Apple unveiled the AirPods 5 at its 'Surprise and shine' event, offering two versions with active noise cancellation now 50% more effective than the AirPods 4. The base model costs $129 without wireless charging, while the $149 step-up version adds wireless charging, longer battery life, and stem volume controls. Both use the existing H2 chip and look identical to last year's AirPods 4, but feature upgraded internal acoustics for slightly better sound.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled new AirPods 5 earbuds at its Surprise and Shine event, offering two models priced at $129 and $149 with improved active noise canceling that Apple says is 50% more effective than the previous generation. The pricier model adds wireless charging, longer battery life, and stem-based volume controls, while both ship September 18 and are available for preorder now.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, an update to its entry-level earbuds line featuring a redesigned acoustic architecture that delivers 50 percent better noise reduction than the AirPods 4. The lineup keeps the same two-tier pricing structure: $129 without a wireless charging case and $149 with one, both arriving September 18.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple has released a new generation of AirPods that improves active noise cancellation but leaves out the camera-equipped design that had been rumored ahead of launch. The earbuds focus on incremental audio and performance upgrades rather than new hardware features like built-in cameras.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled AirPods 5, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to its entry-level earbuds for the first time, cutting up to 50% more outside noise than the prior AirPods 4 ANC model. The buds also gain a new acoustic design, upgraded Adaptive EQ, hands-free Siri AI access, head-gesture responses, and Live Translation support. Pre-orders open today at $129, with a $149 version adding wireless charging and on-stem volume control, both arriving in stores September 18.
apple.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple introduced AirPods 5 alongside its iPhone 18 Pro event, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to both versions of the earbuds for the first time. The base model starts at $129 with up to 20 hours of battery life with the case, while a $149 higher-end version adds on-stem volume controls and a wireless charging case. Apple says the new earbuds deliver 50% more noise reduction than AirPods 4, along with redesigned internals and improved Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, an update to 2024's AirPods 4, featuring a redesigned acoustic architecture and adaptive active noise cancellation that Apple claims reduces noise 50 percent better than before. A higher-end model adds stem-based volume controls, up to five hours of ANC playback, and a wireless charging case compatible with Qi and Apple Watch chargers. The base model costs $129 while the wireless-charging version is $149—$30 cheaper than its predecessor—with both available for preorder now and shipping September 18th.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-09
Woot is selling the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro headset for $164.99, nearly $100 off its usual price. The Xbox-branded version is highlighted as the best pick since it also works with PlayStation, PC, Switch and mobile devices. A 2XKO special edition model is also available for $149.99, though the deal only carries a 90-day Woot warranty instead of Razer's standard coverage.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-08
Sony's WF-1000XM6 and WF-1000XM5 both retail at $330 but are currently priced $50 apart on Amazon, with the M6 at $298 and the M5 at $248. The newer M6 has a smaller, pill-shaped design and a new QN3e chip that improves sound quality, but its ear tips create fit issues that weaken noise cancellation, while the M5 handles call clarity and background noise suppression better.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-07
Belkin unveiled three new SoundForm audio products at IFA 2026 in Berlin: the flagship Isolate earbuds with up to 45dB of noise cancellation and 32-hour battery life, the budget-friendly Dot earbuds available in ANC and non-ANC versions, and the Play ANC headphones designed for children with a volume-limiting feature. All three support customizable equalizer settings through Belkin's companion app.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-03
At IFA 2026, Anker introduced a new AI processor called Thus across its Soundcore audio lineup, headlined by the Space 2 Pro over-ear headphones and Liberty Buds 2 earbuds. The chip powers an eight-sensor array for adaptive noise cancellation and real-time voice isolation during calls on both devices. Space 2 Pro offers up to 30 hours of battery with ANC on and launches September 22 for $200, while the $130 Liberty Buds 2 arrive the same day with a custom 9.2mm wool paper diaphragm.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-03
Apple's AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro allow users to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode by pressing and holding the earbud stem. This behavior can be customized in the Settings app under Press and Hold AirPods, where users can also add Adaptive mode or turn off noise control entirely, and set which modes cycle through when pressing the stem.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-30