Apple's AirPods 5 earn high praise from one reviewer at Android Authority, but the review carries a warning for people with Android phones. The noise cancelling is excellent, yet Android owners face what the review calls frustrating compromises.
What the review found
Noise cancelling is a feature that blocks outside sound, such as traffic or chatter, so you hear your music or calls more clearly. The reviewer says the AirPods 5 do this very well.
The catch is who the earbuds are built for. Apple designs AirPods to work best with iPhones. Pair them with an Android phone and you give up some of what makes them appealing.
Who it affects
This matters most to Android users who are tempted by the sound quality and are thinking about buying. It also matters to anyone shopping for a gift for an Android owner. The earbuds will still play audio, but the full experience seems to belong to iPhone users.
What is not known yet
The material available does not say what the AirPods 5 cost or when they ship. It also does not list which features Android users lose, or how the workaround works. The review says a workaround exists and can help Android owners get more from the earbuds, but the details are not included here.
What to do
- List the features you care about before you buy.
- Check what an Android phone would lose with AirPods.
- Read the workaround details in the full review first.
The takeawayIf you use an Android phone, find out what you would lose and read about the workaround before paying for AirPods 5.