Apple’s product launches always generate massive waves of excitement, but looking past the shiny keynote presentations reveals the gritty ground reality—especially for buyers in India. The recent rollout of the AirPods 5 brings some genuinely welcome technical upgrades, but it also highlights a frustrating trend of rising prices in the Indian market.
If you are trying to figure out whether you should skip, upgrade, or invest in Apple’s latest earbuds, here is a complete reality check.
What’s Actually New in AirPods 5?
Apple has introduced a few key improvements to its standard lineup this time around, bridging the gap between features that were previously locked behind expensive tiers:
- Universal ANC: Unlike the previous generation where Active Noise Cancellation was an optional add-on, both variants of the AirPods 5 now come equipped with built-in ANC, offering roughly 50% better noise reduction.
- Stem Volume Control: You can now slide directly on the stem to adjust your volume. However, there is a catch—this handy feature is restricted exclusively to the higher-priced variant that comes with the wireless charging case.
- Charging Case Upgrades: The pricier model also gets a case equipped with a built-in speaker for seamless Find My tracking, along with an extra hour of battery life. The base model skips these additions.
The India Pricing Disappointment
While the technical upgrades are great, the real friction lies in how Apple prices its ecosystem for Indian consumers. In the US, the AirPods 5 with ANC launch at the same price point that the non-ANC previous model used to occupy—meaning US buyers get a direct upgrade without paying extra.In India, however, the story is entirely different. Apple hiked the price by around ₹2,000, pushing the base AirPods 5 to a starting price of ₹14,900. Coming right on the heels of steep price hikes seen on recent iPhone models, tech enthusiasts and buyers are rightfully frustrated by the widening India-US price gap.
The Final Verdict: Should You Buy Them?
- If it’s your first pair: The base AirPods 5 are worth considering. Getting Active Noise Cancellation at a price point that used to get you an ANC-less device makes it a solid entry point.
- If you already own AirPods 4: There is very little reason to upgrade. Unless you specifically want the wireless charging case or stem controls, your current earbuds are doing just fine.
Ultimately, while the AirPods 5 deliver on performance, Apple’s aggressive pricing strategy in India leaves a bitter taste for loyal fans looking for fair value.
Key Takeaways (Bullet Points for Quick Reading)
- Universal ANC: Active Noise Cancellation now comes standard on both AirPods 5 variants with ~50% better noise reduction.
- Feature Restrictions: Stem volume control and the Find My speaker case are exclusive to the higher-priced variant.
- The India Price Hike: While US prices remained steady, Indian buyers face a ₹2,000 price increase, with the base model starting at ₹14,900.
- Buying Advice: Worth it if you are buying your first pair, but easy to skip if you are already using the previous generation.