Apple rounded out its September 9, 2026 event with the AirPods 5, an open-ear earbud with a noise cancellation upgrade Apple calls its biggest yet for the format, alongside Live Translation and hands-free Siri.
AirPods 5 Specs at a Glance
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Active Noise Cancellation |
Up to 50 percent stronger than AirPods 4, via a new multiport acoustic architecture |
|
Audio |
Next-generation Adaptive EQ, more natural Transparency mode |
|
Intelligence features |
Live Translation and hands-free access to Siri |
|
Battery (standard, $129) |
Up to 4 hours with ANC enabled per charge, up to 20 hours total with the case |
|
Battery (higher tier, $149) |
On-stem volume control, roughly 1 extra hour of ANC battery life, and a wireless charging case |
|
Price |
$129 standard, $149 with the wireless charging case and extra controls |
|
Release |
Pre-orders opened September 9, in stores September 18, 2026 |
AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4
The headline change is noise cancellation: Apple says the AirPods 5 cancel roughly 50 percent more noise than the AirPods 4, on top of a new Adaptive EQ tuning and a more natural sounding Transparency mode. Live Translation and hands-free Siri access carry over as marquee software features, now paired with the improved acoustic hardware.
Craft by Merlin’s Own AirPods 5 Collection
Craft by Merlin now customizes the AirPods 5 directly, with a Custom Painted collection hand-finished in four colors: Glacier, Burgundy, Black, and Silver, each starting from a genuine Apple AirPods 5. One distinction worth knowing before you order: every current iPhone 18 pre-booking still includes a free standard Apple AirPods 4, not the AirPods 5 covered above, so the two offers are separate. If you want the newer AirPods 5 hardware in a hand-painted finish, Craft by Merlin’s Custom Painted AirPods 5 collection is open now.
And if you have not pre-booked your iPhone 18 yet, the free AirPods 4 offer is still running across all eight finishes in the collection.
