AirPods 5 reach stores Friday, September 18, 2026, at $129 or $149 with the Wireless Charging Case, and Apple’s own specifications page attaches a condition to several of the features on the box: the earbuds need current firmware, the paired device needs current software, and for some features Apple Intelligence needs to be switched on.…
Firmware
AirPods Firmware Updates: The 30-Minute Wait Apple Documents, and How to Check Your Version
AirPods firmware updates install automatically in the background, and Apple documents exactly what has to be true for that to happen: your AirPods need to be charging, in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that is signed in and connected to Wi-Fi, and Apple says to allow at least 30 minutes. There is…