Apple’s AirPods earbud range now spans $129 to $249 across five products: AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, both new today, alongside AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. Every one of them except the base AirPods 4 has Active Noise Cancellation.
That is the biggest change to the lineup since AirPods 4 arrived in September 2024. Apple has not said whether AirPods 4 or AirPods 4 with ANC stay on sale after AirPods 5 reach stores on September 18, so this guide covers the models Apple has priced.
AirPods lineup 2026: prices and what sets each model apart
AirPods 5 start at $129, the same price AirPods 4 launched at two years ago, and add ANC, Transparency, Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. The $149 Wireless Charging Case model adds a force sensor with swipe volume control and charges on Qi pads and Apple Watch chargers.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
AirPods Pro 3, launched at $249 in September 2025, remain the top of the range with in-ear foam tips, heart-rate sensing, Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features and an IP57 rating.
| Model | US launch price | ANC | Battery per charge | With case | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 | $129 | No | Up to 5 hours | Up to 30 hours | September 2024 |
| AirPods 4 with ANC | $179 | Yes | Up to 4 hours with ANC | Up to 20 hours with ANC | September 2024 |
| AirPods 5 | $129 | Yes | Up to 5 hours with ANC | Up to 22 hours with ANC | September 2026 |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | $149 | Yes | Up to 5 hours with ANC | Up to 22 hours with ANC | September 2026 |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 | Yes | Up to 8 hours with ANC | Up to 24 hours with ANC | September 2025 |
AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3: the features that separate them
Apple’s press release says AirPods 5 remove up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, using a multiport acoustic architecture borrowed from AirPods Pro 3. Apple has not published a comparison between AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 on noise removal.
- Open-ear fit with no ear tips: AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods 5
- In-ear fit with five sizes of foam-infused tips: AirPods Pro 3 only
- Heart-rate sensing and hearing health features: AirPods Pro 3 only
- Swipe volume control on the stem: AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case and AirPods Pro 3
- Hands-free Siri AI with iOS 27 and an Apple Intelligence iPhone: AirPods 5
- Live Translation: AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, with AirPods 4 with ANC supported through firmware
Water resistance is the one spec Apple has left open. AirPods 4 carry an IP54 rating and AirPods Pro 3 IP57, but Apple’s AirPods 5 release only says dust, sweat and water resistance are improved without giving a rating.
Which AirPods model to buy now
AirPods 5 at $129 are the obvious entry point, since they match the AirPods 4 price and add the noise cancellation Apple charged $50 extra for last time. The $149 model is for anyone who wants wireless charging or volume swipes.
AirPods Pro 3 justify $249 with battery life, a sealed fit, heart-rate data and hearing features that none of the open-ear models offer. Apple has not named the chip inside AirPods 5, while AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 use the H2.
AirPods 5 pre-orders opened today, September 9, and stores get them Friday, September 18, in the US and more than 65 countries. Our pre-event AirPods 5 rumor round-up shows what was expected, and the Apple event live blog covers the iPhone 18 Pro and everything else from the keynote.
