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Apple has just unveiled the AirPods 5. They come in two flavours — a $129 base model and a $149 version with a few handy extras thrown in.
The Californian tech firm says these are open-ear earbuds — just like the AirPods 4, meaning they sit in your ear without those rubbery silicone tips that you might find uncomfortable.
Despite that tip-free design, Apple says the AirPods 5 cut out 50% more background noise than the last generation, thanks to a completely reworked internal acoustic setup and clever computational audio processing.
The AirPods 5 also feature something called adaptive audio, which is ideal for everyday use. These earbuds are designed to automatically switch between noise-cancelling and transparency mode depending on what's happening around you. For example, if someone starts talking to you, they'll let sound in without you having to fiddle with any settings.
Apple Intelligence has also been added to these new earbuds. Siri on the AirPods 5 can tap into your prior conversations from the Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant on iPhone, answering questions hands-free using both your own information and broader knowledge.
You'll also be treated to the same live translation found on the prior models — letting you understand foreign language conversations in real time through your earbuds alongside your iPhone.
For those willing to spend the extra $20, the $149 model adds a few extra useful upgrades.
First up is on-stem volume control — you can swipe up or down on the stem to adjust the volume. It's a feature you may already recognise on the AirPods Pro, and it's the first time it's appeared on this style of AirPods 3.
Battery life has received an upgrade, too. The pricier model manages up to five hours of listening with noise cancellation switched on, compared to four hours on the base version, thanks to a redesigned battery cell.
You also get a wireless charging case that works with Apple Watch chargers and Qi pads. And at $149, it's actually $30 cheaper than the previous generation.
Both models are available to pre-order right now, with the earbuds beginning to ship on September 18.
Apple has also made the AirPods 5 tougher than before, re-engineering them to better handle rain, sweat, and dust — which is great news if you're planning to use them at the gym or out on a run.
Perhaps the most exciting part for the wider AirPods range is that active noise cancellation is now standard across every model Apple sells. That means whether you go for the entry-level AirPods or the Pro, you're getting proper noise-cancelling built in — something that wasn't the case with earlier generations.
