ANC is standard on both AirPods 5 models

The AirPods 5 went on sale September 18. Apple still offers two versions, but both now include active noise cancellation, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode.

The standard model costs $129 in the U.S. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149.

That is a meaningful change from AirPods 4, where buyers had to move to the more expensive version to get ANC at all.

Apple claims the new system removes up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. The comparison comes from Apple’s own IEC 60268-24 testing, so real-world performance will still vary with fit, environment and individual ear shape.

Open-ear ANC still has physics working against it

AirPods 5 remain open-ear earbuds. There is no silicone tip sealing the ear canal, which is comfortable for users who dislike in-ear designs but creates an obvious challenge for noise cancellation.

Apple is trying to overcome that with a new multiport acoustic architecture and revised computational-audio algorithms. Next-generation Adaptive EQ also adjusts the output across a wider range of ear geometries.

Early independent reviews broadly support the direction of the claims without reproducing Apple’s marketing language. The Verge found modestly improved cancellation and an exceptionally natural Transparency mode, while Engadget highlighted stronger bass and clearer vocals.

None of this changes the underlying advantage of sealed earbuds. AirPods Pro still have an easier job blocking aircraft or train noise because the ear tips provide passive isolation before ANC even begins.

Volume control is reserved for the $149 version

The stranger part of Apple’s segmentation is on the stems. Only AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case support swiping up or down to change volume.

This is the first time Apple has brought that control to its open-ear AirPods, but the $129 pair does not get it.

The extra $20 therefore buys wireless charging, volume control and longer battery life rather than better noise cancellation.

That makes the upgrade relatively easy to justify. Both The Verge and Engadget argue that the more expensive version is the more sensible buy unless the budget is particularly tight.

Five hours of ANC battery life is still modest

Apple rates the Wireless Charging Case model for up to five hours of listening with ANC enabled, one hour more than AirPods 4 with ANC. Total listening time reaches 22 hours with the case.

The base AirPods 5 run for up to about four hours with ANC and 20 hours with the case.

Five hours is an improvement, but it remains below many competitors and may not cover an entire long-haul journey without putting the earbuds back in the case.

The upgraded case supports USB-C, Qi charging and Apple Watch chargers. Wireless charging is therefore more than a cosmetic distinction between the two versions.

Live Translation reaches the regular AirPods

With ANC now standard, Live Translation is available across the AirPods 5 range. The feature uses Apple Intelligence on a compatible iPhone to translate speech and play the result through the earbuds.

Users can trigger it by pressing both stems, asking Siri or using the iPhone. Required language packs can be downloaded ahead of time.

The important dependency is the phone. The earbuds do not run the translation model independently, and availability depends on supported Apple Intelligence hardware, software, languages and regions.

AirPods are becoming an AI interface

Apple is also positioning AirPods as the natural hands-free interface for Siri AI. On supported iPhones, Siri can draw on personal context from messages, mail and photos and perform actions across compatible apps.

The compute still happens on the iPhone or through Apple’s cloud systems. AirPods function as the microphones and speakers that make the interaction feel continuous.

Head gestures remain available for simple responses, allowing users to nod yes or shake their head no without touching the earbuds.

That may become increasingly important as assistants move away from isolated voice commands. Earbuds are already worn for hours; turning them into a persistent interface requires almost no new behavior from the user.

AirPods Pro still keep the health features

Apple has moved several premium audio functions down the range, but it has not erased the distinction between AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3.

The Pro model retains hearing-health features, heart-rate sensing and a sealed in-ear fit that provides stronger passive isolation.

For people who dislike silicone ear tips, though, the regular AirPods are much easier to justify than before. ANC, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Live Translation no longer require buying the Pro model.

The price may be the most surprising upgrade

The base AirPods 5 cost $129, while the $149 wireless-charging version is $30 cheaper than the AirPods 4 with ANC it effectively replaces in Apple’s U.S. lineup.

New Apple hardware does not often arrive with more functionality and a meaningfully lower comparable price.

The awkward part is that a basic control like volume adjustment still sits behind a $20 step up. Apple has made the better AirPods 5 unusually compelling — and the cheaper AirPods 5 strangely hard to choose.