Apple has announced AirPods 5, updating its open-ear earbuds with active noise cancellation claimed to reduce up to 50% more ambient noise than the previous generation. Battery life reaches five hours of continuous listening with ANC enabled, an increase of one hour, while the charging case brings total playback time to up to 22 hours.
The earbuds use a new multi-port acoustic architecture and a next-generation Adaptive EQ system, which Apple says deliver more detailed sound and more accurate Spatial Audio. Transparency mode has also been updated to reproduce voices more naturally.
AirPods 5 will be offered in a standard version with a USB-C charging case and a higher-tier version with wireless charging. The latter also adds swipe controls on the stem for volume adjustment.
Apple Intelligence and Siri integration enables head gestures for responding to requests, with a nod used for yes and a head shake for no. The earbuds are rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, including protection against temporary immersion. Apple has not yet confirmed regional pricing or availability details for the new AirPods 5.
