Skip to content
Apple Apple AirPods 5

Apple · Headphones

Apple AirPods 5

Apple AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to Apple's newest open-ear earbuds at a $129 US starting price. They are the current mainstream AirPods choice for buyers who dislike silicone tips, while the $149 case option adds wireless charging, longer ANC listening time, volume gestures, and a Find My speaker.

Buying verdict

Shortlist AirPods 5 for Apple ecosystem convenience and moderate noise reduction without a sealed in-ear fit. The $149 configuration is the fuller package; buyers who prioritize strong isolation should wait for the September 18 release or compare AirPods Pro 3.

Best for iPhone users who prefer open-ear earbudsBest for everyday calls and commutingBest for buyers who want ANC below AirPods Pro pricing

Editorial score

8.4 / 10

High source confidence

Reference price

$129

Released

Sep 18, 2026

Reference price, not a live offer. Editorial data date Sep 14, 2026. Specs and availability can vary by configuration, region, and retailer. Status: upcoming.

Source coverage: 2 cited references cover 15 listed specifications. “Source cited” labels identify those fields; unbadged specifications remain editorial reference data pending field-level review. 1 additional product reference is listed without field-level coverage.

Compare alternatives See key specs Check Apple

These links open manufacturer or retailer pages so you can check live availability. Prices on this page are editorial references, not offers. Rankings and scores are not influenced by commercial relationships.

Should you buy it?

A practical ownership call

  • Buy it if you want iPhone users who prefer open-ear earbuds and everyday calls and commuting.
  • Skip it if open-ear fit cannot isolate as consistently as sealed silicone-tip earbuds.
  • Wait for final pricing and retail availability before treating it as a safe recommendation.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Open-ear design now includes ANC, Adaptive Audio, and Transparency mode
  • IP57 rating is stronger than many everyday open-ear alternatives
  • The $129 starting price undercuts Apple's Pro earbuds

Cons

  • Open-ear fit cannot isolate as consistently as sealed silicone-tip earbuds
  • The $129 case drops wireless charging, volume swipe controls, and the Find My speaker
  • The better-equipped $149 version has only five hours of rated listening with ANC enabled

Key specs

Type
True wireless open-ear earbuds Source cited
Form Factor
Non-sealing open-ear earbuds Source cited
Driver Size
Apple custom high-excursion driver; diaphragm diameter not published Needs confirmation
Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation with Adaptive Audio Source cited
Transparency / Ambient
Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness Source cited
Sound Profile
Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Source cited
Battery Life
Up to 4 hours with ANC using the USB-C case version; up to 5 hours with ANC using the wireless case version Source cited
Battery With Case
Up to 20 hours with ANC for the USB-C case version; up to 22 hours with ANC for the wireless case version Source cited

Buying scores

These are editorial estimates, not laboratory measurements. High source confidence; 83% of listed specification fields currently have field-level citations.

Noise Cancellation

8.1

Sound Quality

8.5

Comfort

9.1

Battery

7.6

Call Quality

8.8

Value

8.4

Compare

Compare with similar products

Choose any headphones alternative. Curated pairs open an editorial decision; every other pair opens a specs-only comparison.

Alternatives

Featured in rankings

Best Current Headphones in 2026

A current shortlist of the most important headphones to compare now, prioritizing P0 availability, high-interest models, and practical buying fit.
Availability, sources, and full notes

US availability

Apple announced US ordering on September 9 and retail availability beginning September 18, 2026; check case configuration and stock before ordering.

Common retailers

Apple, Amazon, Best Buy

Sources and verification

  • Apple AirPods 5 announcement · Apple · accessed Sep 14, 2026 · US Field-level coverage: Type, Form Factor, Noise Cancellation, Transparency / Ambient, Sound Profile
  • Apple AirPods 5 technical specifications · Apple · accessed Sep 14, 2026 · US Field-level coverage: Noise Cancellation, Transparency / Ambient, Sound Profile, Battery Life, Battery With Case, Charging, Quick Charge, Bluetooth, Weight, Water Resistance, Microphone System, Controls, App Support
  • Product image source · Apple · accessed Sep 14, 2026 Product reference only — individual specifications are not yet field-verified.

Editorial specification note

Apple's announcement and technical-specifications pages were checked on 2026-09-14; codec and standards-based multipoint support remain unpublished.

Editorial price note

Apple lists $129 for the USB-C charging-case configuration and $149 for the wireless-charging-case configuration in the US; these are launch prices rather than live promotions.

Specifications

18 tracked specs across 7 groups · 15 specifications have a field-level source citation.

Design

Type
True wireless open-ear earbuds Source cited
Form Factor
Non-sealing open-ear earbuds Source cited
Weight
4.3g per earbud Source cited

Audio

Driver Size
Apple custom high-excursion driver; diaphragm diameter not published Needs confirmation
Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation with Adaptive Audio Source cited
Transparency / Ambient
Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness Source cited
Sound Profile
Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking Source cited

Battery

Battery Life
Up to 4 hours with ANC using the USB-C case version; up to 5 hours with ANC using the wireless case version Source cited
Battery With Case
Up to 20 hours with ANC for the USB-C case version; up to 22 hours with ANC for the wireless case version Source cited
Charging
USB-C; $149 case also supports Qi and Apple Watch chargers Source cited
Quick Charge
5 minutes in the case provides about 1 hour of listening Source cited

Connectivity

Bluetooth Codecs
Apple does not publish a codec list on the cited specifications page Needs confirmation
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3 Source cited
Multipoint
Apple does not describe standards-based Bluetooth multipoint on the cited specifications page Needs confirmation

Durability

Water Resistance
IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance for earbuds and charging case Source cited

Calls

Microphone System
Dual beamforming microphones and inward-facing microphone Source cited

Usability

Controls
Force sensor; $149 configuration also supports touch volume adjustment Source cited
App Support
Native Apple device controls and Find My; case speaker is limited to the $149 configuration Source cited