Key facts
- Apple launched the AirPods 5 for $129, with a wireless charging case option for $149.
- AirPods 5 offers up to 50% improved active noise cancellation and enhanced transparency mode.
- New AI features include conversation awareness, live translation, and head gesture responses for Siri.
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 include 'Live Rewind' for conversation recall and 'Siri Recap' for note-taking.
- The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, and the Ultra 4 at $499.
Apple has launched the new AirPods 5, aiming for improved listening and user features at a lower price point than its predecessor. The AirPods 5 will retail for $129 starting September 18, with a version including a wireless charging case and on-stem volume control available for $149. The new earbuds boast up to 50% more noise cancellation than the AirPods 4, attributed to a new acoustic architecture and computational audio algorithms. An improved transparency mode allows users to hear nearby sounds more naturally, and adaptive audio automatically adjusts between noise cancellation and transparency modes based on background noise.
A conversation awareness feature automatically lowers media volume when the user begins speaking. Apple also enhanced sound quality for a more immersive personalized spatial audio experience. Battery life for the AirPods 5 is up to five hours with active noise cancellation on a single charge, an hour longer than the previous model. The charging case extends listening time with ANC to up to 22 hours and supports various charging methods, including Apple Watch chargers.
Furthermore, the AirPods 5 integrate with Apple Intelligence features, offering live translation and the ability to respond to Siri using head gestures. Concurrently, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, featuring AI-powered 'Audio Intelligence' such as 'Live Rewind' for recalling conversation snippets and 'Siri Recap' for generating notes. These AI features do not store audio recordings. The watches also include a 'Sound Recognition' feature for alerts and upgraded health sensors for continuous heart rate monitoring every five seconds. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, and the Ultra 4 at $499.