Apple’s AirPods 5 are now on sale, with Active Noise Cancellation becoming standard across the lineup and the entry price falling to $129 in the United States. The new generation launched in stores on September 18 after preorders opened on September 9.
Apple is selling two versions. The standard AirPods 5 cost $129, while the $149 model adds a wireless charging case, on-stem swipe controls for volume and longer battery life. In France, the two versions cost €149 and €169 respectively.
The biggest change is that buyers no longer need the more expensive configuration to get noise cancellation. Both versions use Apple’s H2 chip and a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture. Apple claims their open-ear ANC removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, alongside Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and personalized Spatial Audio.
AirPods 5 also push Apple’s earbuds further into its AI ecosystem. Live Translation can relay conversations between supported languages when paired with a compatible iPhone, while Siri integration supports voice commands and head gestures. Some AI functions depend on the iPhone model, software version, region and language.
The $20 upgrade mainly changes convenience rather than sound quality. Standard AirPods 5 provide up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled and 20 hours including the USB-C case. The wireless-case model reaches five hours per charge and 22 hours in total, supports Qi and Apple Watch chargers, and adds a speaker for Find My.
Apple’s strategy is therefore less about reinventing the AirPods design than pushing previously premium features further down the range. ANC is now the baseline, while wireless charging, volume gestures and slightly longer endurance become the differentiators.