Overview
- Apple announced the AirPods 5 at its Surprise and Shine event on Wednesday, September 9, with preorders open the same day and in-store availability set for September 18.
- Apple says the new open-ear design uses a multiport acoustic architecture and next‑generation Adaptive EQ to deliver up to 50 percent more active noise cancellation than the prior ANC model.
- Two models start at $129 for a USB-C charging case and $149 for a wireless charging case that adds swipe-based volume controls and up to five hours of listening with ANC enabled.
- Software features include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation, and hands-free Siri AI, with full Siri AI integration dependent on iOS 27 rolling out in beta on September 14 and regional availability.
- Apple improved durability to an IP57 rating and did not announce the rumored camera-equipped AirPods, while some retailers briefly discounted the outgoing AirPods 4 after the launch.