AirPods 5: Price, Release Date, Noise Cancellation, and Everything You Need to Know
AirPods 5 cost $129 or $149 and ship September 18, 2026, with Active Noise Cancellation standard. Here are the price, release date, battery, ANC, and how they compare.
Apple AirPods 5
AirPods 5 bring Active Noise Cancellation to every standard AirPods model for the first time, starting at $129, and Apple says the new open-ear ANC removes up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. If you want AirPods without silicone tips, pre-order the $149 Wireless Charging Case model, since the stem volume swipe, Find My speaker, and extra hour of battery are worth the $20. If you need the strongest possible noise cancellation for flights or a loud office, wait and buy AirPods Pro 3 at $199 instead. We will update this page with a full rating once our unit arrives after the September 18 release.
1/2Pros
- Active Noise Cancellation standard on both models from $129
- Apple says ANC removes up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC
- IP57 rating on both the earbuds and the case
- Live Translation and hands-free Siri with Apple Intelligence
Cons
- Open-ear fit cannot match the isolation of AirPods Pro 3
- Only 4 hours per charge on the $129 USB-C model
- Stem volume swipe and Find My speaker are locked to the $149 model
- Not on Amazon yet, and nothing ships before September 18
AIRPODS 5 AT A GLANCE
- Two models: USB-C Charging Case at $129, Wireless Charging Case at $149.
- ANC is standard on both, a first for non-Pro AirPods.
- Apple says the new ANC removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
- Battery: up to 4 or 5 hours per charge, 20 or 22 hours with the case.
- Open-ear fit like AirPods 4, so no silicone tips.
PRICE: $129 OR $149
Apple sells AirPods 5 in two configurations. The earbuds are identical. The difference is entirely in the case.
| Model | Price | Case charging | Battery with case |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 5 with USB-C Charging Case | $129 | USB-C cable only | Up to 20 h |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | $149 | USB-C, Qi, Apple Watch charger | Up to 22 h |
- Amazon status: AirPods 5 are not listed yet. Our link searches for them and will surface the listing.
- AirPods 4 sells for $99 on Amazon, AirPods 4 with ANC for $148.99.
- AirPods Pro 3 costs $199 if you want a sealed in-ear fit.
Price (US dollars, lower is better)
PRE-ORDER AND RELEASE DATE
- Tuesday, September 9: announced at Apple's Surprise and Shine event. Pre-orders opened the same day.
- Monday, September 14: iOS 27 ships. Live Translation and the new Siri depend on it.
- Friday, September 18: both models reach Apple Stores and pre-order customers.
- Amazon: not listed at time of writing. Amazon usually adds new AirPods within days.
- Both models share the same release date, so there is no second wave to wait for.
OPEN-EAR ANC, 50% BETTER THAN AIRPODS 4
Active Noise Cancellation on every model is the headline. AirPods 4 offered ANC only on the pricier version. Apple says an all-new multiport acoustic architecture removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, and calls it the industry's best ANC in an open-ear design.
- Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency based on your surroundings.
- Transparency passes outside sound through so you can hear traffic.
- Conversation Awareness lowers your music when you start talking.
- Voice Isolation cleans up your voice on calls.
- Press and hold a stem to switch modes.
Noise removed, Apple claim (AirPods 4 ANC = 100, higher is better)
SOUND AND ADAPTIVE EQ
Apple has not published driver sizes or frequency response numbers, so this covers what Apple has said, not what we have heard. The H2 chip handles audio processing, the same chip family as Apple's Pro earbuds.
- Next-generation Adaptive EQ measures what reaches your ear and adjusts low and mid frequencies in real time.
- Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking keeps movies and music fixed in space as you turn.
- Studio-quality recording should mean cleaner voice memos, calls, and video audio.
- Multiport acoustic architecture is new and shared with the ANC system.
BATTERY AND CHARGING
Battery life depends on the case you buy. Both models get the same quick top-up: five minutes in the case gives about one hour of listening.
| Model | Per charge (ANC on) | With case |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C Charging Case | Up to 4 h | Up to 20 h |
| Wireless Charging Case | Up to 5 h | Up to 22 h |
- Wireless Charging Case charges over USB-C, an Apple Watch charger, or any Qi-certified pad.
- No magnets. A MagSafe puck charges it as a Qi pad but will not snap it into place.
- USB-C model charges with a cable only.
Listening per charge with ANC on (hours, higher is better)
Total listening with case (hours, higher is better)
DESIGN, FIT, AND DURABILITY
AirPods 5 keep the open-ear shape of AirPods 4 and the same case footprint. Each earbud weighs 4.3 grams. The USB-C case is 32 grams and the Wireless Charging Case is 34.6 grams.
- IP57 on buds and case. A rainy run or a sweaty gym session should be fine.
