Apple has given its most affordable AirPods a significant upgrade, adding active noise cancellation to the AirPods 5 while keeping the entry price at US$129, or £129 in Britain.
The new earphones also promise improved audio performance, with a pricier version offering touch-based volume control and a wireless charging case. They can be pre-ordered now and go on sale on Friday 18 September 2026.
A feature that used to cost extra
Noise cancellation has long been a staple of Apple’s higher-end audio products, but the cheapest AirPods model has remained the exception. That changes with AirPods 5, which use microphones and processing to reduce ambient noise around the listener.
The system also supports transparency mode, allowing environmental sound through while helping to soften particularly loud noise. Apple has described noise cancellation as one of its “most beloved features”, making its arrival in the entry-level range a notable step down through the product lineup.
The previous AirPods 4 offered a special noise-cancelling version