Earbuds / Compare
Apple AirPods 2 vs Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
Product A: Apple
76 of 166 known
Change Apple AirPods 2
Compare the Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case) with
Product B: Apple
AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
78 of 166 known
Change Apple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
69 of 157 fields differ
- 33 different values
- 36 known for one only
- 19 the same
- 69 missing for both
Biggest differences
Each bar uses the scale of all 138 earbuds.
- Quick chargeA: 3hB: 1hAirPods 2 is 3 times higher.
- Battery lifeA: 5hB: 6hAirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case) is 1 h higher.
- With caseA: 24hB: 20hAirPods 2 is 4 h higher.
Size, drawn to scale
Front and side.
- AAirPods 2: 16.5 × 40.5 mm
- BAirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case): 18.3 × 30.2 mm
Weight
0 to 80 g
Weight per bud
A4g
B4.3g
Case weight
A40g
B32.3g
All 166 fields
Every value links to where we found it.


General
6 of 8 differ
Series
Model numbers
A2031, A2032, A1938, MRXJ2AM/A2Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/109525Read 5 October 2026Identify your AirPods: A2031/A2032 are second-generation earbuds introduced in 2019. A1938 is the 2019 Qi-compatible Wireless Charging Case. A1602 and later case generations are not represented.20Retailer pagenissei.com/br/fone-de-ouvido-apple-airpods-com-estojo-de-recarga-sem-fio-mrxj2am-aRead 7 October 2026Retailer title and Part Number row: MRXJ2AM/A wireless-case package. Physical earbud A2031/A2032 and A1938 case identifiers retained.
A3531, A3532, A3533, A3530, MKFW4LL/A, MKFW4ZM/A5Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/109525Read 30 September 2026Identify your AirPods: A3531/A3532/A3533 earbuds with A3530 USB-C case. MKFW4 part numbers from US and German store configuration records.6Maker product pageapple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-5Read 30 September 2026Product offers and store configuration records explicitly give MKFW4LL/A for USB-C edition.7Maker product pageapple.com/de/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-5Read 30 September 2026German store configuration record explicitly gives MKFW4ZM/A for USB-C edition.
Announced
Status
Predecessor
Apple AirPods 13Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones-are-getting-even-betterRead 5 October 2026Apple's March 2019 release announces the second generation of AirPods and compares it with first generation AirPods.
Apple AirPods 410Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-5-review-163483Read 7 October 2026Review introduction identifies AirPods 5 as the replacement for the entry-level AirPods 4. USB-C reference maps to the standard predecessor.28Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-4-truly-wirelessRead 23 October 2026RTINGS marks the AirPods 4 as replaced by the AirPods 5.
Successor
Apple AirPods 331Reviewrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-3rd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 23 October 2026RTINGS says the AirPods 3 follow the AirPods 2nd generation.32Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2021/10/introducing-the-next-generation-of-airpodsRead 23 October 2026Apple's October 2021 release announces the third generation of AirPods and cuts the price of AirPods 2nd generation.
Not available
Launch price (US)
$1293Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-introduces-airpods-5-with-best-in-class-open-ear-active-noise-cancellationRead 30 September 2026$129 for AirPods 5, $149 for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case6Maker product pageapple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-5Read 30 September 2026MKFW4LL/A AirPods 5 $129.00, MKFT4LL/A AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case $149.00
Launch price (EU)
Not available
Markets
US, DE6Maker product pageapple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-5Read 30 September 2026US maker purchase page: exact product available in regional purchase configuration.7Maker product pageapple.com/de/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-5Read 30 September 2026German maker purchase page: exact product available in regional purchase configuration. Regional SKU rows documented in variant verification.
Colours
Design
0 of 4 differ
Form factor
Bud shape
Use one bud alone
RGB lighting
Not available
Not available
Drivers and sound
7 of 17 differ
Drivers per bud
Not available
Not available
Driver size
Not available
Not available
Drivers per bud
Not available
Not available
Diaphragm material
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity
Not available
Not available
Sensitivity reference
Not available
Not available
Max sample rate
Not available
Not available
Max bit depth
Not available
Not available
Adaptive EQ
Personalised sound
Not available
Onboard EQ
Not available
Custom EQ bands
Not available
312Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/guide/airpods/customize-eq-te819024i19r/webRead 30 September 2026Customize EQ: Low, Mid and High controls. Supported-models appendix explicitly includes this model. Current feature, requires compatible Apple software and firmware.13Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-nz/guide/airpods/aside/glosrqz3g8xj/27/web/27Read 30 September 2026Custom EQ supported models: AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 both editions, AirPods Pro 2/3 and AirPods Max 2.
