AirPods 5 launch brings noise cancellation to Apple’s cheapest earbuds
AirPods 5 launch brings noise cancellation to Apple’s cheapest earbuds
The AirPods 5 launch is here, and it changes what you get for the least amount of money in Apple’s earbuds lineup. Until now, if you wanted noise cancellation from Apple, you had to pay for the AirPods Pro or the higher-end AirPods 4. That’s no longer true. The AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation down to Apple’s most affordable earbuds, priced at INR14900.
What’s new in the AirPods 5 launch
Apple says the AirPods 5 cut up to 50 percent more outside noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC. This comes from a new acoustic design inside the earbuds and updated audio processing. Alongside this, Transparency mode has been reworked so voices and nearby sounds come through more naturally, instead of sounding flat or processed.
There’s also a mode called Adaptive Audio, which switches between Transparency and noise cancellation on its own, depending on how loud or quiet your surroundings are. And if someone starts talking to you while you’re listening to music, Conversation Awareness will lower your volume automatically so you don’t miss what they’re saying.
Sound quality gets an upgrade too
The AirPods 5 borrow some engineering from the AirPods Pro 3. A new multiport design and an updated Adaptive EQ system are meant to make the sound richer and clearer, no matter the shape of your ear. Apple is also pushing Personalized Spatial Audio here, which is supposed to make music and video feel more surround-sound than stereo.
Siri and hands-free features on the AirPods 5
If you own an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, the AirPods 5 unlock a more capable version of Siri, arriving as a beta in iOS 27. This version of Siri can pull context from your messages, emails, and photos to answer questions or take actions. For example, you could ask it to play a song a friend mentioned in a text, or get directions to a restaurant based on a reservation email, without touching your phone.
There’s also a feature called Siri Interactions, which lets you nod or shake your head to answer Siri instead of speaking or tapping. And Live Translation, which uses the AirPods’ microphones and noise cancellation, lets you hear a conversation translated into your language in real time. You turn it on by pressing both stems together, asking Siri, or using the Action button on your iPhone.
AirPods 5 with the wireless charging case
There are two versions of the AirPods 5. The standard version comes with a regular charging case. The second version adds a wireless charging case, along with a new force sensor on the stem that lets you swipe up or down to change volume, something Apple hasn’t offered on this open-ear design before.
Battery life is also better on this version. You get up to five hours of playback with ANC turned on, which is an hour more than the AirPods 4 with ANC. With the case, total listening time with ANC stretches to 22 hours. The case charges over USB-C, or wirelessly using an Apple Watch charger or any Qi-compatible pad.
AirPods 5 price and availability
The AirPods 5 launch brings two price points. The standard AirPods 5 cost INR14900. The version with the wireless charging case costs INR17900. Pre-orders are open now, and the earbuds will be available in stores from Friday, September 18, in the US, India, and more than 65 other countries.
A small note on materials
Apple has also mentioned that the AirPods 5 use more recycled material than before. Overall, 40 percent of the product is made from recycled content, including 70 percent recycled plastic in the wireless case and fully recycled cobalt in the battery. The packaging is entirely fiber-based and can be recycled at home. This ties into Apple’s larger goal of making its full supply chain carbon neutral by 2030.
