Apple announces AirPods 5 with ‘best-in-class open‑ear active noise cancellation’

image via The Verge

September 9, 2026, 5:31 PM

• •Apple says AirPods 5 offer 'best-in-class open-ear active noise cancellation.'
• •The earbuds feature a redesigned acoustic architecture and improved sound over the AirPods 4 series.
• •A pricier model introduces swipe volume controls on the stem, the first for Apple's open-ear AirPods design.
• •Battery life on the wireless charging model reaches up to five hours, one hour longer than AirPods 4 with ANC.
• •The base model costs $129, while the wireless charging version costs $149, which is $30 less than the previous generation.

Apple has announced AirPods 5 as an update to its open-ear AirPods 4 lineup introduced in 2024. The new earbuds add a redesigned acoustic architecture, improved sound, and adaptive active noise cancellation that Apple says cuts noise 50 percent better than the prior model. A higher-end version adds swipe-based stem controls, a wireless charging case, and up to five hours of playback. Apple priced the base AirPods 5 at $129 and the wireless charging version at $149, with preorders open now and availability set for September 18th.

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