Apple announced the AirPods 5 today, saying the new open‑ear earbuds deliver “best-in-class open‑ear active noise cancellation.” The model brings a redesigned acoustic architecture, upgrades to adaptive ANC that Apple says reduces noise by 50 percent versus the AirPods 4, and improved sound quality.
AirPods 5: Design and noise cancellation
The AirPods 5 are redesigned with a new acoustic architecture and upgraded adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC). Apple says the updated ANC provides 50 percent better noise reduction than the AirPods 4. The company also states the new design delivers improved sound.
Models, battery and charging
Apple announced a second AirPods 5 model that adds on-stem control — the first time the company has included on-stem controls in its open‑ear design — allowing volume adjustment by swiping up and down. That model also offers longer battery life, providing up to five hours of playback, one hour more than the AirPods 4 with ANC. With the addition of a wireless charging case, the AirPods 5 support Apple Watch and Qi chargers.
Pricing, availability and background
The base AirPods 5 are available for preorder today at $129. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which feature the improved battery, are priced at $149 — $30 less than the previous generation. Both models will be available on September 18th.
The AirPods 4 series was the first time Apple’s open‑ear wireless earbuds were offered in both an ANC and a non‑ANC version; both AirPods 4 versions shipped with the H2 chip, pinch controls, and identical sound. Even with their open‑ear design, the AirPods 4 with ANC handled ambient noise notably well.
John Ternus was the vice president of hardware engineering when the original AirPods launched in 2016; Apple announced the AirPods 5 during his first event as the company’s new CEO.
