Apple's new AirPods 5, announced earlier this month, mark a shift for the company's entry-level earbuds: Active Noise Cancellation is now standard across both models. The AirPods 5 start at $129, with a $149 version adding a Wireless Charging Case, and both go on sale Friday, September 18.

The launch also reshapes how Apple tiers its cheapest earbuds. With the AirPods 4, spending $50 more (from $129 to $179) unlocked ANC plus a wireless charging case. With the AirPods 5, noise cancellation is included at the base price, and the step up to the next tier is now just $20.

What's changed between the AirPods 4 and AirPods 5

The AirPods 5 keep much of the previous generation's foundation. They retain the H2 chip that first appeared in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022 rather than a rumored new headphone chip, and they carry over Bluetooth 5.3, the same open-ear design, the same driver and amplifier, and identical dimensions and weight.

Noise cancellation is the headline addition, and it now comes with both 2026 models. Apple says the AirPods 5 remove up to 50% more external noise than the AirPods 4 with ANC, a gain it credits to a redesigned acoustic architecture. That same architecture underpins claims of richer sound and a more natural Transparency mode. Durability improves from IP54 to IP57, meaning the earbuds and case are now rated for immersion rather than just splashes. Studio-quality audio recording is also new.

Features such as Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, and Siri Interactions all arrived on the AirPods 4 two years ago and remain in place.

Should you upgrade?

Owners of the AirPods 4 with ANC have little reason to switch. They already have Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation, a wireless charging case with a Find My speaker, and the same H2 chip. Upgrading to the $149 model would add stronger noise cancellation, a higher IP rating, an extra hour of listening time, and swipe volume controls.

The case is stronger for owners of the standard AirPods 4, which lacks ANC, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Live Translation. The AirPods 5 add all of those at the same $129 price. Anyone still using AirPods 3 or AirPods 2 gains even more, including the newer fit, the H2 chip, USB-C, and Personalized Spatial Audio.

For new buyers, the AirPods 5 are the default choice, with the AirPods 4 worth considering only when heavily discounted. Apple has stopped selling both AirPods 4 versions directly, but they remain widely available from third-party retailers, where the standard model has fallen to $99 and the ANC version to $149.

Which AirPods 5 model to choose

Despite the $20 gap, the difference between the two AirPods 5 models is meaningful. The Wireless Charging Case works with Qi chargers and the Apple Watch charger, includes a speaker to help locate it in Find My, and delivers an extra hour of listening time per charge plus two more hours across the case.

For most people, the $149 model is the one to buy, given the modest price difference. The base $129 version makes more sense as a secondary or lightly used pair.

The open-ear fit remains the real dividing line in Apple's lineup. Shoppers who want genuine isolation, hearing health features, or heart rate sensing during workouts should still look at the $249 AirPods Pro 3. But for those who dislike in-ear tips or prefer to stay aware of their surroundings, the AirPods 5 offer a far more capable version of that design. Both AirPods 5 models are available to pre-order ahead of the September 18 release.