By: Dipin Sehdev

Apple has introduced AirPods 5, its latest generation of open-ear wireless earbuds, with a redesigned acoustic system, stronger Active Noise Cancellation, deeper Siri AI integration and improved durability. The new AirPods 5 start at $129, while AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case are priced at $149. Preorders are open now, with retail availability beginning Friday, Sept. 18. The most important change may be how Apple is repositioning ANC.

With AirPods 4, Apple split the lineup between a $129 standard model and a $179 version with Active Noise Cancellation. AirPods 5 now bring ANC to the base $129 model, while the $149 version adds the Wireless Charging Case, longer battery life and on-stem volume control. That makes AirPods 5 considerably more aggressive on value. It also gives Apple another opportunity to improve on the reception of AirPods 4. AirPods 4 currently hold an 82% CE Critic Score along with a CE Critic Essential Award. That is a strong result, but it trails the 90% CE Critic Score earned by AirPods Pro 3. With Apple borrowing some of the acoustic thinking from AirPods Pro 3 while making significant changes to ANC and Adaptive EQ, it will be interesting to see whether AirPods 5 can close that gap once independent reviews arrive.

AirPods 5 Improve Open-Ear Noise Cancellation

Apple says AirPods 5 deliver its best Active Noise Cancellation yet in an open-ear design. According to the company, the new earbuds can remove up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. Apple attributes the improvement to a new multiport acoustic architecture and updated computational-audio algorithms. The same system is designed to improve Transparency mode so voices and environmental sounds come through more naturally. Adaptive Audio remains part of the package, automatically blending ANC and Transparency depending on the surrounding environment.

Conversation Awareness also returns, lowering media volume when the wearer begins speaking. Apple's claim of "industry's best" open-ear ANC is a manufacturer claim and will ultimately need to be tested independently, but a 50% improvement over AirPods 4 with ANC would be a substantial generational jump if reviewers confirm it.

AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5

Because AirPods 4 were available in both standard and ANC configurations, the most useful comparison is against AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, which is the model AirPods 5 effectively replace from a feature standpoint.

Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC offer up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled and up to 20 hours with the charging case. The previous model also carries an IP54 dust, sweat and water-resistance rating. The pricing difference is particularly notable. AirPods 4 with ANC launched at $179. AirPods 5 bring ANC down to $129, effectively cutting $50 from the entry price for Apple's open-ear noise-canceling AirPods.

Apple Reworks the Sound

AirPods 5 also receive a new multiport acoustic architecture inspired by AirPods Pro 3. Apple says the design works with next-generation Adaptive EQ to provide richer and more detailed sound across a wider range of ear shapes. That last part is particularly important for an open-ear product. Unlike AirPods Pro, AirPods 5 do not use silicone ear tips to create a seal. That makes fit and individual ear geometry much more important to both frequency response and noise-cancellation performance.Apple says the new system is intended to compensate for those differences more effectively.

Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking also remains available. Whether these changes translate into a meaningful increase in sound quality will likely be one of the biggest factors in the eventual CE Critic Score. AirPods 4's 82% score and Essential Award suggest critics broadly liked the previous model, but AirPods Pro 3's 90% score establishes a significantly higher benchmark. AirPods 5 do not necessarily need to match the Pro model. But they should ideally narrow the gap.

Siri AI Becomes a Bigger Part of AirPods

Apple is also turning AirPods into a more important interface for Siri AI. When paired with an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, AirPods 5 will provide hands-free access to the new Siri AI capabilities arriving in beta with iOS 27. Apple says Siri will be able to understand personal context across messages, emails, photos and other information while also accessing broader world knowledge. For example, a user could ask Siri to play a song someone recommended in a message or find directions to a restaurant based on a reservation confirmation stored in email. Siri Interactions remain available as well, allowing users to nod their head to answer yes or shake it to respond no. That feature debuted with AirPods 4, but a more capable Siri could make the interaction significantly more useful than it was when the previous generation launched.

Live Translation Expands the Use Case

Live Translation is also part of the AirPods 5 experience. Once supported languages have been downloaded in Apple's Translate app, users can start Live Translation by pressing both stems, asking Siri or using the Action button on a compatible iPhone. The translated conversation is then played through the AirPods in the user's preferred language. Apple says the feature uses Apple Intelligence alongside ANC and computational audio. Live Translation has since been added to AirPods 4 with ANC as well, so this is not exclusive to AirPods 5. Still, Apple's continued expansion of features like translation and AI makes it increasingly clear that AirPods are becoming more than wireless headphones. They are becoming an interface for the broader Apple Intelligence ecosystem.

AirPods 5 Specifications

Apple's technical specifications confirm the $129 version delivers up to four hours of ANC battery life and up to 20 hours with its case, while the Wireless Charging Case version extends single-charge ANC playback to five hours.

The $149 Model May Be the Better Buy

Apple's new pricing structure creates an interesting decision. At $129, AirPods 5 now include ANC without requiring customers to step up to a more expensive version. That alone makes them a stronger value than AirPods 4 at launch. But the $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case may be the more compelling model for many users. For another $20, it adds wireless charging through Qi or an Apple Watch charger, a Find My speaker in the case, longer ANC battery life and, perhaps most importantly, volume control directly on the stem.

The force sensor now supports swiping up and down to change volume, something Apple has previously reserved for its Pro-style controls. Battery life increases from four to five hours with ANC enabled, while total ANC playback with the case rises from 20 to 22 hours. Those improvements aren't dramatic individually. Together, they make the $149 version look like the sweet spot in the lineup.

Apple Is Also Increasing Recycled Material

Apple says AirPods 5 contain 40% recycled material overall. That includes 70% recycled plastic in the Wireless Charging Case and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. The company says 35% renewable energy is used across the manufacturing supply chain, while the packaging is entirely fiber-based. Apple continues to frame those changes around its broader environmental goals.

Pricing and Availability

AirPods 5 are available to preorder now for $129 in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries and regions. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149.

Both models begin arriving in stores Friday, Sept. 18. Full functionality requires pairing with an Apple device running Apple's latest operating-system software. Siri AI begins rolling out in beta with iOS 27, while some Apple Intelligence and Live Translation features vary by language and region.

Can AirPods 5 Improve on the AirPods 4 CE Critic Score?

That may ultimately be the most interesting question for us. AirPods 4 currently sit at an 82% CE Critic Score with an Essential Award. That's a very good result. But Apple's AirPods Pro 3 reached a much stronger 90% CE Critic Score. AirPods 5 appear designed to address several areas that could help close that gap: stronger ANC, revised acoustics, next-generation Adaptive EQ, longer battery life on the $149 model and more capable hands-free AI features.

The new pricing could matter just as much. Bringing ANC into a $129 open-ear AirPod changes the value equation considerably compared with the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC. Of course, Apple's specifications only tell us what changed. The CE Critic Score will ultimately depend on what independent reviewers find once they spend meaningful time with AirPods 5.

If Apple delivers on its claims, particularly the 50% improvement in noise cancellation and better sound across different ear shapes, there is a good chance AirPods 5 will outperform their predecessor critically. For now, the 82% AirPods 4 score is the benchmark to beat. And with AirPods Pro 3 sitting at 90%, we already know how high the ceiling can go.