Overview
- Preorders for the AirPods 5 are live at major retailers and shipments are expected to begin September 18.
- Apple lists the base AirPods 5 at $129 and a $149 bundle that adds a wireless charging case; neither box includes a charging cable.
- Active Noise Cancellation is now standard on the AirPods 5 and Apple says its new ANC removes roughly 50% more external noise than the AirPods 4.
- The earbuds add touch volume control by swiping the stem, a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture, next‑generation Adaptive EQ, five hours of single‑charge listening with ANC, and about 22 hours total with the case.
- Retailers are backing the launch with promotions: Best Buy trade‑ins for AirPods 4 can reduce net price to as low as $64 and other sellers have cut AirPods Pro 3 to $199, creating immediate consumer comparisons and incentives.