Apple’s cheapest AirPods now have noise cancellation

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Alongside today's iPhone reveal, Apple also announced two new entry-level pairs of AirPods: AirPods 5, and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. 

Both sets of AirPods 5 share the same fundamentals: active noise cancellation (ANC) as a standard, new audio architecture and improved adaptive EQ, and IP57 water and dust resistance. ANC is particularly notable, as with the AirPods 4, customers had to opt for a more expensive $299 variant to get the technology. 

In addition, Apple says the AirPods 5's new ANC is 50% better than that found on the AirPods 4 with ANC, and the transparency mode is more natural. 

Battery life and charging are where the two models vary. The standard AirPods 5 get up to four hours of battery life on a single charge with ANC on, for a total of 20 with the case. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case improve that to five hours on a single charge with ANC on, and up to 22 total. As the name suggests, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case also support wireless charging. 

Lastly, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case have on-bud swipe controls for adjusting volume, while the standard AirPods 5 don't. 

The AirPods 5 start at $219 for the standard model, or $249 for the Wireless Charging Case variant. Pre-orders are now open ahead of a September 18 release date. 

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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