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AirPods 5Release Date, Price & What Changed vs AirPods 4
Last updated
Apple announced AirPods 5 on 9 September 2026, opened pre-orders the same day and put both models in stores on 18 September. Both carry Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple rates at up to 1.5x the AirPods 4 ANC model and calls the best in an open-ear design. The $129 pair ships with a USB-C case and runs 4 hours with ANC on.
Released
Sep 18, 2026
Price
$129
LATEST NEWS
Apple announces AirPods 5, and both models cancel noise
When to buy
A new version probably isn't soon
Launched Sep 2026. Usual update time: Feb 2029.
SEP 21 · LATEST ON AIRPODS 5
Spend the extra $20. The wireless-case model gets swipe volume and more battery, and battery life is the complaint that follows the AirPods 5 through every review.
Read the story →Best for
Music.
It plays music in spatial audio tuned to a scan of your own ears.Confirmed: apple.com
Calls.
Voice Isolation cleans up your voice on a call, and you can answer without touching anything.Confirmed: apple.com
Travel.
Both models now cancel noise, with up to 1.5 times the cancellation of AirPods 4 with ANC.Confirmed: apple.com
Ask about the AirPods 5
Comparison
Compare earbudsHow it compares
Price
$129
What it costs to buy. None of these need a subscription.
Weight
4.3g
Grams in your ears. Lower is lighter.
Battery life
5 hrs
How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.
Cost over 3 years
AirPods 4$129AirPods 5$129
Pixel Buds 2a$129
Galaxy Buds 4$179.99
Pixel Buds Pro 2$229Weight
Battery life
Current list prices.
One earbud, not the pair, and not the case.
Battery life can vary based on usage, settings and firmware version.
If not this one
AirPods 5 is our pick for music, calls and travel. Where it does not lead, here is what does, and why you would switch.
- If workouts are the pointAirPods Pro 3
It tracks your heart rate and calories through a workout, and it is rated IP57.
- If you want live translationGalaxy Buds 4 Pro
Galaxy AI translates live through the earbuds.
Quick answers
All FAQsQuick answers
How much do AirPods 5 cost?
$129 for AirPods 5 with the USB-C charging case, and $149 for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which adds the on-stem volume swipe and an extra hour of playback. Both are US prices announced by Apple on 9 September 2026.
Should I buy AirPods 4 instead now that AirPods 5 is out?
Only on price. AirPods 5 starts at $129 and both models now include Active Noise Cancellation, rated at up to 1.5x more than on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and keeps the H2 chip. AirPods 4 is worth it if you find it heavily discounted.
Do the AirPods 5 come with a charger?
No. The box has a charging case, but no charging cable and no power adapter.
Sep 7, 2016 · Origin
Apple introduces AirPods
Dec 13, 2016 · Shipped
AirPods go on sale
Mar 20, 2019 · Generation 2
Second-generation AirPods arrive
Oct 18, 2021 · Generation 3
AirPods 3 add a new design and spatial audio
Sep 9, 2024 · Generation 4
AirPods 4 split the line into two tiers
Sep 20, 2024 · Shipped
AirPods 4 reach stores
Jun 9, 2025 · Software
Apple previews new AirPods 4 recording controls
Sep 15, 2025 · Software
iOS 26 AirPods features ship
Oct 12, 2025 · Reported
AirPods 5 and H3 development are reported
Nov 4, 2025 · Software
Live Translation expands for current AirPods
Jun 8, 2026 · Software
Apple previews custom EQ for AirPods
Aug 18, 2026 · Code
AirPods 5 identifiers appear in macOS 26.7
Aug 19, 2026 · Clarification
Camera-equipped AirPods move to 2027
Aug 24, 2026 · Reported
AirPods 5 is reported for the September event
Aug 25, 2026 · Estimate
Pricing forecast centers on the current $129/$179 tiers
Aug 26, 2026 · Event
Apple schedules its September event
Aug 30, 2026 · Reported
September AirPods 5 timing is reiterated
Sep 2, 2026 · Status
Feature details remain scarce days before the event
At a glance
CURRENT MODELAirPods 5PREVIOUS MODELAirPods 4Noise cancellation
Yes, on both modelsConfirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 2026Apple rates it up to 1.5x AirPods 4 with ANC
No / Yes (open-earConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026ANC model only)
Earbud battery
4 hrs ANC (5 hrs on the Wireless Charging Case model)Confirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 2026
4 hrsConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
Price
The starting list price, not a temporary sale price. It is usually the first thing that rules a product in or out.
