is easier to track by sound. The standard, non-ANC charging cases on both generations skip this speaker, so Find My support depends on which variant you buy rather than which generation.

AirPods 5 and 4 Price in Bangladesh

Apple has already announced global pricing of $129 for the standard AirPods 5 and $149 for the Wireless Charging Case variant, but it hasn't announced the Bangladesh price yet. Right now, CCTV Shop offers AirPods 4 for ৳13,400. Genuine AirPods bought from CCTV Shop come with an official Apple warranty, and you can also pay through EMI if you want to spread the cost over time.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4: Which One Should You Buy?

Pick the AirPods 5 if you want the best ANC performance Apple offers at this price, especially since it starts at just $129. It's also the better choice if live translation or Siri AI fits into your daily routine, or if you like on-stem volume swipe controls and flexible wireless charging. The AirPods 5 is also the best choice if you're new to Apple AirPods or upgrading from AirPods 2 or AirPods 3. If you are running in the rain or pushing through intense workouts, the IP57 waterproofing makes the AirPods 5 the safer pick.

Go with AirPods 4 instead if you want everyday performance without paying extra for features you won't use, like advanced ANC or live translation. It's also a good choice if you want something you can actually buy for under $100 right now. And if you're upgrading from AirPods 2 or AirPods 3 but don't need everything the AirPods 5 offers, the AirPods 4 still gives you a good experience.

Should You Upgrade from AirPods 4 to AirPods 5?

If you already have AirPods 4 with ANC, you'll mainly notice stronger noise cancellation, slightly better sound, and improved water resistance, not a completely different product. If you have the standard AirPods 4 without ANC, upgrading makes a bigger jump, since every AirPods 5 variant now includes ANC. If you rarely use ANC or don't care about live translation, your current AirPods 4 are probably still enough for daily use.