Apple has just announced the new AirPods 5 at its Surprise and Shine event, and there’s one upgrade that immediately caught my attention: Active Noise Cancellation is finally coming to Apple’s entry-level open-ear AirPods. Starting at $129, AirPods 5 also bring improved sound, Siri AI, Live Translation, and better durability.
Here’s everything you need to know about AirPods 5, including their price, features, battery life, and whether the $149 model with a Wireless Charging Case is worth the extra money.
Apple brings Active Noise Cancellation to entry-level AirPods
If I had to pick one feature that defines AirPods 5, it’s ANC.
Apple has finally brought Active Noise Cancellation to its more affordable open-ear AirPods. And this isn’t just Apple quietly checking a box on the feature list. The company says AirPods 5 can remove up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, thanks to a new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio algorithms.
That is particularly interesting because AirPods 5 don’t use silicone ear tips. Instead, they retain Apple’s open-ear approach. That means I can still hear some of the world around me while wearing them, but the earbuds actively work to reduce unwanted background noise.
AirPods 5 also include:
- Transparency mode
- Adaptive Audio
- Conversation Awareness
Transparency mode has been improved to make nearby voices and sounds feel more natural. Adaptive Audio automatically blends ANC and Transparency mode depending on my surroundings, while Conversation Awareness lowers media volume when I start talking to someone.
AirPods 5 key features you need to know
ANC may be the headline feature, but there’s considerably more going on here.
Design: Familiar, but more durable
Apple isn’t completely reinventing the AirPods design with AirPods 5. Instead, the company is sticking with its open-ear form factor and focusing on what happens inside.
One of the more useful upgrades is durability. AirPods 5 offer an IP57 rating for resistance to dust, sweat, and water, making them better suited to workouts and everyday use. The earbuds also use Apple’s H2 chip, which powers features such as ANC and other computational audio capabilities.
This is important because AirPods 5 aren’t simply AirPods 4 with a new name. Apple has reworked the acoustic architecture and processing behind them.
Improved sound quality
Apple is borrowing some of the ideas behind its higher-end AirPods Pro and adapting them for AirPods 5.
The new earbuds feature an all-new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ. Apple says this produces richer and more detailed sound across a wider range of ear shapes.
AirPods 5 also support:
- Personalised Spatial Audio
- Dynamic head tracking
- Adaptive EQ
- Computational audio
The Spatial Audio experience is designed to make supported content feel more immersive, with the sound appearing to surround me rather than simply coming from two tiny speakers. And because Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on how the earbuds fit, the experience isn’t designed around one perfect ear shape.
That’s a small but important detail for open-ear earbuds, where fit can have a noticeable impact on how music sounds.
Siri AI and Apple Intelligence
This is where AirPods 5 start feeling less like traditional earbuds and more like an extension of the iPhone. With a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, Apple now lets you use Siri AI hands-free through AirPods.
Apple says the new Siri AI can understand personal context across things such as messages, emails, and photos, while also handling app actions and broader questions.
For example, I could ask Siri to find the restaurant reservation buried in an email or play a song someone recommended in a message. There’s also a surprisingly nice addition. Siri Interactions will let you respond to Siri by nodding your head for yes or shaking it for no. I can see it being useful when I don’t want to speak out loud.
There is an important catch, though. Siri AI is rolling out in beta with iOS 27, so this isn’t something every AirPods 5 owner will necessarily get right away. Apple says Siri AI initially rolls out in English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish support coming in October. Availability can also vary by region and language.
Live Translation on AirPods 5
Live Translation is probably the feature I’ll be watching most closely after launch.
Powered by Apple Intelligence, Live Translation lets AirPods users hear conversations translated into their preferred language.
Apple says you can set up the feature through the Translate app, download the required languages, and start Live Translation by:
- Pressing both AirPods stems simultaneously
- Saying, “Siri, start Live Translation”
- Using the Action button on a compatible iPhone
The feature is available across the AirPods lineup with compatible devices, software, firmware, and Apple Intelligence activated, although Apple notes that language and regional availability vary.
Battery life on AirPods 5
Battery life depends on which AirPods 5 model I choose.
The standard AirPods 5 provide up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled on a single charge.
The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case increase that to five hours with ANC, while the charging case provides up to 22 hours of listening with ANC.
That extra hour isn’t groundbreaking on its own, but it becomes more compelling when combined with the additional controls and charging options available on the $149 model.
AirPods 5 price, compatibility, and availability
Here’s the simple breakdown:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | $129 |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | $149 |
Apple opened preorders on September 9, and both models become available in stores on September 18, 2026.
At this price, the standard AirPods 5 become the most affordable way to get this combination of ANC and Apple’s newer AirPods features.
For the full feature set, Apple recommends pairing AirPods 5 with an Apple device running the latest operating system software. Some of the more advanced features require an Apple Intelligence-enabled device.
AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case: What do you get for the extra $20?
Here’s where I’d think a little more before placing an order.
Apple charges $20 more for AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case, bringing the price to $149. And for me, that $20 looks surprisingly reasonable.
The upgraded model gives me:
- Wireless Charging Case
- Qi wireless charging
- Apple Watch charger support
- USB-C charging
- Up to five hours of ANC listening
- Up to 22 hours with ANC using the case
- On-stem volume control
- Built-in speaker for Find My
The volume swipe is especially interesting. Apple says AirPods 5 introduce a force sensor with volume swipe, allowing users to swipe up or down on the stem to adjust volume. It’s the first time Apple has brought this capability to its open-ear AirPods.
And honestly, that’s the sort of feature I appreciate more than another headline-grabbing AI feature.
What I like about AirPods 5
- ANC at $129: Apple has taken a feature that previously pushed me toward more expensive AirPods and put it into a $129 open-ear model.
- The open-ear approach: Not everyone likes silicone ear tips. AirPods 5 give people who prefer Apple’s traditional open-ear fit a way to get ANC without switching to an in-ear design.
- Siri AI makes more sense with AirPods: When I’m walking, driving, cooking, or carrying something, pulling out an iPhone isn’t always convenient. Having Siri understand personal context in AirPods interactions feels much more natural.
- The $149 model is well thought out: The upgraded case adds better battery life and volume swipe.
- Better durability: The improved dust, sweat, and water resistance is another welcome change for something I’m likely to wear while working out or commuting.
What I don’t like about AirPods 5
AirPods 5 look impressive, but I wouldn’t call them perfect.
- Open-ear ANC still has limits: Apple can use microphones, computational audio, and clever acoustic engineering to reduce external noise, but an open-ear earbud doesn’t create the same physical isolation as a sealed in-ear design.
- Advanced features are not for everyone: Siri AI is rolling out as a beta, while Live Translation requires compatible Apple hardware, software, firmware, and supported languages or regions.
- There’s no charging cable in the box: Apple doesn’t include a USB-C charging cable or power adapter with AirPods 5.
Final thoughts
AirPods 5 could be the most interesting AirPods upgrade of 2026. It has taken several features that used to push buyers toward higher-end AirPods and brought them down to a $129 starting price.
The headline is obviously Active Noise Cancellation, but the bigger picture is more interesting. Improved acoustics, Adaptive EQ, Personalised Spatial Audio, Siri AI, Live Translation, better durability, and a more capable charging case all come together in one package.
If I wanted the cheapest way into the new AirPods experience, I’d choose the $129 AirPods 5. But if I were spending my own money, I’d probably choose the $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. For just $20 more, I get longer ANC battery life, wireless charging, Apple Watch charging support, and the new volume swipe control.
What do you think about the new AirPods 5? Let me know in the comments below!
