Apple AirPods 5 review: the best open-fit earbuds yet
Listen to Course
0:00
0:00
EN: The present perfect tense ('has released') is formed with 'have/has' + past participle. It is used here to report recent news or an event that occurred at an unspecified time with relevance to the present.
The company has launched its latest smartphone today.
EN: A non-defining relative clause is introduced by 'which' preceded by a comma. It provides extra, non-essential information about the preceding noun phrase ('its new AirPods 5').
He bought a new laptop, which has an incredible battery life.
EN: In consumer tech, 'open-fit earbuds' refer to headphones designed to rest in the outer ear without creating a tight seal with silicone ear tips (unlike 'in-ear' monitors). Historically, adding effective Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to open-fit earbuds has been an engineering challenge because sound leaks naturally.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' introduces a clause expressing result or consequence following an action or state.
The weather was extremely cold, so we stayed indoors all day.
EN: The defining relative clause introduced by 'that' modifies the noun phrase 'the silicone tips', specifying which tips are being discussed.
He bought the laptop that his colleague recommended.
EN: In consumer audio technology, earphones are broadly divided into 'open-fit' (such as standard AirPods) and 'in-ear' or 'canal-type' designs (such as AirPods Pro). Open-fit designs prioritize all-day comfort and situational awareness by not sealing the ear canal, whereas in-ear models use silicone or foam tips to achieve passive noise isolation.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'According to...' is used to cite a source, reference, or authority. It is typically followed by a noun phrase and set off by a comma when placed at the beginning of a sentence.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
EN: The word 'rival' can function as a transitive verb meaning 'to be as good, impressive, or successful as someone or something else' (to match or equal).
The hotel's restaurant rivals some of the best dining spots in the city.
EN: The Guardian is a major British daily newspaper known internationally for its news coverage, cultural commentary, and consumer technology reviews. In audio technology, 'plugged-in' here informally refers to 'in-ear' earbuds with silicone tips that plug into the ear canal to provide passive noise isolation, contrasting with open-fit designs.
EN: Non-restrictive relative clause with 'which': The clause ', which is...' provides extra, supplementary information about the preceding clause or fact (the starting price of 119 pounds). It is separated by a comma and 'which' cannot be replaced with 'that'.
The ticket costs 50 dollars, which is quite expensive for students.
EN: Comparative degree with difference amount: Use [difference amount] + [comparative adjective/adverb] + 'than' to quantify the exact difference between two things (e.g., 'ten pounds cheaper than').
This model is five kilograms lighter than the older version.
EN: Prices in the UK are quoted in British pounds (£). In technology journalism, 'at launch' specifically refers to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) when the product was first officially released to the market, before any subsequent discounts or price drops.
EN: The structure 'the same as [something]' is used to express equality or similarity. It is often modified by adverbs like 'almost' or 'exactly' (e.g., 'almost the same as').
Her new phone is almost the same as mine.
EN: The pattern '[adjective] + enough (+ for someone/something)' means having the sufficient degree of a quality. Note that 'enough' must follow the adjective, not precede it.
This bag is light enough for a child to carry.
EN: Tech reviewers often use 'jeans pocket' or 'coin pocket' as a benchmark for ultra-portable wireless earbud cases, illustrating real-world convenience beyond technical millimeter dimensions.
EN: The verb 'call' can take a complex transitive pattern: 'call + object + object complement' (call someone/something [noun/adjective]). Here, 'them' is the object, and the quoted noun phrase serves as the object complement.
Critics called the movie a masterpiece of modern cinema.
EN: When the subject of the adverbial time clause is the same as the main clause subject, 'while' can be directly followed by a present participle (-ing), omitting the subject and the auxiliary verb (e.g., 'while commuting' instead of 'while they were commuting').
He often listens to podcasts while jogging in the park.
EN: In consumer tech journalism, reviewers frequently test open-fit earbuds during 'commuting' (taking subways, buses, or trains) because ambient noise isolation and stability under sudden movement are critical real-world benchmarks for earbud performance.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect two independent clauses, showing a cause-and-effect relationship (result). A comma typically precedes 'so' when joining full clauses.
The weather was terrible, so we decided to cancel the hike.
EN: The modal verb 'may' expresses possibility or uncertainty. When paired with 'not' ('may not'), it indicates that something is possibly not true, suitable, or happening.
This phone may not support the newest software update.
EN: In wireless earbud design, 'stability wings' (also known as ear hooks or wingtips) are flexible silicone fins meant to lock inside the ear canal's ridges. Open-fit earbuds like base AirPods lack these, making them comfortable for casual wear but prone to falling out during high-intensity training or running.
EN: The preposition 'by' followed by a gerund (-ing form) is used to express the method, means, or manner in which an action is performed ('by doing something').
You can activate Siri by saying 'Hey Siri'.
EN: Compound sentence with 'and': Two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and', showing an addition of related information.
The standard model has basic features, and the pro model includes active noise cancellation.
EN: In tech reviews, 'stalk' (often called 'stem' in American tech journalism) refers to the elongated rod of earbuds like Apple's AirPods. Apple popularized gesture controls on the stalk, differentiating between 'squeeze' (force sensor clicks) and 'swipe' (capacitive touch sliding for volume).
EN: The intransitive verb 'last' is commonly used to express duration (how long something continues or remains functional), often followed directly by a time expression without a preposition like 'for'.
This phone's battery can last two full days on a single charge.
EN: The preposition 'with' is used here to indicate accompanying conditions, features, or accessories (e.g., 'with noise cancelling' = under the condition that noise cancelling is on; 'with the case' = using the charging case).
The laptop runs for six hours with heavy use, or ten hours in power-saving mode.
EN: In consumer tech journalism, wireless earbud battery life is routinely stated as two numbers: single-charge playback time (often specifying whether Active Noise Cancellation is enabled) versus combined total listening time when topped up repeatedly inside the portable charging case.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Technology that reduces or eliminates unwanted ambient sound
Describing earbuds or hearing devices that do not completely seal the ear canal
To remain in the correct or intended position without slipping or falling
At the time when a new product is officially introduced or made available to the public