Apple today unveiled AirPods 5, available to order now starting at just $129, the new version of its entry-level AirPods.
Active noise cancellation is now available on all AirPods 5 models. Customers previously had to spend $179 for AirPods 4 with noise cancellation included, but that is now standard with AirPods 5. So if noise cancellation in an open-ear design is what you cared about most, you just saved $50 compared to the same AirPods options a week ago. Apple claims AirPods 5 offer the best noise cancellation of any earbuds that rest on the ear. (AirPods Pro will still offer the world’s best noise cancellation overall, thanks to their in-ear design with plastic tips that physically plug the ear). Secondly, you actually get better battery life if you opt for the $149 model. The base $129 configuration offers the same 4 hours of listening time with ANC enabled as the AirPods 4, but the $149 model offers an extra hour of listening on a single charge. Including the case, that means 22 hours of total listening time.
Thirdly, new with AirPods with Wireless Charging Case is a fan-favorite feature from AirPods Pro: the addition of the volume swipe gesture on the stem. This lets you raise or lower the volume just with a quick swipe on the earbud, without needing to reach for your phone or use Siri.
Based on the learnings from AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 5 feature a richer, more detailed sound profile compared to AirPods 4. This is enabled through hardware changes, like the new multiport acoustic system as well as next-generation Adaptive EQ. The acoustic architecture enables Apple to deliver sound more precisely to a range of human ear shapes and sizes, dynamically adjusting how the audio is delivered on the fly for best results.
It’s up to you whether these differences are worth the extra $20 at checkout, but nevertheless, it still represents much better value overall than the equivalent AirPods 4 lineup. After today’s introduction, Active Noise Cancellation is now available at a $50 lower price point … and even the more expensive model is still $30 less than AirPods 4.
