Apple
Apple AirPods 5 Launch With 1.5x Better ANC and Siri AI: Price, Features and India Details
Apple has turned up the pressure in the wireless earbuds market with the launch of AirPods 5, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to its open-ear design while adding smarter Siri AI features, Live Translation and improved audio.
The new AirPods 5 start at $129 (about ₹11,500) in the U.S., while the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149 (about ₹13,300) based on an approximate ₹89-per-dollar conversion. In India, however, Apple has set the official prices at ₹14,900 and ₹17,900, respectively.
Apple says pre-orders have opened, with retail availability beginning September 18.
AirPods 5 Bring ANC to Apple’s Open-Ear Design
The biggest headline is Active Noise Cancellation.
Apple claims AirPods 5 deliver up to 1.5 times more ANC than AirPods 4 with ANC, making them what Apple describes as the industry’s best open-ear Active Noise Cancellation system. The company says its testing found up to 50% more external noise reduction compared with the previous generation.
That is a significant move because the open-ear design traditionally prioritizes awareness of the surrounding environment over isolation.
AirPods 5 attempt to deliver both.
Their redesigned acoustic architecture works with computational audio to reduce unwanted sound, while Transparency mode lets users hear voices and nearby sounds more naturally. Adaptive Audio can automatically balance ANC and Transparency depending on the environment.
Conversation Awareness also detects when the wearer starts talking and automatically lowers media volume.
Apple Reworks the Sound
Apple has redesigned the acoustic system inside AirPods 5 with a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ.
The company says the changes deliver richer, more detailed audio across a wider range of ear shapes.
Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is also supported, creating a more immersive three-dimensional listening experience for compatible content and apps.
Both models also feature an H2 chip, Voice Isolation, and improved resistance to dust, sweat, and water with an IP57 rating.
Wireless Charging Model Gets the Best Extras
The $129 AirPods 5 comes with a USB-C charging case, while the $149 version adds a Wireless Charging Case.
In India, those prices are ₹14,900 and ₹17,900.
The more expensive model adds a force sensor with volume swipe, letting users adjust volume directly from the AirPods stem. Its case supports USB-C, Apple Watch chargers, and Qi-certified wireless chargers.
Battery life also gets a boost.
AirPods 5 provide up to four hours of listening with ANC on a single charge, while the Wireless Charging Case version reaches up to five hours. With its case, the latter can deliver up to 22 hours of listening with ANC.
Siri AI and Live Translation Take Center Stage
Apple is also positioning AirPods 5 as an entry point into its expanding AI ecosystem.
When paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, users can access the new Siri AI hands-free. Apple says Siri AI can understand personal context from messages, emails, and photos, perform actions inside apps, and answer questions using broader world knowledge.
Users can also interact with Siri through head gestures, including nodding or shaking their head.
Live Translation is designed to help users communicate across languages through compatible Apple devices and AirPods. Availability depends on supported languages, regions, and hardware.
AirPods 5 Price and Availability
The AirPods 5 cost $129 (approximately ₹11,500) in the U.S., while the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149 (approximately ₹13,300).
Apple’s official India pricing is higher at ₹14,900 and ₹17,900, respectively. Both models are available for pre-order, with stores getting them from September 18.
With ANC, improved audio, AI-powered features, and Live Translation arriving in Apple’s mainstream open-ear lineup, AirPods 5 could become one of Apple’s most important audio launches of the year.
