Apple AirPods 5 wishlist: All the features I want to see

If you own an iPhone, chances are you already own a pair of AirPods too. Their seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem is a major benefit of investing in the brand. They also provide access to some of the company’s best features including spatial audio with head tracking, automatic device pairing, and the Siri voice assistant. The AirPods 4 are Apple’s latest installment and wear an unsealed fit to maintain situational awareness. They also utilize Apple’s H2 chip and enjoy non-verbal Siri cues, Personalized Volume, and Audio Sharing capabilities. Given the AirPods Pro 2 recently received hearing aid-related updates, could the Apple AirPods 5 follow a similar path?

The AirPods 4 only came out a few months ago, so rumors of a next-gen upgrade are sparse. However, there is plenty of room for improvement if Apple wants to remain king of the hill for iOS fans. Read on for all the features I want to see in the Apple AirPods 5.

Attachable ear hooks

Unsealed earbuds are not my thing, but they are undoubtedly popular among athletes and those who don’t enjoy objects in their ears. For example, cycling on a busy road is much safer with your ears unoccluded. The lack of ear tips also means pressure is less likely to build up in the ear canal. Theoretically, unsealed buds should be more comfortable and easier to wear than their in-ear counterparts. This could be a boon for those prone to ear fatigue, provided you can obtain a good fit.

The Apple AirPods 4 are extremely lightweight at just 4.3g per bud. They also feature a new and improved design that better emulates the shape of a larger pool of ears. The snag is that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work with all ears. While sealed buds package several ear tip sizes to accommodate different ear shapes, unsealed buds have no such offering. The Apple AirPods 5 could enjoy a better fit with attachable ear hooks. Like the Nothing Ear (Open), these could wrap around the back of the ear and position the drivers near the ear canal without blocking out environmental noise. Given you can already purchase third-party accessories for the AirPods 4, this seems a logical next step for the AirPods 5.

Volume sliders

Earbud controls vary and will suit your needs differently from one device to the next. Given I have longer hair, I am partial to earbuds with squeezable stems. These provide more precise functionality and are less fiddly than touch-based surfaces. For example, touch controls are prone to accidental prompts like song skipping that can cause major frustration on the go. If you press too hard, the earbuds can get lodged further into the ear canal and cause discomfort.

The AirPods 4 use pinchable stems to control play/pause, skip forward, skip back, and Siri functions. The buds also support non-verbal cues like nodding and shaking your head to answer “yes” or “no” to Siri. However, the AirPods 4 do not feature built-in volume sliders. Instead, fans must control the earbuds’ volume directly from their smartphone or with the “Hey Siri” voice command. This seems like a major misstep, given the Apple AirPods Pro 2 lets users adjust their volume directly from the buds. The AirPods 5 will be considerably more appealing if they adorn a built-in volume slider at launch.

A built-in case speaker

Charging cases are so much more intelligent than they used to be. For example, the JBL Tour Pro 3 case can connect to older hardware via a USB-to-3.5mm cable and transmit the audio wirelessly to the earbuds. It also supports Auracast, allowing you to transmit your audio feed to any Auracast-enabled device. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro are similar, allowing you to toggle ANC and spatial audio directly from the case. You can even take photos using the camera app on your phone if that’s your jam.

As such, it isn’t much to ask for charging cases to come equipped with built-in speakers nowadays. Not for music playback (although that would be cool,) but instead to locate the case in the Find My app. The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation case has it, so why not the original AirPods 4? It’s a handy tool that any current earbud manufacturer should include as a standard. The Apple AirPods 5 would do well to host a case with a built-in speaker when they come to fruition.

Wireless charging

To much jubilation, the EU passed the Common Charger Directive in June 2022. This mandates that all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold after December 28, 2024, must have a USB-C charging port. The rule applies to a wide range of devices including smartphones and headphones. Apple heard the message clearly and released the AirPods Pro 2 with a USB-C charging case on September 22, 2023. No more jostling around for a lightning cable for your iPhone and a USB-C charger for your headphones.

However, wireless charging has always been the simpler alternative to charging with wires. The company’s flagship AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 with ANC support wireless charging. Fans can top up these buds with a standard Apple Watch charger, Qi wireless charging mat, or MagSafe charger. Unfortunately, the original AirPods 4 battery cannot be boosted this way. Instead, fans must use a USB-C charging cable. This is a shame, as wireless charging is far more convenient for those in a hurry. The Apple AirPods 5 should include wireless charging compatibility when they materialize.

Hearing aid features

On September 12, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Apple AirPods Pro 2 as an over-the-counter hearing aid. A month later, Apple rolled out an update that brings three new hearing aid features to the AirPods Pro 2. When used with an iPhone, fans can receive a clinically validated hearing test that adjusts the earbuds’ transparency mode to your results. The test also provides a visual representation of your hearing loss profile that you can share with your audiologist or ENT doctor.

