Introducing the new AirPods 5

Apple announced the AirPods 5 on September 9, 2026, introducing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to its open-ear lineup alongside an all-new multiport acoustic architecture. Priced at $129, these wireless earbuds also offer hands-free access to Siri AI, Live Translation, and even better sound quality. Apple considers this the most affordable way to experience some of the most powerful AirPods features available on the market today.

Pre-orders are currently open for customers in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries and regions. Regular in-store availability will begin shortly after on Friday, September 18.

“We’re thrilled that with AirPods 5, we’re able to bring Active Noise Cancellation — one of our most beloved features — to our most affordable AirPods,” stated Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering. Pakula added that pairing the earbuds with Siri AI makes the AirPods a game changer for unlocking powerful hands-free capabilities for even more people.

Design and build durability

Maintaining the familiar open-ear format, Apple upgraded the design of the AirPods 5 to provide better resistance against dust, sweat, and water than previous iterations. These targeted changes offer greater durability alongside the internal technological upgrades.

On the manufacturing side, the new AirPods 5 were built with the environment in mind to drive progress toward Apple’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030. The earbuds incorporate 40 percent recycled material overall, determined by the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device. This green initiative includes using 100 percent recycled cobalt for the battery. Additionally, the optional wireless charging case utilizes 70 percent recycled plastic.

Furthermore, the AirPods 5 are manufactured with 35 percent renewable energy, utilizing wind and solar power across the supply chain. The production meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. Like all Apple products, the paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled at home.

Specs and real-world performance

Active Noise Cancellation and audio quality

Utilizing a new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio algorithms, the updated open-ear ANC eliminates up to 50 percent more external noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. Apple notes that customers love using ANC to quiet the world around them, allowing them to rest on noisy flights, get lost in their favorite music, or stay focused on work.

Testing for this noise reduction was conducted by Apple in July 2026 using AirPods 5 paired with an iPhone 17. The testing used prerelease AirPods firmware and iOS 27 in accordance with IEC 60268-24 standards. Apple compared the results against the bestselling wireless open-ear headphones commercially available at the time of testing.

Inspired by the AirPods Pro 3 and re-engineered for the AirPods 5, a next-generation Adaptive EQ adjusts audio output for varying ear geometries to deliver richer, more detailed sound. The inclusion of Personalized Spatial Audio provides a more immersive and dynamic listening format, making users feel completely surrounded by their audio content. To create the personalized profile, users require an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera, which will then sync the profile across compatible Apple devices.

To manage varying environmental noise, the earbuds incorporate several automated computational audio features:

• Adaptive Audio: Dynamically blends Transparency mode and ANC based on the specific conditions of a user’s environment to provide the best of both worlds.
• Conversation Awareness: Automatically lowers the media volume when the user begins speaking, helping them more easily talk to someone nearby.
• Improved Transparency: Processes voices and nearby surrounding sounds to appear more natural, helping users stay connected to their surroundings even with earbuds in.

Intelligent Siri AI integration

Pairing the AirPods 5 with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone unlocks completely hands-free functionality on the go. Set to roll out as a beta in iOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27, the profoundly more capable Siri AI can process personal context across messages, emails, photos, and more. For example, a user can ask Siri to play a song recommended by a friend in a message or navigate to a dinner reservation based on an email confirmation.

Siri AI sounds more natural than ever, offering expressive voices that users can easily customize. Dictation also now captures what users say with significantly greater precision. Siri already works seamlessly with apps from Apple’s vast developer ecosystem, allowing actions like texting in WhatsApp or playing a book on Audible.

Controlling the assistant is possible through discreet head gestures, such as simply nodding yes or shaking no in response to Siri Interactions. Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, breaks down language barriers by letting users communicate across different languages. After setting up Live Translation in the Translate app, users can trigger the feature by pressing both stems simultaneously, stating "Siri, start Live Translation," or by using the Action button on a connected iPhone.

Hardware requirements and Apple Intelligence limits

Apple Intelligence will be available with iOS 27 on Monday, September 14, for users with an enabled device set to a supported language. The English beta for Siri AI rolls out on this date, while support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish is coming later in October. Other languages supported by Apple Intelligence include Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), and Chinese (traditional).

To utilize Apple's most powerful on-device models for expressive voices and advanced Dictation, specific hardware is required. These capabilities are available on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone Air. They are also supported on iPad models with M4 or later, Mac models with M3 or later (both requiring at least 12GB of unified memory), and the Apple Vision Pro (M5).

Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models will be subject to daily usage limits based on feature complexity and system demand. This affects Siri AI, intelligent photo editing tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Expanded access to these server-side features will be available for a fee in the future. Additionally, Siri AI functionality is not initially available in the EU with iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, and the assistant is completely restricted for users under 13.

Battery life and the $149 Wireless Charging Case model

Buyers seeking functional upgrades can purchase the AirPods 5 with a Wireless Charging Case for $149 in the U.S. and over 65 other regions. This specific tier includes a Force sensor with volume swipe on the stem, marking a first for the open-ear form factor. This addition allows users to quickly adjust volume by swiping up or down directly on the earbud stem.

Thanks to a redesigned battery, the upgraded model supplies up to five hours of ANC playback on a single charge. This upgraded capacity successfully outlasts the previous AirPods 4 with ANC by one full hour.

• Total listening time extends to 22 hours with the charging case when utilizing Active Noise Cancellation.
• Charging methods for the wireless case are highly versatile, supporting Apple Watch chargers, Qi-compatible chargers, and standard USB-C inputs.

Price, market value, and AppleCare support

Priced at $129, the standard AirPods 5 introduce class-leading ANC technology to an open-ear form factor at an incredible price. The $149 Wireless Charging Case variant caters to users prioritizing extended battery life and dedicated on-stem volume controls. For full feature functionality, users must pair the AirPods 5 with an Apple device running the latest operating system software.

To protect this investment, customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new AirPods 5, which includes priority support from Apple Experts. In available markets, buyers can alternatively opt for AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include comprehensive coverage for accidents like drops and spills, alongside theft and loss protection on eligible products and battery replacement service.

In the U.S., customers also have the unique option to select AppleCare One Family. This plan extends the exact same coverage to every eligible device across an Apple Family Sharing group for one fixed monthly price.