From $129
$79 (regularly $129)
Show 2 more specifications⌄
Cameras
Camera hardware changes what you can capture and which visual features are possible.
No
No
Health
The useful health features vary a lot even between similar-looking devices.
None
None
More specs⌄
Processor
The processor affects speed, efficiency and which features the device can support.
H2Confirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 2026
H2Confirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other connections determine what the device can work with.
Bluetooth 5.3Confirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 2026
Bluetooth 5.3Confirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
AI
AI features vary from simple voice help to camera-based assistants.
No
No
Indicators
A status light is how you know the battery level or pairing state without a phone.
No
No
Controls
Taps, head nods, eye and hand tracking suit very different situations.
Stem press for playback and calls, head nod for SiriConfirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 2026volume swipe on the Wireless Charging Case model
Head nod for Siri, double tap stemConfirmed: Apple · Jul 15, 2026
Battery
More time between charges usually makes a wearable easier to live with.
4 hrs ANC on, 20 hrs with the caseConfirmed: Apple · Sep 9, 20265 hrs and 22 hrs on the Wireless Charging Case model
5 hrs / 4 hrs ANC on
Current offers
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links.
Reveal to on sale
How long after the reveal can you actually buy one?
AirPods (1st gen)97 days
AirPods (2nd gen)same day
AirPods (3rd gen)8 days
AirPods 411 days
AirPods 59 days
One of the five went on sale the day it was revealed. Three more went on sale 8 to 11 days after being revealed. AirPods (1st generation) is the exception, at 97 days.
Other models to consider
Frequently asked questions
Questions about AirPods 5
Top questions
How much do AirPods 5 cost?
$129 for AirPods 5 with the USB-C charging case, and $149 for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which adds the on-stem volume swipe and an extra hour of playback. Both are US prices announced by Apple on 9 September 2026.
Should I buy AirPods 4 instead now that AirPods 5 is out?
Only on price. AirPods 5 starts at $129 and both models now include Active Noise Cancellation, rated at up to 1.5x more than on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and keeps the H2 chip. AirPods 4 is worth it if you find it heavily discounted.
Do the AirPods 5 come with a charger?
No. The box has a charging case, but no charging cable and no power adapter.
Do both AirPods 5 models have noise cancellation?
Yes. Both AirPods 5 models include Active Noise Cancellation. Apple rates it at up to 1.5x more than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and calls it the best Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design.
What is the difference between the two AirPods 5 models?
The case and the controls. The $129 model charges over USB-C only. The $149 Wireless Charging Case model also charges from an Apple Watch charger or a Qi pad, carries a speaker for Find My, adds a force sensor with volume swipe, and runs 5 hours with ANC against 4, or 22 hours with the case against 20.
What chip is in AirPods 5?
The H2, the same headphone chip used in recent AirPods models. Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that Apple is developing a new H3 chip, but he did not say which future AirPods model would get it first.
How long do AirPods 5 last on a charge?
Up to 4 hours with ANC on for the $129 model and up to 20 hours with its case. The $149 Wireless Charging Case model runs up to 5 hours and up to 22 hours with the case. Five minutes in either case gives around an hour.
Are AirPods 5 water resistant?
They are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water. That covers sweat, rain and a brief dunk, not a swim.
Do AirPods 5 have cameras?
No. Apple's September 9, 2026 announcement introduced AirPods 5, with no cameras. A separate camera-equipped AirPods project exists, but MacRumors reports it isn't coming out until 2027.
Do AirPods 5 track heart rate?
No. Heart-rate sensing stays on AirPods Pro 3. The AirPods 5 sensor list is microphones, an optical in-ear sensor, two accelerometers and a force sensor.
Do AirPods 5 translate a conversation?
Yes. Apple says Live Translation is now available across the entire AirPods lineup, enabled by ANC and computational audio. It needs Apple Intelligence turned on and is not available in every language or region.
What happens to AirPods Max now that AirPods 5 is out?
Nothing announced. Apple introduced AirPods Max 2 in March 2026 and did not mention it on 9 September. AirPods 5 is a refresh of the standard earbud line only.
Using it
Does it have noise cancelling?
Yes, it cancels noise.
What does it cost?
