Apple’s AirPods 5 press release does not include a recycled materials breakdown for the new earbuds, unlike the iPhone 18 Pro release from the same event, which lists 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery and 40 percent recycled content overall. AirPods 5 cost $129, or $149 with the Wireless Charging Case.
That leaves a gap for anyone weighing the environmental side of the purchase. Apple had not published a materials figure for AirPods 5 as of the announcement, and the release focuses on noise cancellation, battery life and Siri features instead.
What Apple confirmed for the iPhone 18 Pro at the same event
The iPhone 18 Pro release from September 9 carries the only sustainability numbers Apple published today. They apply to the phone, not the earbuds:
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- 40 percent recycled content overall
- 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery
- 85 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure
- 100 percent fiber-based packaging
None of these figures transfer to AirPods 5. Apple has not said whether the AirPods 5 battery uses recycled cobalt, what share of the case or earbud housing is recycled plastic, or how the packaging is made.
What the AirPods 5 release does say about the hardware
The release concentrates on features: 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, and a force sensor on the $149 model.
Improved dust, sweat and water resistance is the only durability claim Apple made, and it has not tied that claim to any material change. Apple also has not published a rating or a test standard for the resistance.
| Claim | iPhone 18 Pro | AirPods 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled content overall | 40 percent | Not specified |
| Recycled cobalt in battery | 100 percent | Not specified |
| Recycled metal in enclosure | 85 percent recycled aluminum | Not specified |
| Fiber-based packaging | 100 percent | Not specified |
What to expect on AirPods 5 materials
Apple has not said when, or whether, it will publish a materials breakdown for AirPods 5. Until it does, the honest position is that the earbuds’ recycled content is unknown, and any specific percentage circulating online is not something Apple’s announcement supports.
Pre-event coverage, including our AirPods 5 rumor round-up, did not address materials either. Pre-orders opened today, September 9, with availability on Friday, September 18 in the US and more than 65 countries; our Apple event live blog has the rest of the day’s announcements.
