AirPods 5 Put Noise Cancelling in Both Models From $129; SoundGuys Measures 59% Reduction
Apple's new open-ear AirPods reached stores on September 18, and the first lab measurement shows what the noise cancelling does and does not do without ear tips.
Apple's AirPods 5 have been in stores since September 18 in two versions: $129 for the standard model and $149 with a Wireless Charging Case. The change that matters most is that both have active noise cancellation. The earbuds keep the open-ear shape of the regular AirPods, with no silicone tips, and Apple says they remove up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation did. That makes noise cancelling a standard feature on Apple's cheapest earbuds rather than an extra.
The two models differ in the case and the controls, not the earbuds' core features. The $149 version adds swipe-based volume controls on the stems and a case that charges on an Apple Watch charger or any Qi pad as well as over USB-C. Apple also rates it for longer battery life: up to 5 hours of listening with noise cancelling on, and up to 22 hours with the case, which Apple says is an hour more than AirPods 4 with ANC. SoundGuys lists the standard model at up to 4 hours with noise cancelling and 20 hours with the case. Those are manufacturer ratings; independent battery tests had not been published by September 30.
The first lab measurement comes from SoundGuys, which published its review on September 22. It measured an average 59 percent reduction in the perceived loudness of outside noise, most effective between 1 and 9 kHz and weakest below 500 Hz. In plain terms, AirPods 5 are good at taking the edge off voices, keyboards and the mid-pitched hiss of an office, and much less effective against the low rumble of a plane engine or a bus, which is exactly the sound people usually buy noise cancelling for. That limit comes from the open-ear design: without a seal in the ear canal, low-frequency sound leaks in around the bud.
SoundGuys makes fit the deciding factor. Because the buds rest in the outer ear rather than sealing it, how well they sit in your particular ears determines the noise cancelling, the bass and even how long they stay comfortable. Its reviewer's verdict is that if they fit, these are the best-sounding, best-noise-cancelling open-ear AirPods Apple has made, and if they don't, no feature fixes that. SoundGuys scored them 6.4 out of 10, which reflects that caveat more than the sound.
The rest of the specification is familiar. SoundGuys lists Apple's H2 chip, AAC as the only Bluetooth codec and an IP57 dust and water rating, so there is no high-bitrate codec for Android phones, and these remain earbuds built around an iPhone. Apple adds Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation with a compatible iPhone, and hands-free control of its new Siri, which answers head gestures. The Apple Intelligence features need a supported iPhone running iOS 27.
Who should care? If you already use the regular AirPods because you dislike ear tips, the AirPods 5 are a meaningful upgrade at the same shape, and the $129 model is the one to consider unless wireless charging is worth $20 to you. If you want noise cancelling for flights or loud commutes, sealed earbuds such as the AirPods Pro 3 still do the low-frequency job better, at a higher price. Prices and availability are as of September 30, 2026; SoundGuys notes its battery testing is still pending.