Apple has officially unveiled the fifth generation of its standard earbuds. The AirPods 5 will be released on September 18, 2026, in over 65 countries, following up on earlier reports that Apple makes ANC standard equipment. Prices in the US start at $129 for the base model and $149 for the version with a wireless charging case. In the UK, entry-level pricing starts at £119.
Stronger Noise Cancellation Without Silicone Tips
The primary innovation in the AirPods 5 centers on active noise cancellation (ANC: technology that mitigates ambient noise using inverted sound waves). Apple continues to forgo sealing silicone ear tips, retaining its open-ear design. Nevertheless, according to the manufacturer, the new system filters out up to 50 percent more ambient noise than comparable variants of the AirPods 4; other reports speak of 1.5 times the effectiveness.
Initial hands-on tests confirm noticeable improvements in open-ear noise cancellation compared to the predecessor. Acoustically, however, initial assessments note that the earbuds do not match the low-mid performance of the AirPods Pro 3. Built-in audio features include an adaptive equalizer, personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers the volume whenever the wearer speaks.
Two Model Variants with Different Features
Apple differentiates the AirPods 5 into two versions that vary not only in price, but also in battery life and controls:
- Base model ($129): According to Apple, provides four hours of listening time with ANC enabled, and a total of 20 hours when combined with the charging case.
- Model with wireless charging case ($149): Delivers five hours of battery life with active ANC and up to 22 hours overall. This variant also adds swipe volume controls directly on the stem and an integrated speaker in the charging case for easier tracking.
Both versions support fast charging, where five minutes in the case provides around one hour of playback. Regarding dust and water resistance, spec sheet details currently diverge: some sources cite an IP54 rating, while other reports state IP57. According to Apple, the devices are made with 40 percent recycled materials overall.
New Software Features and Availability
On the software front, Apple integrates the earbuds with a new “Siri AI.” This will initially launch as an English-language beta, with languages such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean expected to follow in October. The earbuds also support live translation across ten languages, an optimized gaming mode, and a camera remote shutter function. To unlock the full feature set, Apple requires iOS 27 on compatible iPhones for certain capabilities.
The official retail launch is set for Friday, September 18, 2026. On Amazon, pre-orders already saw initial minor discounts as early as September 16.
Sources: Borncity.com
