Apple Launches AirPods 5 with Enhanced Noise Cancellation

Apple launched the AirPods 5, an open-ear wireless earbud series designed with improved sound quality and enhanced Active Noise Cancellation. The new line features an IP57 durability rating and utilizes the H2 chip to power Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Siri Interactions, which enable users to respond to notifications using head nods or shakes.

The product line is divided into two tiers. A standard model is priced at £119 ($129), while a step-up version featuring a Wireless Charging Case is priced at £139 ($149). The more expensive model includes additional hardware such as on-stem volume swipe controls and a Find My speaker integrated into the charging case.

Battery performance differs between the two versions, with the step-up model offering up to five hours of playback with ANC enabled, compared to four hours for the standard model. While these earbuds provide significant upgrades over the AirPods 4, they do not include the heart-rate monitoring or hearing aid capabilities available in the AirPods Pro 3.