There’s a new pair of Apple AirPods, and unlike the yearly iPhone and Apple Watch refreshes, the multi-year update pattern means the new Apple AirPods 5—as it is expectedly called—is more than an incremental upgrade, and not just the number moving up by one.
As before, AirPods 5 comes in two models: standard and Wireless Charging Case. The big news here is that this time, both models rock Active Noise Cancellation. Apple says the new ANC removes up to 50 percent more external noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. Also common to both is improved dust, sweat, and water resistance (IP57).
The Wireless Charging Case model, which charges over USB-C, Qi, or an Apple Watch charger, further offers stem-based volume controls. It also has slightly longer battery life than the standard model: up to five hours of playback with ANC—or 22 hours with the case—versus up to four hours, or 20 hours with the case, for the standard model.
As far as ANC is concerned, Apple says it removes up to 50 percent more external noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. In addition, Adaptive Audio automatically blends ANC and Transparency mode according to your surroundings.
Under the hood, AirPods 5 are powered by Apple’s H2 headphone chip, which drives a range of intelligent features, while a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ promise richer, more detailed sound. They also feature dual beamforming microphones for clearer calls and studio-quality audio recording.
Siri AI joins the party through a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, allowing hands-free requests based on messages, emails, photos, and other personal context. You can respond by nodding or shaking your head, while Live Translation pipes translated conversations directly into your ears. International confusion has officially become somebody else’s problem.
The standard AirPods 5 costs US$129 while the Wireless Charging Case model sells for US$149. Pre-orders are open now, with store availability beginning September 18, 2026.
Images: Apple.