EQ presets
Not available
Not available
Volume limit
Not available
Not available
Spatial audio
2 of 2 differ
Spatial audio
Not available
Head tracking
Noise cancelling
7 of 11 differ
Active noise cancelling
ANC microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Not available
ANC levels
Not available
Not available
ANC attenuation (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Transparency mode
Adjustable transparency
Not available
Not available
Automatic ANC and transparency blend
Conversation detection
Measured
7 of 23 differ
Frequency response notes (measured)
Measured response has reduced sub-bass and emphasized midrange. The unsealed fit limits low-frequency reproduction.14Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-review-11072Read 5 October 2026Exact model lab curve and discussion. Fixture, target revision, firmware and frequency-test codec unstated. No graph points or rating converted into numerical dB.
Not available
Bass amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Treble amount (measured)
Not available
Not available
Deviation from target (measured)
Not available
Not available
Consistency between fittings (measured)
Not available
Not available
Harmonic distortion (measured)
Not available
Not available
Sound leakage (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Noise isolation, best (measured)
Not available
Not available
Passive isolation (measured)
Not available
Not available
Call quality notes (measured)
Recorded speech samples cover quiet, street and windy conditions. The review finds voice pickup usable for conference calls.14Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-review-11072Read 5 October 2026Published ideal/street/windy demos. Recording firmware and codec unstated.
SoundGuys found clear, intelligible voices with background-noise rejection in its microphone tests. Wind reduced quality but voices generally stayed intelligible.18Measurementsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-5-review-163483Read 7 October 2026Purchased both editions and tested for four days. Own demos cover ideal, office, street, windy and reverberant conditions. Host, codec, firmware and call app are not disclosed. The review evaluates both models and reports this result jointly. No numerical microphone score is inferred.
Mic low-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic high-frequency extension (measured)
Not available
Not available
Mic speech-to-noise ratio (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency (measured)
AApple AirPods 2
| Connection | Platform | Latency (ms) |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | iOS | 178 |
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
Not availableBluetooth latency, worst (measured)
178ms
Not available
2.4 GHz latency, worst (measured)
Not available
Not available
Latency in game mode (measured)
Not available
Not available
Battery life (measured)
AApple AirPods 2
| ANC | Codec | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| No | AAC | 4.12 |
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
Not availableLongest tested use per charge
4.12h
Not available
Battery life with case (measured)
Not available
Not available
Full charge time (measured)
30min23Measurementrtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-2nd-generation-truly-wirelessRead 7 October 2026Public Commute/Travel verdict says earbuds take 30 minutes to fully charge. RTINGS tested Qi-case variant, Methodology 1.5, review updated 2021. Charge method defines 0 to 100 using LED time-lapse with no playback load. Firmware, case initial charge, adapter and ambient temperature unstated. This is earbuds charge, not empty-case charge.24Measurementrtings.com/headphones/tests/active-features/battery-lifeRead 7 October 2026Charge Time method: empty to full, time-lapse LED monitoring, no load while charging. Method documented separately from the model's publicly stated 30 minute result. Full lab result blocks were not accessed.
Not available
Weight per bud (measured)
Not available
Not available
Microphones and calls
1 of 7 differ
Voice microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Not available
All microphones in both earbuds
Not available
Not available
Bone conduction voice sensor
Not available
Not available
Mic noise reduction
Not available
Not available
Call audio bandwidth
Not available
Not available
Mic mute control
Not available
Sidetone
Not available
Not available
Connectivity
7 of 18 differ
Chip
Connections
Bluetooth
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth profiles
Not available
LE Audio
Not available
Not available
Auracast
Not available
Not available
Multipoint
Not available
Multipoint devices
Not available
Not available
Multipoint with LDAC
Not available
Not available
Paired devices remembered
Not available
Not available
Automatic switching between own devices
Yes2Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5Read 30 September 202615Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/guide/airpods/switch-airpods-between-apple-devices-dev228ba3df8/webRead 30 September 2026Automatic switching supported for AirPods 3/4/5 and Pro with compatible Apple devices signed into the same Apple Account.
Fast pairing
Audio sharing
Yes2Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5Read 30 September 202617Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/guide/airpods/share-audio-on-iphone-or-ipad-dev3786f35c8/webRead 30 September 2026Share Audio instructions and Change the volume/listening mode paragraph explicitly cover AirPods 4 ANC, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro. Both headphone sets pair to a supported iPhone/iPad.
