AirPodsExplainer
TrendingRelease date
AirPods 5 are out at $129, but AirPods Pro 4 aren't announced
AirPods 5 are already out: Apple announced them on Sept. 9, 2026, and they reached stores on Sept. 18. They cost $129, or $149 with a wireless charging case, and every model has Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. AirPods Pro 4 are a different story: Apple has not announced them. Apple's newest Pro earbuds are AirPods Pro 3, launched in September 2025 at $249.
- Accessories
- iPhone
AirPods 5 have been in stores since Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Apple announced them on Sept. 9 alongside iPhone 18 Pro and the new Apple Watch lineup. They cost $129, or $149 with the Wireless Charging Case. AirPods Pro 4 have not been announced; Apple’s newest Pro earbuds are still AirPods Pro 3.
AirPods 5 price and release date
Apple opened pre-orders on Sept. 9, 2026, in the US and more than 65 other countries and regions, and AirPods 5 went on sale on Sept. 18. There are two versions, and both have Active Noise Cancellation.
The $149 model adds a force sensor on the stem, so you can swipe up or down to change the volume, a first for Apple’s open-ear AirPods. Its redesigned battery gives up to five hours of listening with ANC, an hour more than AirPods 4 with ANC, and the case charges with Apple Watch chargers, Qi chargers or USB-C.
What’s new in AirPods 5
Apple’s headline is open-ear noise cancellation that removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, thanks to a new multiport acoustic architecture inspired by AirPods Pro 3. Transparency mode sounds more natural, and the next-generation Adaptive EQ makes Personalized Spatial Audio more immersive. AirPods 5 are also tougher, rated IP57.
With an Apple Intelligence iPhone, you can talk to Siri AI hands-free and answer it by nodding or shaking your head. Live Translation starts when you press both stems, say “Siri, start Live Translation” or use the iPhone Action button, and Apple says it now works across the whole AirPods lineup.
When are AirPods Pro 4 coming out?
Apple has not announced AirPods Pro 4, and it has given no date, price or features. The current model is AirPods Pro 3, which Apple announced on Sept. 9, 2025, put in stores on Sept. 19, 2025, and launched at $249.
For the rest of Apple’s fall lineup, see our pages on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, iPhone Duo and Apple’s Oct. 13 event.
This page is updated as soon as Apple announces AirPods Pro 4 or changes AirPods prices.
Official images
4
FAQ
When did AirPods 5 come out?
Apple announced AirPods 5 on Sept. 9, 2026, with pre-orders the same day, and they went on sale in stores on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in the US and more than 65 other countries and regions.
How much are AirPods 5?
$129 in the US for AirPods 5, and $149 for AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, which adds longer battery life and a volume swipe on the stem.
Do AirPods 5 have noise cancellation?
Yes, both models. Apple says AirPods 5 remove up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, in an open-ear design.
When are AirPods Pro 4 coming out?
Apple has not announced AirPods Pro 4. Its latest Pro model is AirPods Pro 3, announced on Sept. 9, 2025, and in stores since Sept. 19, 2025.
How much are AirPods Pro 3?
AirPods Pro 3 launched at $249 in the US in September 2025.
What is the difference between AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3?
AirPods Pro 3 are in-ear earbuds with up to 8 hours of listening with ANC, heart rate sensing during workouts, and Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features. AirPods 5 are open-ear, cheaper and last up to 4 or 5 hours with ANC, depending on the case.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
How much noise do AirPods 5 remove compared to AirPods 4 with ANC?
Apple says the new multiport acoustic architecture lets AirPods 5 remove up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
What do you get for the extra $20 with AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case?
The $149 model adds a force sensor with volume swipe on the stem and up to 5 hours of listening with ANC, an hour more than AirPods 4 with ANC.
Your call
Which AirPods would you buy now?
