Apple Prices AirPods 5 at $129 With Stronger ANC, Cuts Step-Up Model to $149

Q: How does Apple's new AirPods 5 deliver 50% better noise cancellation without using the rumored next-generation H3 chip?

Apple’s 50% better noise cancellation appears to come from acoustic and software redesigns, not a new processor. The AirPods 5 still use the H2 chip, but Apple says it rebuilt the earbuds around an all-new multiport acoustic architecture, updated drivers and microphones, and improved computational audio algorithms. That matters because ANC is not only about chip branding. In Apple’s description, the new hardware controls airflow and sound more precisely in an open-ear design, while the revised algorithms use that data more effectively to cancel outside noise. Apple also says the next-generation Adaptive EQ helps the earbuds respond better across different ear shapes and fits, which is especially important for open earbuds that do not seal the ear canal. Reviews and hands-on reports back up that explanation. Testers said the ANC is surprisingly strong for an open design, working well on airplanes, city streets and the subway, though still below the isolation of AirPods Pro 3 and top Bose or Sony earbuds. One early hands-on account described a loud demo room becoming notably quieter once ANC was enabled, despite the loose, open fit. So the improvement is less about a new H3 chip and more about Apple squeezing more performance out of the H2 through better acoustic engineering, microphone tuning and firmware-driven computational audio. In short, Apple improved the system around the chip rather than replacing the chip itself.

3 articles · Updated · CNET · Sep 14

$129 AirPods 5 add active noise cancellation to Apple’s entry model, while the wireless-charging version drops to $149 from $179 and gains an extra hour of battery life.
Sound quality and ANC both improve over AirPods 4, with Apple saying noise cancellation is 50% more effective despite the open-ear design.
IP57 water resistance now covers both buds and case, up from IP54, and the higher-tier model adds case speaker alerts and stem swipe volume controls.
The earbuds still use Apple’s H2 chip, not a rumored H3, and miss some Pro-only features including hearing aid support, heart-rate tracking and stronger battery life.
CNET says the upgrades narrow the gap with AirPods Pro 3 and make both AirPods 5 versions better values for users who prefer open earbuds.