Wireless range (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Wireless receiver
Not available
Receiver connector
Not available
Not available
Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio
Not available
Latency
None of 3 known
Low latency mode
Not available
Not available
Claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Lowest claimed latency
Not available
Not available
Compatibility
3 of 4 differ
Platforms
iOS, macOS, Android8Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/108786Read 5 October 2026
iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Other1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Apple devices. Other covers iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. Non-Apple devices work as Bluetooth headphones with limited functionality10Reviewsoundguys.com/apple-airpods-5-review-163483Read 7 October 2026Many features do not work on Android or Windows, basic playback does
Connection per platform
AApple AirPods 2
| Platform | Connection | Microphone works |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | Bluetooth | Not available |
| macOS | Bluetooth | Not available |
| Android | Bluetooth | Yes |
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
| Platform | Connection |
|---|---|
| iOS | Bluetooth |
| macOS | Bluetooth |
| Android | Bluetooth |
| Windows | Bluetooth |
Features that need a specific device
AApple AirPods 2
| Feature | Needs |
|---|---|
| Headphone Accommodations and Custom Audio Setup | Supported iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 14 or later. Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations. |
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
| Feature | Needs |
|---|---|
| Personalized Spatial Audio | iPhone with TrueDepth camera required to create personalized profile. Not available when using other devices |
| Live Translation | Compatible Apple devices with the latest operating system software when Apple Intelligence is turned on |
| Siri AI | Apple Intelligence-enabled device with iOS 27, macOS 27 or watchOS 27. English beta at launch. Initially unavailable in the EU on iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. |
| Find My | iOS 27 or later |
| Adaptive Audio | Compatible Apple device running the latest iOS or iPadOS, with current AirPods firmware. |
| Voice Isolation | Compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac during calls. Select Voice Isolation in call microphone controls. Current device software and AirPods firmware required. |
Source1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Independently reopened full displayed footnotes: audio functions require latest firmware and current compatible Apple OS. Siri AI beta initial EU restriction, Live Translation language and region limits and Find My iOS 27 minimum preserved.3Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-introduces-airpods-5-with-best-in-class-open-ear-active-noise-cancellationRead 30 September 2026Launch release footnotes: TrueDepth Spatial Audio profile, compatible Apple Intelligence device, latest firmware, language/region availability and Siri AI beta restrictions.21Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/en-ie/108918Read 7 October 2026Adaptive Audio condition: both AirPods 5 models with latest iOS or iPadOS. Maker technical audio footnote separately requires latest firmware on compatible current Apple devices.22Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/guide/airpods/answer-calls-airpods3-4-5-airpodspro-devac96438de/webRead 7 October 2026Call guide names compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac Voice Isolation via Control Center or Mic Mode. Technical audio footnote requires current software and firmware. This concerns noise heard by caller, not listening attenuation.
Official licence
Not available
Not available
Battery and charging
9 of 13 differ
Battery per bud
Not available
Not available
User-replaceable earbud battery
Not available
Not available
Claimed battery life
AApple AirPods 2
| Mode | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| ANC off | No | 5 |
| ANC off | Yes | 24 |
| Call | No | 3 |
Source1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Up to 5 h earbuds-only. More than 24 h including case, stored as a lower bound of 24. Maker February 2019 preproduction test paired iPhone Xs Max, 50% volume, 358 iTunes tracks encoded at 256 kbps AAC. File encoding does not establish transmitted Bluetooth codec, so codec omitted. Playback ends when the first earbud stops. Case-inclusive test repeats recharge and playback to empty.28Maker product pageapple.com/eg/airpods-2nd-generation/specsRead 7 October 2026AirPods battery row explicitly up to 3 hours talk time from one earbud charge. Only earbuds-only call row used. This is same A2031/A2032 hardware as the wireless-case package. Page case-inclusive 18 h is labeled Lightning case and is not borrowed for A1938. Test call conditions not exposed in this readable page. No codec, volume, host or firmware inferred.
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
| Mode | Includes case recharges | Hours (h) |
|---|---|---|
| ANC on | No | 4 |
| ANC off | No | 6 |
| ANC on | Yes | 20 |
Longest claimed use per charge
5h
6h
Playback per charge with ANC (claimed)
Not available
4h
Playback per charge without ANC (claimed)
5h
6h
Total with case (claimed)
24h
20h
Total with case and ANC (claimed)
Not available
20h
Talk time (claimed)
3h
Not available
Full charge time, buds
Not available
Not available
Charging guidance
Not available
Not available
Quick charge time
Earbud playback after quick charge
Charging case
5 of 10 differ
User-replaceable case battery
Not available
Not available
Case charging port
Case full charge time
Not available
Not available
Wireless charging
Wireless standards
Not available
Wireless charging power
Not available
Not available
Screen on case
Not available
Not available
Case works as audio transmitter
Not available
Not available
Controls
2 of 5 differ
Controls
Earbud volume control
Gestures
Press once to play or pause media, Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute, Press once for camera remote, Press twice to end a call, Press twice to skip forward, Press three times to skip back, Press and hold to switch between listening modes, Press both stems at the same time to start Live Translation, Nod your head yes or gently shake your head no when Siri asks1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Swipe up or down to adjust volume exists only on AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Live Translation gesture from the press release3Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-introduces-airpods-5-with-best-in-class-open-ear-active-noise-cancellationRead 30 September 2026
Remappable controls
Sensors and health
2 of 9 differ
In-ear detection
Sensors
Dual optical sensors, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Published sensor types. Dual beamforming microphones lack an explicit per-earbud count scope, so no physical microphone count is inferred. A speech-detecting accelerometer is not proof of a bone-conduction sensor.