Critically, the company unveiled a new and improved Hearing Protection feature. Using Apple’s powerful H2 chip, the buds can listen to your surroundings and reduce the level of noise that reaches your eardrum. This has major health benefits for protecting your ears and preventing noise-induced hearing loss. A good seal is vital for Apple’s hearing aid tests to work properly, so we may never see these capabilities come to its unsealed buds. However, it would be a game changer if Apple can introduce hearing aid features to the Apple AirPods 5.

Will there be an Apple AirPods 5?

The AirPods 4 are Apple’s answer to affordable, unoccluded earbuds. For $50 less than their predecessor at launch, Apple’s latest unsealed buds own many desirable improvements at an affordable price point. For example, their durable IP54 dust ingress protects against chalky hands and small particles. They also enjoy reasonably good sound quality and fit more nicely in the ear. Consequently, the AirPods 4 are some of the most pleasing unsealed earbuds on the market if you like hearing your music and surroundings.

Rumors of the AirPods 5 are virtually nonexistent given the AirPods 4 only released a few months ago. However, Apple’s Wearables, Home, and Accessories category continued to outstrip its iPhones and iPad sales in Q4 of 2024. I see no reason for the company not to update the profitable category in the future.

• Apple AirPods 1 — December 13, 2016
• Apple AirPods 2 — March 20, 2019
• Apple AirPods 3 — October 18, 2021
• Apple AirPods 4 — September 20, 2024

Unlike its iPhones, Apple does not stick to a strict regimen when refreshing its earbuds. For example, the original AirPods 1 were released on December 13, 2016. These were followed by the AirPods 2 two years and three months later on March 20, 2019. The Apple AirPods 3 came to market two years and seven months later on October 18, 2021, and the AirPods 4 landed two years and 11 months after that. With an average two-to-three-year release window, we should not expect the Apple AirPods 5 to hit shelves until springtime 2027.

Should you wait for the Apple AirPods 5?

While the aesthetics will likely stay the same, there’s no knowing where Apple will take its feature set next. The introduction of hearing aid technology into the AirPods Pro 2 could revolutionize our relationship with consumer earbuds in the future. However, what remains certain is that each iteration of the AirPods has improved upon the last. The AirPods 4 are the company’s most accomplished and are purchasable from major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.

If you own an iPhone and enjoy unoccluded ears, don’t wait for the Apple AirPods 5. Instead, grab the AirPods 4 ($129 at Amazon) and take advantage of the company’s H2 chip. This unlocks control customizations, automatic ear detection, and spatial audio with head tracking. The earbuds also support Audio Sharing and can control Siri with non-verbal cues. Personalized Volume changes how loud your mix is on the fly and the sound quality is surprisingly good given the design. The earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.3 over the AAC codec and you can use the Find My app when the buds get misplaced. Battery life lasts over six hours and the case supplies 24 hours for longer journeys. The earbuds also support Apple’s Optimized Charging feature to mitigate battery degradation.

If you want to try ANC-enabled unsealed earbuds, grab the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation ($179.99 at Amazon.) These earbuds have the same feature set as the original AirPods 4 with the addition of some sweet little extras. For example, the AirPods 4 with ANC’s charging case has a built-in speaker to help you locate it. The case can also be charged wirelessly with Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, or MagSafe. Noise canceling is reasonably good, and Adaptive Audio automatically blends ANC and Transparency modes depending on your surrounding environment. Conversation Awareness will automatically lower your music and activate Transparency mode when you start talking.

Budget-conscious buyers looking for the best feature-to-cost ratio should consider the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($99.99 at Amazon.) Shaped more like the AirPods Pro and fashioning a sealed fit, these buds come equipped with up to 39dB of noise canceling and Adaptive Noise Canceling mode. Battery life is also excellent, lasting nearly 10 hours with ANC enabled and the ability to garner an additional 50 hours from the case. The earbuds operate Bluetooth 5.3 and connect to your source device via the LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. The Soundcore app is comprehensive and profits 22 EQ presets, a low-latency gaming mode, a Fit Test, an eight-band custom EQ, and more. Workout enthusiasts will enjoy the earbud’s IPX4 water-resistant rating but should remember they are not athletics-oriented.

For even less money, the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89.99 at Amazon) bring excellent sound quality and a list of handy features. For example, the buds use ANC to quell distracting environmental noise by as much as 37dB. Battery life sits marginally shy of nine hours and can be topped up with a USB-C cable or wirelessly with a Qi charging mat. The EarFun Air Pro 4 connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth 5.4 and support the aptX Lossless, LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. Bluetooth Multipoint can also connect to two separate source devices simultaneously. Getting connected is a breeze thanks to Google Fast Pair, and the EarFun Audio app is packed with handy features. Like the Liberty 4 NC, there’s a low-latency gaming mode, a Find headphones feature, 30 EQ presets, and a 10-band custom EQ.

Apple AirPods 5 FAQs