AirPods 5 Put Open-Ear ANC at $129

CUPERTINO, Calif. - Apple’s AirPods 5 arrive in stores Friday, Sept. 18, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to the company’s open-ear buds at a starting price of $129 - the most approachable entry to features that once sat higher in the AirPods lineup.

Apple said the buds use a multiport acoustic design and next-generation Adaptive EQ, and that open-ear ANC removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, with a more natural Transparency mode. Hands-free Siri AI, head-gesture replies and Live Translation round out the software pitch when paired with iPhone.

Two configurations share the same earbuds: a $129 model with a USB-C charging case, and a $149 model with a Wireless Charging Case that adds longer published listening time and on-stem volume swipe via a force sensor - a first for Apple’s open-ear form factor, the company said. Product pages list up to 4 hours of listening with ANC on the standard model and up to 5 hours on the Wireless Charging Case model, with total case-assisted figures of up to 20 and 22 hours respectively. Apple rates the buds IP57 for dust, sweat and water resistance and lists the H2 chip inside each stem.

Pre-orders are open now. Availability begins Friday, Sept. 18, the same day as iPhone 18 Pro and the new Apple Watch models.

In a week dominated by foldable phones and Pro cameras, AirPods 5 are the accessory most people can actually buy without rewriting a phone contract - open-ear comfort, stronger noise control, and a price that still looks like everyday gear.