Apple is bringing active noise cancellation to its most affordable AirPods. The new AirPods 5 start at €149 – exactly the same price as the previous generation without this feature. Pre-orders are available now, and they will be in stores on September 18th.
Alongside the new iPhone models, Apple unveiled the AirPods 5. The announcement in the German Apple Newsroom focuses on noise cancellation, which remains a technically challenging aspect of an open design without silicone ear tips. Those weighing the pros and cons of the current models can find the differences in our AirPods buying guide – this announcement introduces a new entry-level category.
Key Facts at a Glance
- According to Apple, the AirPods 5 remove up to 50 percent more ambient noise than the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
- There are two models: 149 euros for the basic version, 169 euros for the version with wireless charging case, volume control on the handle and longer battery life.
- Previously, the version with noise cancellation cost 199 euros – so the entry into this feature will be 50 euros cheaper.
- Live translation now works on the entire AirPods range, but requires Apple Intelligence on the paired iPhone.
- Pre-orders are now being accepted, sales start on Friday, September 18th.
Two models, 20 Euro difference
Apple sells the AirPods 5 in two versions. Both feature the new multiport acoustic architecture and active noise cancellation. The basic version costs €149, while the €169 version includes a wireless charging case, longer battery life, and a pressure sensor at the bottom that allows you to adjust the volume by swiping.
The charging case of the more expensive version charges via USB-C, Qi chargers, and the Apple Watch charger. This division is new: In the previous generation, wireless charging was tied to noise cancellation, as only the more expensive model offered both.
What noise suppression is supposed to achieve
Apple claims up to 50 percent more distant ambient noise is heard compared to the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. This is made possible by the new multiport architecture and revised audio algorithms. The measurement was performed according to IEC standard 60268-24, and the comparison was made with the best-selling wireless open-ear headphones available at the time of testing.
In addition, there's a revamped transparency mode designed to reproduce voices and ambient sounds more naturally. Adaptive audio blends both modes depending on the environment, and conversation detection lowers the volume as soon as the wearer starts speaking.
For sound, Apple is using a next-generation Adaptive EQ, which, according to the announcement, covers a wider range of ear shapes. This is the critical point with open-back headphones, because without a sealing silicone ear tip, every ear shape sounds different.
Live translation and Siri via head gesture
Live Translation translates spoken language in both directions and is now available on the entire AirPods line with the AirPods 5. It can be activated by pressing both stems simultaneously, via the action button on the iPhone, or by voice command. The feature was introduced to older models last year with iOS 26.
The prerequisite is Apple Intelligence on the paired iPhone, and that's precisely the point for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region): Apple Intelligence launches on September 14th with iOS 27 and supports German. For AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, Apple explicitly lists German (Germany) among the languages for live translation in the German store. This shouldn't be confused with Siri AI: The new assistant launches only in English and isn't available at all on iPhones in the EU.
Siri's follow-up questions can still be answered with a head gesture – nodding for yes, shaking the head for no.
Battery and charging
Apple claims up to five hours of playback time with active noise cancellation for the model with the wireless charging case, which is one hour more than the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, for which Apple states up to four hours. With the charging case, this increases to up to 22 hours; the previous model offered 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled. This is based on a redesigned battery.
Apple doesn't provide specific battery life figures for the base model without the wireless charging case. Anyone needing longer battery life will likely end up buying the €169 version anyway.
Pricing and market launch
| AirPods 4 | AirPods 4 with ANC | AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 with wireless charging case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 149 euros | 199 euros | 149 euros | 169 euros |
| Active noise cancellation | no | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life with ANC | – | up to 4 hours. | – | up to 5 hours. |
| With charging case and ANC | – | up to 20 hours. | – | up to 22 hours. |
| Wireless charging case | no | Yes | no | Yes |
| Volume on a stick | no | no | no | Yes |
For comparison, Apple currently charges €249 for the AirPods Pro 3.
Pre-orders are now open in the USA and more than 65 other countries, with sales starting on Friday, September 18 – coinciding with the release of the new iPhone models.
The price is the real news
Technically, the noise cancellation in the open design is the more exciting aspect, but economically, something else is more important: Apple is no longer charging extra for a feature that previously cost €50. Those who opted for the ANC version of the AirPods 4 will now pay €30 less for the successors with a wireless charging case.
Whether the upgrade is worthwhile depends on the design. Open-back headphones, by their very nature, offer less noise isolation than in-ear models with silicone tips, which is why the AirPods Pro 3 remain the better choice in noisy environments – Apple claims their noise cancellation is four times that of the AirPods 4 with ANC. However, those who prefer an open-back design now get significantly more for their money.
The AirPods 5 should not be confused with the camera AirPods that have been expected for months – these are two different products, and the camera version will not be available until 2027 at the earliest.
Are you going for the basic version at €149, or are wireless charging and the volume gesture worth the extra €20 to you? Let us know in the comments which of the two versions you'll choose.
