Apple introduces AirPods 5, featuring best-in-class open‑ear Active Noise Cancellation

opens in new window PRESS RELEASE September 9, 2026 CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced AirPods 5, delivering the industry’s best Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in an open-ear design and even better sound quality, at an outstanding value.1 AirPods 5 feature an all-new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ for even more immersive sound. Their breakthrough open-ear ANC removes up to 50 percent more external noise compared to AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, alongside a more natural Transparency mode. Combined with Siri AI and iPhone, AirPods enable users to draw on their personal context and get answers with broad world knowledge, entirely hands-free.2 Users can also respond to Siri using head gestures, or use Live Translation to help connect across languages. Intelligent Features, Hands-Free For users with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone, AirPods 5 allow users to tap into helpful intelligent features hands-free and on the go. Siri AI, which is rolling out in beta in iOS 27, is a profoundly more capable and conversational assistant, offering personal context understanding across messages, emails, photos, and more, as well as app actions and broad world knowledge. For example, users can ask Siri to play the song a friend recommended in a message or navigate to a dinner reservation based on the confirmation buried in an email. Siri AI sounds more natural than ever, with expressive voices that a user can customize so it’s just right for them.5 And Dictation now captures what users say with greater precision. Customers in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries and regions can pre-order AirPods 5 today for $129 (U.S.), with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18. Customers in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries and regions can pre-order AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case today for $149 (U.S.), with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 18. For full feature functionality, use AirPods 5 paired with an Apple device running the latest operating system software. Apple Intelligence will be available with iOS 27 on Monday, September 14, for users with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language. Apple Intelligence is available with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see apple.com/apple-intelligence. Siri AI is rolling out with iOS 27 as a beta on Monday, September 14, for users with a supported device set to English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Live Translation is available on compatible Apple devices with the latest operating system software when paired with compatible AirPods with the latest firmware when Apple Intelligence is turned on. This feature is not available in all languages or regions. AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new AirPods 5 or, in available markets, AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, theft and loss protection on eligible products, battery replacement service, and priority support from Apple Experts. In the U.S., customers can also choose AppleCare One Family, which extends that same coverage to every eligible device across an Apple Family Sharing group for one fixed monthly price. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare. Text of this article Media in this article Testing conducted by Apple in July 2026 using AirPods 5 paired with iPhone 17 with prerelease AirPods firmware and iOS 27. Noise reduction was tested in accordance with IEC 60268-24. Comparison made against the bestselling wireless open-ear headphones commercially available at the time of testing. Performance depends on device settings, environment, and many other factors. Apple Intelligence is available with Siri settings and device language set to Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is rolling out in beta in iOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU with iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, intelligent photo editing tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to Apple Intelligence terms and conditions. Learn more at apple.com/apple-intelligence. Hands-free access to Siri AI works on all AirPods. Siri AI is not available to users under 13. Battery life varies by use. See apple.com/batteries for details. Personalized Spatial Audio works with compatible content in supported apps. iPhone with TrueDepth camera required to create personalized profile, which will sync across compatible Apple devices. Personalized Spatial Audio is not available when using other devices. Apple’s most powerful on-device model and the features it enables, like expressive voices and more advanced Dictation, are available on iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPad models with M4 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory, and Mac models with M3 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory. The model and expressive voices are also available on Apple Vision Pro (M5). Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories. Recycled and renewable plastic content calculation includes mass balance allocation. Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from calculations of plastic content and packaging weight.