- Same footprint as AirPods 4, so cases labeled for both generations fit.
- Find My speaker lives in the Wireless Charging Case only.
- Stem controls: press, double press, triple press, and press and hold on both models.
Weight (grams, lower is better)
LIVE TRANSLATION AND THE NEW SIRI
AirPods 5 pick up the two software features Apple is pushing hardest this year. Both need iOS 27, which ships September 14, and an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence.
- Live Translation plays a translated version of the other person into your ears, and your iPhone speaks or shows your reply.
- The new Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, works hands-free. Say Siri and ask.
- Older iPhones without Apple Intelligence still get ANC, Adaptive Audio, and Transparency.
- Conversation Awareness and Voice Isolation run on the earbuds and work regardless.
USB-C CASE VS WIRELESS CHARGING CASE: IS $20 WORTH IT?
| Feature | USB-C Charging Case | Wireless Charging Case |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $149 |
| Stem volume swipe | No | Yes |
| Find My speaker | No | Yes |
| Qi and Apple Watch charger | No | Yes |
| Battery per charge / with case | 4 h / 20 h | 5 h / 22 h |
- Buy the $149 model if you misplace your case, change volume often, or fly a lot.
- Buy the $129 model if you charge at a desk and reach for your phone for volume.
- The earbuds are identical, so sound and ANC are the same either way.
AIRPODS 5 VS AIRPODS 4 VS AIRPODS PRO 3: SHOULD YOU BUY?
| Model | Price | ANC | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 | $99 on Amazon | None | Open-ear |
| AirPods 4 with ANC | $148.99 on Amazon | Yes | Open-ear |
| AirPods 5 | $129 or $149 | Yes, 50% more noise removed | Open-ear |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $199 | Strongest, sealed | Silicone tips |
### Buy it if - You dislike tips in your ears and want the best open-ear buds Apple has made on paper. - You were about to buy AirPods 4 with ANC. AirPods 5 cost less and should cancel more. - You want Live Translation and the new Siri in an open-ear design.
### Skip it if - You fly often or work somewhere loud. AirPods Pro 3 at $199 seals your ear. - You never use ANC. AirPods 4 at $99 remains hard to beat.
ACCESSORIES
AirPods 5 share the AirPods 4 case footprint, so many cases already on Amazon fit on day one. Check that the listing names AirPods 5 or AirPods 4, not AirPods Pro.
- Protective cases add grip and stop the glossy plastic scratching. Picks at best airpods 5 accessories.
- A keychain clip matters most on the $129 model, which has no Find My speaker.
- A flat Qi pad or Apple Watch charger works with the Wireless Charging Case. Skip MagSafe stands that rely on a snap.
- A USB-C cable is all the $129 model needs, and any phone cable you own will do.
Specifications
| Price | $129 (USB-C Charging Case), $149 (Wireless Charging Case) |
| Release date | September 18, 2026 |
| Chip | Apple H2 |
| Noise control | Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness |
| ANC vs AirPods 4 | Removes up to 50% more external noise (Apple claim) |
| Audio | Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, next-generation Adaptive EQ |
| Battery per charge (ANC on) | Up to 4 hours (USB-C) / up to 5 hours (Wireless Charging Case) |
| Battery with case | Up to 20 hours (USB-C) / up to 22 hours (Wireless Charging Case) |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in case for about 1 hour |
| Case charging | USB-C; Wireless Charging Case also Apple Watch charger and Qi |
| Controls | Press, double press, triple press, press and hold; stem swipe volume on Wireless Charging Case model |
| Water resistance | IP57 (earbuds and case) |
| Weight | 4.3 g per earbud; case 32 g (USB-C) / 34.6 g (Wireless) |
| Fit | Open-ear, no silicone tips |
READY TO BUY THE APPLE AIRPODS 5?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When do AirPods 5 come out?
AirPods 5 were announced on September 9, 2026, and release on Friday, September 18, 2026. Pre-orders opened on announcement day.
How much do AirPods 5 cost?
AirPods 5 with USB-C Charging Case cost $129. AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149.
Do AirPods 5 have noise cancellation?
Yes. Active Noise Cancellation is standard on both AirPods 5 models, and Apple says it removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
Do AirPods 5 charge wirelessly?
Only the $149 Wireless Charging Case model does, on any Qi-certified pad or an Apple Watch charger. The $129 model charges with a USB-C cable only.
Do AirPods 4 cases fit AirPods 5?
Yes. The case footprint matches AirPods 4, so cases labeled for AirPods 5 (2026) and AirPods 4 (2024) fit both.
Are AirPods 5 on Amazon yet?
Not at the time of writing. Amazon usually lists new AirPods within days, and our Amazon link searches for AirPods 5 so it will show the listing once it goes live.