AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case: Is the $20 Upgrade Worth It?
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The AirPods 5 officially reached customers Friday, September 18. Fortunately, these new AirPods are one of the only Apple product categories to escape price increases. What’s more, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (the premium AirPods 5 version) is $149, compared to the $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation that were released in September 2024.
Better yet, the entry-level AirPods 5 now sell for $129 with ANC. Maybe this is Apple’s gentle apology for price hikes across the board for other products and services, including Apple TV.
If you’re in the market for new earbuds or headphones from Apple, your current options are the over-the-ear AirPods Max 2 ($549), the AirPods Pro 3 with a silicone acoustic seal, best-in-class ANC and battery life, heart rate sensing, and hearing aid and hearing test features ($249), AirPods 5 with USB-C charging case ($129), or AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case ($149).
On paper, the $129 AirPods 5 and the $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are pretty similar. Is the extra $20 worth it? Maybe. Actually, probably. But one of the reasons why is a bit of a mystery.
Both the AirPods 5 and the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (meaning it charges either with USB-C, Apple Watch charger, or Qi chargers) feature the H2 chip released in 2022 in the AirPods Pro, along with ANC, Adaptive Audio (a blend of ANC and Transparency), Conversation Awareness, and Live Translation.
They both also include the ability to say “Hey Siri” or “Siri” and to interact with Siri. Size and weight dimensions are identical. They also share the same updated dust, sweat, and water resistance.
For an additional $20, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add a few important features.
The first is clearly wireless charging. The case charges on any Qi pad or Apple Watch charger, in addition to USB-C. So, if you’re accustomed to dropping your iPhone or Apple Watch on your desk or nightstand wireless charger, you’ll want this model.
Next is swipe volume control. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case includes a force sensor in the stem of both the left and right earbud allowing you to slide your finger to adjust volume. Without it, you’re limited to controlling volume from your Apple Watch, iPhone, or Siri.
While both versions have the ability
to track the case or the left and right earbuds individually with Find My, the wireless charging case includes a speaker that the standard case lacks, allowing you to play a sound even when the earbuds are in the case to help you locate them.
A replacement case from Apple runs about $35. You can find other options at places like Best Buy and Amazon for less. If you lose the base model’s case, consider yourself out at least $20.
Now for the mystery. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case gets 5 hours of battery life with ANC enabled on a single charge. The base model gets up to 4 hours using ANC. With noise control off, the base model gets up to 6 hours of battery life on a charge while the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case gets 7 hours.
A fully charged case adds about five full charge cycles for both models. Using a fully charged case to recharge the AirPods 5, the base model gets up to 20 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, while the Wireless Charging Case model gets 22. Apple hasn’t explicitly explained the difference or confirmed if the two models differ internally. If maximum listening time matters, spend the $20.
For most people, the $149 AirPods 5 is worth the extra $20. It adds small conveniences you’ll likely use every day. If you like wireless charging and are prone to misplacing things, you’ll be happy to have a Find My–compatible case. If you prefer to charge exclusively with cables, only control volume from your phone, never lose things, and won’t miss the extra hours of battery life, go for the $129 model.
