Apple AirPods 5 Released with Standard ANC and Wireless Charging Option
In addition to the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple announced new AirPods: the AirPods 5. The most notable change is not in the sound quality, but in the price. Active noise cancellation is now standard, whereas it cost an additional €50 with the AirPods 4. The AirPods 5 cost €149 and will be available in stores starting September 18.
The AirPods 4 were released last year in two versions: for €149 without and for €199 with active noise cancellation (ANC). Apple is doing away with that distinction. Every AirPods 5 model features ANC, which, according to Apple, blocks up to 50% more background noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. This is thanks to a new acoustic design with multiple ports, which Apple borrowed from the AirPods Pro 3. Transparency Mode has also been improved; as a result, voices around you should sound more natural. Adaptive Audio is also included, as is Conversation Detection, which automatically lowers the volume as soon as you start speaking.
One caveat is worth noting. Apple calls the noise cancellation “the best on the market,” but by that it means the best among open-ear earbuds without silicone tips. An open-ear design never completely seals off your ear, so if you really want peace and quiet on the train, you are still better off with the AirPods Pro 3 or a competitor’s model with silicone tips. But if you hate that sealed-off feeling, this is the first time you will find a serious alternative at no extra cost.
Two versions, the difference lies in the case
Apple sells the AirPods 5 in two versions. For €149, you get the earbuds with a standard charging case that charges only via USB-C. For €169, you get the AirPods 5 with a wireless charging case, which you can also place on a Qi charger or an Apple Watch charger. That case also has a speaker, so you can make it beep via Find My if it is hidden between the couch cushions again. The cheaper case lacks that speaker; if you lose it, it is really lost. Furthermore, only the more expensive version has a pressure sensor in the stem that lets you adjust the volume. If you like to adjust the volume without holding your phone or find yourself searching for your case regularly, you will quickly recoup that extra €20.
Battery life: there is a difference between the two here as well
The difference between the two versions lies not only in the case but also in the earbuds themselves. The AirPods 5 with the wireless case last up to five hours with ANC enabled and up to 22 hours with the case, which is one hour longer than the AirPods 4 with ANC. The base model remains at four hours and 20 hours total, exactly the same figures as its predecessor. If you turn off ANC, you get six hours (base model) or seven hours (wireless case). By comparison, the AirPods 3 last eight hours on a single charge. Furthermore, both versions are now IP57-rated for resistance to dust, sweat, and water. The AirPods 4 did not exceed IP54.
Live Translation, now also available in Dutch
Just like the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 5 can translate a conversation for you in real time: your conversation partner’s voice is muted, and the translation plays in your ear. You can activate the feature by pressing both stems at the same time, using Siri, or by pressing the Action button on your iPhone. The translation takes place on the iPhone itself, so you need a device that supports Apple Intelligence and runs iOS 27. That is set to be released on September 14. Unlike when the AirPods Pro 3 were introduced last year, the feature now also works in the EU. And there is more good news for us: Dutch is on the list of supported languages this year, alongside English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian, among others.
Buy AirPods 5
You can order the Apple AirPods 5 starting now for €149 (USB-C case) or €169 for the version with a wireless case. They will be available in stores starting Friday, September 18. A fair comparison with last year is between the AirPods 4 with ANC for €199 and the AirPods 5 with a wireless case for €169: the same case features, but €30 cheaper, with better noise cancellation, an extra hour of battery life, and volume controls. If you pay €149, you are consciously choosing a stripped-down case without wireless charging or a speaker. Only those who are truly seeking silence would be better off paying an extra €80 for the AirPods Pro 3.
Do you already have AirPods 4 with ANC? Then there is little reason to switch. The H2 chip is the same and the earbuds themselves are the same size and weight as those of the AirPods 4; what you gain is better noise cancellation, IP57 rating, and—on the more expensive model—volume controls. For first-time AirPods buyers, it is simple: ANC at the old entry-level price.
