Apple Launches AirPods 5 With Active Noise Cancellation and New Acoustics
Apple has introduced AirPods 5, a new generation of open-ear earbuds that brings Active Noise Cancellation to both versions of the lineup, including the entry-level one. According to the company, the system removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. The earbuds also gain a redesigned acoustic system and support for Apple Intelligence features, including real-time speech translation.
Noise cancellation in an open-ear design
Open-ear earbuds do not seal the ear canal, which is why active noise cancellation in this form factor has always trailed in-ear models. Apple narrows that gap in AirPods 5 with a new multiport acoustic architecture and reworked computational audio algorithms. Based on the company's own measurements, the earbuds cut up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
Transparency mode has changed as well and now conveys voices and nearby sounds more naturally. Adaptive Audio still blends transparency and noise cancellation depending on the surroundings, while Conversation Awareness lowers media volume as soon as the wearer starts speaking.
Dave Pakula, Apple's vice president of Hardware Engineering, said the company is pleased to bring Active Noise Cancellation, one of its best-loved features, to its most affordable AirPods; according to him, both AirPods 5 models offer world-class listening and make capabilities such as Live Translation available to far more people, while pairing with Siri AI unlocks powerful hands-free use.
Redesigned acoustics
The acoustic layout of AirPods 5 is based on solutions from AirPods Pro 3 and adapted to an open-ear body. The multiport architecture, together with next-generation Adaptive EQ, is claimed to deliver more detailed sound across a wider range of ear shapes. That matters for open-ear models, since fit is the single biggest factor in how they sound. Personalized Spatial Audio benefits too, building a more precise soundstage around the listener.
Apple Intelligence features
Some of the capabilities of AirPods 5 only work when the earbuds are paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence.
Siri AI is available through the earbuds entirely hands-free: the assistant draws on personal context from messages, emails and photos, and answers general knowledge questions.
Siri Interactions lets the user reply to the assistant with head gestures, nodding for yes and shaking the head for no.
Live Translation translates a conversation in real time. It is triggered by pressing both stems at once, by a voice command, or with the Action button on iPhone.
Siri AI arrives as a beta alongside iOS 27, in English first, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish promised for October. It will not be available in the European Union at launch. Live Translation, meanwhile, now covers the entire AirPods lineup rather than the premium models alone.
The wireless charging case version
The pricier version differs by more than its case. For the first time in open-ear AirPods, it adds a force sensor with volume swipe: sliding a finger up or down the stem changes the volume. The battery has been redesigned, so playback with noise cancellation on rises to five hours against four on AirPods 4 with ANC, and up to 22 hours with the case. The case itself charges over USB-C, from Qi-compatible chargers and from Apple Watch chargers.
Both models come with better dust, sweat and water resistance, although Apple does not name a specific rating. The earbuds are made from 40 percent recycled material, the battery uses 100 percent recycled cobalt, and the wireless case contains 70 percent recycled plastic.
Pre-orders for AirPods 5 opened on September 9, 2026, in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries and regions: the base version costs $129 and the model with the wireless charging case costs $149. In-store availability begins on September 18.
Specifications
- Type: open-ear wireless earbuds
- Noise control: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness
- Acoustics: multiport acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ
- Audio: Personalized Spatial Audio
- Controls: force sensor with volume swipe (wireless charging case version)
- Battery life: up to 5 hours with ANC, up to 22 hours with the charging case (wireless charging case version)
- Case charging: USB-C, Qi-compatible chargers, Apple Watch chargers
- Durability: improved dust, sweat and water resistance
- AI features: Siri AI, Siri Interactions, Live Translation (Apple Intelligence-capable device required)
- Materials: 40 percent recycled material, 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery
