New AirPods are here, but maybe not the pair you’ve been hearing so much about. Today, as part of its “Surprise and Shine” event, Apple announced AirPods 5, a new generation of non-Pro wireless earbuds.
Probably the biggest upgrade in this generation is new active noise cancellation (ANC), which is 50% better than the last generation, according to Apple. These are still the non-Pro AirPods without ear tips, so the ANC isn’t going to reach the same heights as the AirPods Pro 3, but if you’re a fan of Apple’s cheaper, in-ear AirPods, then it’s hard to argue. There are also two models. The base model gets 4 hours of battery life with ANC, while a more expensive model gets 5 hours with ANC and also comes with wireless charging and swipe controls.
Wireless charging isn’t the biggest, most important feature out there, but it is nice to have, especially if you just want to throw your case down when you get home and have it top up in between uses.
Outside of ANC improvements, there are a few features worth noting, including Adaptive EQ, conversation awareness, and adaptive audio. Apple is also positioning the AirPods 5 as a conduit to Apple Intelligence and features like live translation as well as Siri AI.
Notably, Apple didn’t announce its rumored AirPods with cameras at today’s event, though they may still be on the roadmap for next year according to reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The AirPods 5 are available for preorder now. The base model is $129, and the more expensive model is $149. Both are available on Sept. 18.
This story is developing…
