10 September,2026 09:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The earbuds feature a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ. Pic/ X
Apple launched AirPods 5 in India on Wednesday, bringing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to its open-ear AirPods range for the first time.
The new earbuds are priced from Rs 14,900 and are available for pre-order from today, with retail availability beginning September 18.
Apple is also offering AirPods 5 with a Wireless Charging Case for Rs 17,900. The higher-priced variant adds longer battery life and a new force sensor that allows users to adjust volume by swiping along the stem.
The new AirPods also bring improved audio, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and support for features including Siri AI and Live Translation when paired with compatible Apple devices.
The standard AirPods 5 are priced at Rs 14,900, while AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case cost Rs 17,900.
Both variants are available for pre-order from today and will be available in stores from September 18.
The biggest addition to AirPods 5 is Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says delivers the best ANC performance in the industry for an open-ear design.
The earbuds feature a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ.
According to Apple's internal testing, AirPods 5 with ANC reduce up to 50 per cent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC.
The earbuds also offer Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio, which automatically adjusts between ANC and Transparency mode based on the user's surroundings.
Conversation Awareness can automatically lower media volume when the wearer begins speaking, allowing them to interact with people nearby without manually pausing playback.
Apple says AirPods 5 use an acoustic architecture inspired by the AirPods Pro 3, which has been re-engineered for the open-ear design.
The new acoustic system and Adaptive EQ are designed to improve audio across different ear shapes. The earbuds also support Personalised Spatial Audio for a more immersive listening experience.
AirPods 5 are also positioned as part of Apple's wider push into AI-powered, hands-free features.
The earbuds support the redesigned Siri AI, which begins rolling out in beta with iOS 27. Apple says the updated assistant can use personal context from information such as messages, emails and photos to perform tasks without requiring users to pick up their iPhone.
For example, users can ask Siri to play a song mentioned in a message or navigate to information from a reservation received by email.
AirPods 5 also support Siri Interactions, allowing users to respond to Siri using head movements such as nodding or shaking their head.
Live Translation is another major addition. Powered by Apple Intelligence, the feature allows users to hear conversations translated into their preferred language in real time.
Users can activate Live Translation by pressing both AirPods stems simultaneously, using the command "Siri, start Live Translation", or through the Action button on a compatible iPhone.
Apple says Live Translation is available across its AirPods lineup, although the feature requires compatible hardware, software and languages and is not available in all regions.
The Rs 17,900 AirPods 5 variant comes with a Wireless Charging Case and introduces a force sensor with volume swipe controls.
Users can adjust the volume by swiping along the stem, a feature Apple is bringing to its open-ear AirPods for the first time.
Battery life is also higher on this model, with up to five hours of playback with ANC enabled. That is one hour more than the AirPods 4 with ANC, according to Apple.
With the charging case, users can get up to 22 hours of listening time with ANC enabled.
The case supports Apple Watch chargers, Qi-certified wireless chargers and USB-C charging.
Apple says AirPods 5 were designed as part of its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its operations and supply chain by 2030.
The earbuds use 40 per cent recycled material overall. The Wireless Charging Case includes 70 per cent recycled plastic, while the battery uses 100 per cent recycled cobalt, according to Apple.
Apple also says 35 per cent renewable energy is used in manufacturing across the supply chain, while the packaging is fibre-based and recyclable through household recycling programmes where available.
To access the full range of AirPods 5 features, the earbuds need to be paired with an Apple device running compatible software.
Apple Intelligence is set to arrive with iOS 27 on September 14, with support for languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Korean, although availability varies by region and language.
The redesigned Siri AI will initially begin its beta rollout in English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish support expected in October.
Live Translation requires a compatible Apple device running the latest software, compatible AirPods with the latest firmware, and Apple Intelligence enabled.
Apple also offers AppleCare+ and AppleCare One coverage for the new AirPods, including options covering accidental damage, theft and loss, battery service and priority support.