Dual beamforming microphones, Inward-facing microphone, Optical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Sensors: USB-C edition optical in-ear sensor, motion- and speech-detecting accelerometers and force sensor. Microphones retained as listed by Apple.
Heart rate sensor
Not available
Not available
Skin temperature sensing
Not available
Not available
Hearing aid feature
Medical clearances
Not available
Not available
Hearing test
Not available
Hearing protection
Health features
Not available
Not available
Fit and durability
2 of 7 differ
Ear tips included
Not available
Not available
Ear tip materials
Not available
Not available
Stabilisers
Not available
Not available
Ear tip fit test
Not available
Not available
Dust and water rating, buds
Not available
Dust and water rating, case
Not available
Water resistance depth
Not available
Not available
Software
3 of 6 differ
Companion app
Not available
App platforms
Not available
User firmware updates
Finding network
Precision finding
Dimensions and weight
4 of 4 differ
Weight per bud
Bud dimensions
Width16.5Height40.5Depth18mm(0.6 × 1.6 × 0.7 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Size and Weight explicitly labels width, height and depth for each earbud. These are not dimensions of the pair.
Width18.3Height30.2Depth18.1mm(0.7 × 1.2 × 0.7 in)1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Each AirPod. Size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process
Case weight
Case dimensions
Width44.3Height53.5Depth21.3mm(1.7 × 2.1 × 0.8 in)1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Exact published case axis labels. The same body dimensions are listed for both case versions.
Width50.1Height46.2Depth21.2mm(2 × 1.8 × 0.8 in)1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026Size and Weight named per-bud grams and case height, width, depth rows.
Certifications
0 of 3 differ
Hi-Res Audio
Not available
Not available
Communication certifications
Not available
Not available
FCC IDs
BCG-A3531, BCG-A353226Regulatory filingfccid.io/BCG-A3531Read 7 October 2026Public Apple Inc FCC grant table identifies BCG-A3531 with Product Code A3531. Maker identification separately maps A3531/A3532/A3533 to standard USB-C edition. Wireless case A3439/A3440 and A3529 IDs excluded. No side assignment or speculative case ID inferred.27Regulatory filingfccid.io/BCG-A3532Read 7 October 2026Public Apple Inc FCC grant table explicitly BCG-A3532, Product Code A3532. Same standard USB-C edition per maker model identification. Side assignment is not inferred.
Other certifications
Not available
Not available
In the box
2 of 2 differ
In the box
AirPods 2, Wireless Charging Case, Lightning to USB-A cable, Documentation1Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Wireless A1938 package only. Cable length unstated. No adapter supplied in the published complete list.
AirPods 5, Charging Case (USB-C), Documentation1Maker product pageapple.com/airpods-5/specsRead 30 September 2026In the Box: USB-C Charging Case edition. No wireless case or cable included.
Cables included
AApple AirPods 2
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Lightning to USB-A cable | 1 |
BApple AirPods 5 (USB-C Charging Case)
Not availableLinks
Not compared
Product page
Spec sheet
support.apple.com/en-us/1118561Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111856Read 5 October 2026Exact 2019 AirPods 2. Reference package uses Wireless Charging Case A1938. The standard wired-only A1602 package is excluded from this file. Current shared case weight 38.2 g conflicts with the contemporary A1938 teardown specification of 40 g. Case weight now uses 40 g from the exact standalone Wireless Charging Case maker sheet 111860, which is more specific than this mixed-case row. Contradiction remains source-qualified. No standalone maker PDF datasheet found.
Manual
cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/start/ma1852_airpods-2gen-qsg.pdf5Owner's manualcdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/start/ma1852_airpods-2gen-qsg.pdfRead 5 October 2026Original 2019 two-page Quick Start Guide for the Wireless Charging Case package, linked by Apple document identity 300122. Both sides read. Current complete user-guide chapters separately establish remapping and wear detection.
EPREL registration number
Not available
Not available
Warranty
0 of 1 differ
Manufacturer warranty (source market)
Both are also in the API. Back to all earbuds.

















