AirPods 5 pre-orders opened today, September 9, straight after Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, with the standard model at $129 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case at $149. Both reach stores on Friday, September 18.
That is a faster turnaround than the iPhone 18 Pro, which does not open for pre-order until Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. PT. Here is what to know before you order.
How to pre-order AirPods 5
Apple’s press release says pre-orders are open today in the US and more than 65 countries, with in-store availability on September 18. Apple has not said whether pre-orders will be delivered before that date, or whether it expects supply to be tight.
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A few things worth checking before you commit:
- Hands-free Siri AI on AirPods 5 needs iOS 27, which arrives on Monday, September 14, and an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence
- Siri AI launches in beta in English; French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish follow in October
- Swipe volume control is only on the Wireless Charging Case model
- Apple’s release lists prices in US dollars only, so local pricing may differ
Which AirPods 5 model to pick
The earbuds are the same in both boxes. Each has Active Noise Cancellation that removes up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, up to 5 hours of listening with ANC on, up to 22 hours with the case, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio, head-gesture replies and Live Translation.
The $20 difference is entirely down to the case.
| Spec | AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $149 |
| Case charging | No wireless charging | Apple Watch chargers, Qi chargers, USB-C |
| Swipe volume control | No | Yes, via force sensor |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | Up to 5 hours with ANC on, 22 hours with case | Same |
If you already charge an Apple Watch or a phone on a wireless pad, the $149 model fits that routine. If you always plug in, the $129 model delivers the same sound and noise cancellation for less.
When AirPods 5 arrive
Apple’s release gives one availability date, Friday, September 18, for stores in the US and more than 65 countries. That is the same day the iPhone 18 Pro goes on sale, and four days after iOS 27 lands on September 14.
Apple has not said whether AirPods 5 will ship earlier to pre-order customers, or when countries outside the first wave will get them.
For how the launch stacked up against expectations, read our pre-order date guide and AirPods 5 rumor round-up, and follow the Apple event live blog for the rest of today’s news.
