Recap: AirPods 5 make noise cancellation standard

AirPods 5 are a bigger change than the name suggests. Apple has made Active Noise Cancellation standard across both versions, while keeping the familiar open-ear design.

The £119 model includes ANC, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Live Translation, and Apple says its noise cancellation removes up to 50 per cent more external sound than AirPods 4 with ANC.

The split in the range is now mostly about the case and controls. The £139 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add Qi and Apple Watch charger support, a built-in Find My speaker, longer battery life and a new volume swipe control on the stems. The cheaper £119 version uses a USB-C charging case and misses those extras.

That makes the base model look unusually good value if you mainly care about noise cancellation. The £20 step-up makes more sense if wireless charging or the extra battery life matters to you.

Both versions are available to pre-order now and go on sale in the UK on 18 September.

Discuss it: would you pay the extra £20 for the wireless charging model? Join the discussion in the UKMac forum.