AirPods 5: both models have noise cancellation, and the chip is not the one people expected

AirPods 5 are the product from the Surprise and Shine event that got cheaper, and the one coverage is getting most wrong. There are two models, US$129 and US$149, and both come with active noise cancellation. The entry-level model costs the same as the previous generation without cancellation.

The two models, and the mistake that keeps being repeated

With AirPods 4, the lineup had one model with cancellation and one without. Not with the AirPods 5. Apple said it plainly on stage: active noise cancellation is becoming standard across the entire AirPods line.

So any coverage writing "AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 ANC" is copying the previous generation’s setup. What separates the US$149 model comes down to three other things, and none of them is cancellation.

An open design, redesigned on the inside

The fit is still the familiar one, with no silicone ear tip: they rest in your ear instead of sealing the canal. What changed is on the inside.

Apple is introducing a multiport acoustic architecture and a new-generation adaptive EQ. The combination aims to solve the structural problem of open earbuds: because they do not seal, the result depends heavily on the shape of each ear. The new architecture is designed to deliver more consistent sound across a wider range of ear geometries, and that also makes personalized spatial audio feel more immersive.

Noise cancellation in an earbud that does not seal

This is the product’s technical achievement. Canceling noise without sealing the ear canal is much harder than doing it with a silicone tip, because external sound still gets in and has to be fully countered through processing.

Apple claims up to 1.5x more noise reduction than the previous generation, and says it is the industry’s best cancellation in an open-ear design. The press release states the same figure another way, as "up to 50% more noise removed" compared with AirPods 4 with ANC: it is the same data point phrased two ways, not two separate improvements.

Transparency mode is now more natural for hearing what is happening around you without taking them out, and Adaptive Audio automatically switches between cancellation and transparency depending on background noise, so you do not have to keep changing modes.

The chip is H2, not H3

This is worth pointing out, because for months the opposite was taken for granted. Reports before the announcement expected this generation to debut an H3, based more on the component’s age than on evidence. That did not happen: Apple’s official material shows the H2, the same chip it has been using since 2022.

The sound and cancellation improvements, then, do not come from new silicon but from the acoustic architecture and processing. That is a detail that separates this article from spec lists that carried the rumor forward.

On the other hand, durability did improve: they are reinforced against rain, sweat, and dust, with an IP57 rating according to the technical specifications.

Siri AI and Live Translation

AirPods 5 work as an extension of Apple Intelligence on iPhone. You can ask Siri something that depends on your personal context — which restaurant someone recommended to you, for example — and it answers with world knowledge, without you taking the phone out of your pocket.

Live Translation is still the most-used of the new features: the earbuds translate what the other person is saying as they speak to you. The caveat is the same as for the whole event: Siri AI launches in beta only in English, and Spanish arrives in October.

They also add voice isolation for calls, conversation awareness, personalized EQ, and remote control for the iPhone camera.

What the US$149 model gets you

Three concrete things. The first is volume control by sliding your finger up and down on the stem. It is the first time this has appeared in this AirPods form factor, and it is one of those features you do not miss until you use it.

The second is one extra hour of battery life with cancellation enabled: 5 hours versus 4, thanks to a redesigned cell that fits more energy into the same space. And the third is the case with wireless charging, compatible with Apple Watch chargers and Qi.

Price and availability

AirPods 5 start at US$129, and the version with the wireless case, volume control, and longer battery life costs US$149. Preorders opened on September 9, and sales begin on the 18th.

It is worth pausing on the numbers: the US$129 model costs the same as the previous-generation model without cancellation did, and the US$149 model is US$30 less than its previous equivalent. With the rest of the lineup going up in price, this is the only product from the event that got cheaper.

Conclusion

If you want noise cancellation and cannot stand silicone tips, this is the product: it is the only way to get serious ANC in an earbud that rests in your ear, and at US$129 it is the cheapest entry point into the ecosystem.

If you are choosing between the two models, the question is not cancellation but how much it annoys you to pull out your phone to lower the volume. For a US$20 difference, the stem controls and wireless charging pay for themselves if you use earbuds every day.

And if you are coming from AirPods 4 with ANC, the case is weaker: same chip, better acoustic architecture, and one extra hour of battery life in the more expensive model. It is a sound-quality improvement, not a generational leap.

Frequently asked questions

Do both AirPods 5 models have noise cancellation?

Yes. Apple stated that active noise cancellation is becoming standard across the entire AirPods line. There is no version without it. What separates the US$149 model is volume control on the stem, one extra hour of battery life with cancellation enabled, and the case with wireless charging.

What chip do AirPods 5 use?

The H2, the same one Apple has used since 2022. Earlier rumors expected an H3, but the official material shows the H2. The sound and cancellation improvements come from the multiport acoustic architecture and adaptive EQ, not from a new chip.

How long does the AirPods 5 battery last?

Four hours with cancellation enabled on the US$129 model and five on the US$149 model, which has a redesigned cell. The case adds up to 20 total hours of listening.

Author

Alexis Paez