Apple is releasing AirPods 5 tomorrow, and the headline upgrade is better active noise cancellation, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The lineup structure itself isn’t changing though, so if you were hoping for a bigger shakeup, this is a more targeted update than a full redesign.
Two Models, Same Split as Before
Gurman confirms Apple is sticking with two AirPods 5 models, and the difference between them comes down to the case. One version includes a wireless charging case, the other doesn’t. That mirrors exactly how Apple split the AirPods 4 lineup, so anyone upgrading from the previous generation already knows the drill: pay more, get wireless charging built in.
What’s worth remembering is that AirPods 4 was the first time Apple brought active noise cancellation down to its standard, non-Pro earbuds at all. Before that, ANC was a AirPods Pro exclusive. So AirPods 5 isn’t introducing the feature, it’s refining something that’s only one generation old. That’s a very different story from a first-generation feature, and it explains why Apple seems focused on making it better rather than reworking the whole lineup.
It also means the ANC upgrade should apply across the board rather than being locked to just one model, which is a nice change from Apple sometimes reserving its best features for the pricier option.
What’s Actually Improving
Active noise cancellation is the one concrete upgrade Gurman points to. AirPods 4 with ANC already did a solid job blocking outside noise for an earbud without silicone tips, which was genuinely impressive given the open-ear design has no seal to work with. An improvement here should make them noticeably better in loud environments like flights, gyms, or busy streets, where the lack of a physical seal usually works against you.
Gurman’s post doesn’t mention a chip, but earlier reporting on Apple’s September 9 event lineup pointed to a new H3 chip inside AirPods 5, aimed at better sound quality and lower latency. If that holds up, the noise cancellation gains are likely coming from that chip doing more processing per second rather than a change to the physical hardware, like new mics or vents. Lower latency would also be a welcome side effect for anyone using AirPods for gaming or watching video, where lag between what’s on screen and what you hear is the main giveaway that you’re on Bluetooth audio.
What AirPods 5 Might Cost
Apple hasn’t confirmed pricing, and neither has Gurman in this particular post, but recent history gives a reasonable baseline. AirPods 4 launched in September 2024 at $129 for the standard model and $179 for the ANC version with the wireless charging case, a $50 gap between the two. That pricing has held for a full year without a mid-cycle change.
Given that Apple is reportedly raising prices across the iPhone 18 Pro line and the incoming iPhone Ultra is expected to launch at $2,000, it wouldn’t be shocking if AirPods 5 crept up slightly, maybe to $139 and $189. Apple has kept AirPods pricing remarkably stable across generations, though, so a straight carryover of $129 and $179 is just as likely. We’ll know for certain once the event wraps.
Part of a Bigger Announcement Day
AirPods 5 isn’t launching in isolation. Gurman’s post is a follow-up to his own rundown of Apple’s event, which also includes the debut of Ternus as head of hardware engineering, a $2,000 foldable iPhone Ultra, an iPhone 18 Pro line with major camera upgrades, an Apple Watch Series 12 with a new ceramic case option, and price increases across the iPhone range.
AirPods 5 landing the same day as all of that tells you Apple is treating this as a routine refresh rather than a headline product, which tracks with how incremental the noise cancellation update sounds so far. It’s the same pattern Apple followed with AirPods 4 in 2024, where the earbuds were announced alongside the iPhone 16 lineup rather than getting a dedicated moment. Our full breakdown of everything else Apple is expected to announce is here.