It costs $129 to $149. That is the list price, before any subscription.
Does it work with my phone?
It works fully with an iPhone and partly with Android. It pairs with Android, but the app and the iPhone-only features are not there.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 4.3g.
How good is the camera?
It has no camera. Outlets report this, but the maker has not confirmed it.
How does it connect?
It connects over Bluetooth.
What chip is inside?
It runs on H2.
Can people tell when it is recording?
No, there is no recording light. Nothing outward-facing shows when it is capturing. The maker has not published this, so treat it as a best guess.
Does it do spatial audio?
Yes, it does spatial audio. It tracks your head, so the sound stays put when you turn.
Can it see and answer questions about what I am looking at?
No, it cannot see what you are looking at. The maker has not published this, so treat it as a best guess.
Battery and charging
How long does the battery last?
It runs 20 hours with the case and noise cancelling on. That is 4 hours of listening with noise cancelling on, and 5 hours, measured on listening anc on wireless case.
Water
Can it get wet (shower, pool, swimming)?
Yes, it survives a shower and a soaking. Its rating is IP57. It holds up for thirty minutes at one metre. Swimming laps and diving need a different rating, and it does not carry one.
Price and models
When did the AirPods 5 come out?
It went on sale September 18, 2026. Announced September 9, 2026.
Is there a newer one?
No. The AirPods 5 is the current model.
Returns and warranty
In the box
Works with
Up next
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Reviewers agree the $149 AirPods 5 is the one to buy
Spend the extra $20. The wireless-case model gets swipe volume and more battery, and battery life is the complaint that follows the AirPods 5 through every review.
Noise cancellation is now standard on the $129 AirPods 5
Upgrading from AirPods 4 with noise cancellation buys you very little. Coming from anything older, the $129 model is the cheapest good AirPods Apple has sold.
AirPods firmware 9A348 adds custom EQ to Pro 3 and AirPods 4
If you own AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max 2, you can now tune the sound yourself and the setting travels with the earbuds. AirPods Pro 2 get the update but not the EQ, and you can't force the install.
The cheaper AirPods 5 matches the battery of the pair it replaces
Only the $149 AirPods 5 beats AirPods 4 with ANC on every line. The $129 model carries the same two battery ratings and a case with no wireless charging and no Find My speaker.
AirPods 5 are rated IP57 for water and dust, like the Pro 3
IP57 puts a $129 pair of open-ear AirPods on the same water rating as the $249 Pro 3.
Apple moved the AirPods upsell from noise cancellation to the case
Open-ear noise cancellation used to cost $179. It's $129 now, and the $20 step up buys a case that charges on an Apple Watch puck.
AirPods 5 arrive with better noise cancellation and no cameras
The camera AirPods were on Apple's schedule for this stage and are now a 2027 product, which leaves a $129 pair of tipless earbuds carrying the entry line for another year.
AirPods Pro 3 can run a gym workout without the watch
A treadmill test on the iOS 27 beta came back with the numbers a watch would give. The earbuds have to be in, and their heart-rate permission has to be on.
The camera AirPods would outrank Face ID for head tracking
Apple already has a head-tracking sensor in the phone in front of you. The code says the earbuds win that argument, on hardware nobody expects before fall 2027.
Apple's cheap AirPods arrive next month, in two versions
Noise cancellation is reaching Apple's entry-level earbuds a year earlier than the reporting expected. The camera pair is still next year.
A merged branch is how Apple leaked itself
Apple assembles its shipping code by merging branches, and one of the branches it merged this time was never meant to leave the building.
The camera AirPods are not coming this year
Supply chain problems and unfinished software pushed them to 2027, two days after a demo video leaked out of macOS.
The camera AirPods code belongs to the pair Apple canceled
A hidden macOS framework has two color cameras, paired stills at a megapixel, and an indicator light. It describes B790, the model Apple dropped.
Custom EQ is coming to four AirPods models
Apple’s fifth AirPods beta firmware, build 9A5347a, goes to every H2 model. Custom EQ and a new interface arrive with iOS 27.
The AirPods 5 codenames leaked out of macOS 26.7
B868M and B868E sit one increment above the shipping AirPods 4, splitting the next generation into a plain pair and one with active noise cancellation. No date came with them.
The unannounced camera AirPods already have a demo video
Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate carries the video, an error string from the camera, and codenames for two separate camera AirPods.
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