AirPods 5: Everything You Need to Know

One of the biggest reasons people choose AirPods with ANC is to block out the noise around them - whether that’s on a busy commute, a long flight or when you simply want to focus on your music or work.

AirPods 5 take this further, with Active Noise Cancellation that removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. This is made possible by the new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio, helping you stay immersed in what you're listening to.

When you need to hear what's happening around you, the improved Transparency mode provides a more natural listening experience, bringing voices and nearby sounds through clearly. Adaptive Audio takes things a step further by automatically balancing ANC and Transparency mode depending on your surroundings.

And when you're having a conversation, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of your media when you start speaking, making it easier to talk to someone without needing to pause what you're listening to.

AirPods 5 have been redesigned from the inside out to deliver richer, more detailed sound across a wider range of ear shapes. The new multiport acoustic architecture works with next-generation Adaptive EQ to automatically adjust the sound, helping your music, podcasts and calls sound clear and balanced.

Personalised Spatial Audio makes the experience even more immersive, creating a more three-dimensional sound that can make it feel like you're surrounded by whatever you're listening to.

AirPods 5 make it easier to stay connected and get things done without constantly reaching for your iPhone. With an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, you can use Siri AI hands-free to find information, interact with apps and take care of everyday tasks using your voice.

You can also respond to Siri with simple head gestures. A nod can confirm a request, while a shake of your head can dismiss it, useful when you’re on the move or simply don’t want to speak out loud.

Live Translation makes AirPods 5 even more useful when you're communicating across languages. Once set up in the Translate app, you can hear conversations translated into your preferred language through your AirPods. It can be started from your AirPods, Siri or your iPhone, making it a convenient way to communicate when travelling or speaking with someone who uses another language.

Together, these features make AirPods 5 more than just a way to listen to music. They give you a more natural, hands-free way to interact with your iPhone and the world around you.

If you want a little more from your AirPods, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add some useful extras to the standard model.

For the first time in an open-ear AirPods design, you can adjust the volume directly from the stem. Simply swipe up or down to turn the volume up or down, giving you quick control without needing to reach for your iPhone.

Battery life gets a boost too. You can get up to five hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge, with up to 22 hours when combined with the charging case.

The case also gives you more ways to charge. Alongside USB-C, you can use an Apple Watch charger or a Qi-compatible wireless charger, making it easy to top up your AirPods wherever you are.

AirPods 5 have been designed with a focus on reducing their environmental impact, supporting Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.

The new AirPods 5 are made with 40% recycled materials overall, including 70% recycled plastic in the Wireless Charging Case and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. Across the supply chain, 35% of the energy used to manufacture AirPods 5 comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Apple has also designed AirPods 5 to meet its standards for energy efficiency and safer chemistry. The packaging is 100% fibre-based too, meaning it can be easily recycled at home.

It’s a combination of changes that makes AirPods 5 a little more considered, from the materials used to make them all the way through to the packaging they arrive in.

AirPods 5 bring together better sound, Active Noise Cancellation and a range of smarter features in an open-ear design that’s still familiar and easy to use. From Personalised Spatial Audio and Adaptive Audio to Siri AI and Live Translation, there’s plenty going on under the hood without making the experience feel complicated.

With the choice of standard AirPods 5 or the Wireless Charging Case model, there’s also a little more flexibility in how you use and charge them day to day.

AirPods 5 are available to pre-order now, with both models arriving from Friday, 18 September 2026. Whether you're upgrading an existing pair or discovering AirPods for the first time, this is a welcome step forward for Apple's open-ear range.