BACKGROUND Pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)‐based solid set canopy delivery systems (SSCDS) have demonstrated comparable spray deposition and reduced off‐target drift compared with axial‐fan airblast sprayers in high‐density apple orchards. An important next step is to quantify whether PSD‐based SSCDS can provide effective pest management. This study evaluated the biological efficacy of this fixed spray system variant and compared it with that of an axial‐fan airblast sprayer. Partial field trials were conducted in a commercial apple orchard (cv. Jazz) trained in tall spindle architecture. Insecticides were applied at a rate of 935 L ha−1 (100 gallons per acre) for both application systems. Twenty‐four hours after spraying, leaves and fruits were collected to prepare the laboratory bioassays enabling evaluation of efficacy against obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR) and codling moth (CM). RESULTS OBLR mortality for SSCDS, airblast sprayer and untreated control treatments after 24 h of larval exposure was 91%, 98% and 4%, respectively and increased to 98%, 100% and 19% after 48 h. First‐instar CM leaf bioassay mortality was 100% for SSCDS and airblast sprayer treatment, and 13% for the untreated control at 24 h post exposure. Larval CM mortality on fruit was 100% for SSCDS and airblast sprayer treatments, and 33% on the untreated control. CONCLUSIONS Insecticides applied using SSCDS and an airblast sprayer had comparable larval mortality in all three assays, significantly higher than the untreated controls. These results suggest that PSD‐based SSCDS may provide a viable alternative to axial‐fan airblast sprayers in high‐density apple orchards. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Pneumatic spray delivery‐based solid set canopy delivery systems and an airblast sprayer demonstrated comparable larval mortality for obliquebanded leafroller in leaf bioassay and codling moth in leaf and fruit bioassays.