The AirPods 5 Editions Arrive September 2026

Apple's AirPods 5 arrive on September 18th, 2026, offering the company's best open-ear listening experience across two purchase tiers. The earbuds feature a new multiport acoustic architecture, next-generation Adaptive EQ, and Active Noise Cancellation that Apple says removes up to 50 percent more external noise than the previous AirPods 4 with ANC. Both tiers include Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio, and hands-free access to Siri AI via an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone.

The base AirPods 5 are $129 and include the earbuds with a standard charging case. At this tier, buyers get the full ANC and sound-quality improvements alongside Live Translation, which lets users hear conversations translated into their preferred language through the earbuds. The earbuds carry an improved dust, sweat, and water resistance rating compared to the prior generation.

For users who want more battery life and additional controls, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are $149. This bundle adds a force sensor on each stem with a volume swipe gesture, a first for Apple's open-ear lineup. Battery life with ANC active extends to five hours per charge, one hour longer than AirPods 4 with ANC, and up to 22 hours total with the case included. The wireless charging case supports Apple Watch chargers, Qi-compatible chargers, and USB-C.