AirPods 5 Slip a Live Translator and Siri AI Into Your Ears

12 September 2026 • Lucas Ferretti • 2 min read

129 $ AirPods 5 base price

+50 % more noise removed

22 h max battery with case

18 sept. in stores worldwide

A live interpreter now costs $129 and sits in your ear. Apple unveiled AirPods 5 on September 9, next to the iPhone 18 line and the foldable iPhone Duo. Frankly, the price tag surprises as much as the spec sheet.

CNET's first look at AirPods 5, covering price cuts and upgraded ANC.

Live Translation lands on AirPods 5

Press both stems, ask Siri, or hit the Action button, and the conversation reaches you translated. When both people wear supported AirPods, each side hears its own language. You need an Apple Intelligence iPhone and languages downloaded in the Translate app.

We're thrilled that with AirPods 5, we're able to bring Active Noise Cancellation, one of our most beloved features, to our most affordable AirPods.

Dave Pakula, VP Hardware Engineering, Apple

Google demoed that trick back in 2017 on the first Pixel Buds. Nine years later, Apple makes Live Translation standard on its cheapest earbuds.

Siri AI turns AirPods 5 into a permanent interface

The hardware is only half the story. Siri AI, in beta with iOS 27 from September 14, answers hands-free and draws on your messages, emails and photos. Apple first showed this rebuilt assistant at WWDC in June.

A nod means yes, a head shake means no. The iPhone stays in the pocket, and that is the real plan: earbuds as a full-time assistant.

The ear is the next assistant battleground

Google pushes Gemini through its Pixel Buds, Meta bets on Ray-Ban glasses. That quiet, always-on channel to your brain is prime real estate for everyday requests.

Apple's counter is its installed base. Every pair sold now doubles as a Siri terminal, no screen and no app required.

Two AirPods 5 models, one blank spot in Europe

Active Noise Cancellation removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, despite the open-ear design. The base model costs $129, with pre-orders open in more than 65 countries. The $149 version adds a Wireless Charging Case, stem volume control and up to 22 hours of playback.

One caveat: Siri AI skips the European Union at launch, with English first. A familiar tune, weeks after Apple leaked its own camera AirPods inside macOS.

How much do AirPods 5 cost and when are they available?

AirPods 5 cost $129, or $149 with the Wireless Charging Case, and pre-orders are open now. Both models reach stores on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Do AirPods 5 support Siri AI in the European Union?

Not at launch: Siri AI ships in beta with iOS 27, in English first, and Apple excludes the EU initially. Live Translation availability also varies by language and region.

AirPods 5, the two versions