Audio

AirPods 5 explained: what changed, and which of the two versions to buy

Apple's entry-level earbuds now cancel noise on both versions, starting at $129. For $20 more you get volume control on the stem, wireless charging and a longer battery.

By the How To, Simply team · 1 October 2026 · 2 min read

In shops since

18 September 2026

Price (US)

$129, or $149 with wireless charging case

Noise cancellation

On both versions

Battery with ANC

About 4 or 5 hours per charge

Fit

Open-ear, no silicone tips

AirPods 5 are the 2026 version of Apple's standard earbuds, the ones without rubber tips. Apple announced them on 9 September 2026 and they went on sale on 18 September. This article is based on Apple's announcement and launch reporting, not on our own testing.

What changed

Noise cancellation on both versions

With AirPods 4, only the more expensive version had Active Noise Cancellation. Now both do. Apple says the new earbuds remove up to 50% more outside noise than AirPods 4 with noise cancellation.

One thing to keep in mind: these are open-ear earbuds. They rest in the ear without sealing it. An earbud that seals the ear with a silicone tip, such as AirPods Pro, blocks more noise before the electronics do anything. Expect AirPods 5 to take the edge off a bus engine or an office hum, not to silence a plane cabin.

Transparency and Adaptive Audio

Transparency mode lets outside sound in so you can hear traffic or an announcement. Adaptive Audio moves between cancelling and transparency by itself, and Conversation Awareness turns your music down when you start speaking.

Live Translation

When paired with a compatible iPhone that has Apple Intelligence switched on, the earbuds can translate a conversation as it happens. The iPhone does the work, so this needs an iPhone 15 Pro or later on iOS 27, and it covers a limited list of languages.

Head gestures and Siri

You can nod or shake your head to answer Siri, for example to accept or decline a call, without speaking.

The two versions

Which one should you buy?

The $20 difference buys three things you use every day: volume without reaching for your phone, an extra hour per charge, and a case you can drop on a wireless charger. For most people the $149 version is the better value. Choose the $129 version if you only want the lowest price and always charge by cable.

If blocking noise is your main reason to buy, look at earbuds with silicone tips instead. If you find tips uncomfortable, AirPods 5 are the open-ear option with the most noise reduction Apple has offered so far.

Do they work without an iPhone?

They play music and take calls with any Bluetooth phone or computer. Automatic switching between devices, Find My, head gestures and Live Translation need Apple devices with current software.