Apple announces two AirPods 5 models with ANC that removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4, for $129 or $149 with a wireless charging case

Today during its iPhone 18 Pro event, Apple announced the next generation AirPods 5 with improved active noise cancellation. Here are the details.

9to5Mac 2026-09-09 Ryan Christoffel

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple split the 2024 line into a $129 AirPods 4 and a $179 ANC version; a review found that ANC worked impressively in the open design, despite usability trade-offs. AirPods 5 compresses that separation by placing ANC in both price tiers and improving the claimed noise reduction.

The move extends Apple’s broader ANC ladder from the $249 AirPods Pro launch to 2026’s $549 AirPods Max 2, whose own announcement emphasized stronger noise cancellation. The $149 AirPods 5 tier makes wireless charging a $20 step above the entry model rather than an ANC upsell.

First-order effects

Buyers can obtain active noise cancellation at the $129 entry price, where Apple’s 2024 lineup reserved it for the $179 AirPods 4 tier.
Apple’s $149 model combines the stronger ANC claim with a wireless charging case, cutting the prior ANC model’s listed entry price by $30.

Second-order effects

AirPods Pro must justify its premium more clearly because AirPods 5 brings a formerly higher-tier feature closer to the base AirPods price; public reaction framed the launch as raising the stakes for the next Pro model.
The 2024 AirPods 4 with ANC loses its role as Apple’s entry point for noise cancellation, shifting the comparison for shoppers toward charging-case features and higher-end AirPods differentiation.

Third-order effects

Apple is turning ANC from a Pro-tier differentiator into a baseline feature across its earbud range, while reserving segmentation for fit, charging, and more premium audio hardware.
If Apple sustains this price-feature compression, open-ear ANC performance rather than ANC availability becomes the key competitive benchmark in mainstream wireless earbuds.

The trend: Wireless earbuds are moving toward ANC as a standard entry-level capability, with premium tiers relying on finer hardware and convenience distinctions.

Discussion

@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
AirPods 5 at $149 with ANC, wireless charging and volume swiping is a huge steal. Raises the stakes for the next AirPods Pro.
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Woah! The upgraded wireless charging version of AirPods 5 with 1 hour more of battery life are only $149.. now $30 less than previous AirPods 4!
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Apple has LOWERED the price of the AirPods 5 with wireless charging case by $30
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
AirPods 5 pricing went down! Higher end model is cheaper and low-end model has ANC now.
@mweinbach Max Weinbach on x
Apple brought ANC to AirPods 5 at the $129 AirPods (previously required the $179 version) and lowered the price of the wireless charging case to $149 Basically, cheaper AirPods are better and higher end are even more affordable
@r3dash Ershad Kaleebullah on x
Aggressive pricing for the AirPods 5 at 129 and 149 dollars.
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
AirPods 5 with ANC are ONLY $129, same price as previous models without ANC!
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
AirPods 5 - Same open ear fit, redesigned on the inside - Next gen adaptive EQ - richer, more detailed sound - 50% more Active Noise cancellation than last gen - 4 hour battery life with ANC - $129, same as last year's non-ANC AirPods - Higher end version with longer battery life…
@davidimel David ImeI on x
Apple splits AirPods 5 into 2 designs. The 2nd has on-stem volume, better battery life, and a Wireless charging case. $20 more than the cheaper model.
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
AirPods already being positioned as an AI gadget
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
Call me a snob but I can't force myself to care about the AirPods that aren't the Pros
r/apple r on reddit
Apple introduces AirPods 5 with best-in-class open-ear Active Noise Cancellation

Chronicles