Apple is taking one of the biggest complaints about open-ear earbuds and trying to solve it: how do you block outside noise without completely sealing your ears?
The answer is the new AirPods 5, which bring Active Noise Cancellation to Apple’s open-ear design while adding better sound, Siri AI, Live Translation, and improved durability. Apple says they deliver its best audio experience yet in this style of AirPods.
The interesting part is that Apple is not changing the basic idea of AirPods. They still have the familiar open-ear fit. Instead, Apple is using new hardware and computational audio to make them do considerably more.
The big upgrade is ANC
AirPods 5 now have Active Noise Cancellation, and Apple says they can remove up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
That is made possible by a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio. The goal is to give users some of the benefits of ANC without moving to an in-ear design.
Apple is also improving the other side of the experience. Transparency mode is designed to sound more natural, while Adaptive Audio can automatically balance ANC and Transparency mode depending on the environment.
There is also Conversation Awareness. When you start talking to someone, the AirPods can automatically lower the volume of your music, then bring it back up afterward.
So if you’re listening to music while walking around, working, or traveling, you don’t have to constantly remove the earbuds just to hear what’s happening around you.
Then Apple added a lot more intelligence
AirPods 5 are also becoming another way to interact with Apple’s AI features.
When paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, users can access the new Siri AI hands-free. Siri can use personal context to answer questions based on information such as messages, emails, and photos.
You can also respond to Siri using head gestures.
That means some interactions can happen without touching your phone or even touching the AirPods.
Apple is also bringing Live Translation to AirPods 5. Powered by Apple Intelligence, the feature is designed to help users communicate across languages. It requires a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and is available in select languages and regions.
That could make the AirPods particularly useful when traveling or talking with someone who speaks another language.
Apple also rebuilt the audio experience
While ANC may be the headline feature, Apple says the AirPods 5 have been redesigned internally for better sound.
The earbuds use a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ, which adjusts the sound based on the shape of your ears. They also support Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for music, movies, and games.
The AirPods 5 also use Apple’s H2 chip, which powers the intelligent audio features.
For calls, Apple has added dual beamforming microphones and Voice Isolation to help make voices clearer, while studio-quality audio recording is available for compatible recordings.
There are actually two versions
Apple is offering AirPods 5 in two configurations.
The standard AirPods 5 come with a USB-C charging case and provide up to four hours of listening with ANC on a single charge.
Then there are AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which increase that to up to five hours with ANC. With the case, Apple says users can get up to 22 hours of listening with ANC.
The upgraded case also brings one small but useful change: volume swipe.
Users can swipe up or down on the AirPods stem to adjust the volume. Apple says this is a first for its open-ear AirPods design. The case can also charge using an Apple Watch charger, Qi charger, or USB-C.
Built for everyday use
Apple is also making the AirPods 5 more resistant to the things that usually come with daily use.
They have an IP57 rating, offering improved resistance to dust, sweat, and water.
Apple says the AirPods 5 use 40% recycled material overall, including recycled plastic in the wireless charging case and recycled cobalt in the battery.
The price is actually one of the interesting parts
In the US, AirPods 5 start at $129, while AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149. Both models are available for pre-order, with store availability beginning September 18.
Apple’s Philippine online store currently lists the AirPods 5 at ₱9,490 and the Wireless Charging Case version at ₱10,990.