Apple unveiled AirPods 5 at its iPhone 18 Pro event, offering a major upgrade to the entry-level earbuds. The new model features 50% more noise reduction than AirPods 4, redesigned internals, next-gen Adaptive EQ, and Personalized Spatial Audio. Both versions now include Active Noise Cancellation, a first for the base model.

The standard AirPods 5 start at $129, while the higher-end model with a wireless charging case costs $149. Pre-orders begin today, with shipping on September 18. The higher-end version also adds on-stem volume controls and longer battery life (up to 20 hours with the case).

For comparison, AirPods Pro 3 is now $199 (down from $249), and AirPods Max 2 is $449 (down from $549).