Apple is set to unveil AirPods 5 at its September 9 event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, and new iPhone Ultra.
The new earbuds will be a straightforward generational update, without the camera hardware that has dominated AirPods speculation for months.
AirPods 5 will come in two versions: one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without. That mirrors the lineup Apple introduced with AirPods 4 in 2024, which also split the standard AirPods between ANC and non-ANC models.
The timing also fits Apple’s usual AirPods refresh cycle, with roughly two to three years typically separating major generations.
Camera-equipped AirPods pushed to 2027
Much of the attention around AirPods this year has centered on a camera-equipped model. A video that surfaced from Apple software in August appeared to show camera-enabled AirPods in action, fueling speculation that the hardware could arrive this fall.
That model is now slated for 2027. AirPods 5 arriving next week will not include cameras.
Beyond the two-model lineup, the feature list is less clear. Apple does not plan to bring the heart-rate sensor from AirPods Pro 3 to the standard AirPods, although it is looking at adding more health features over time, including temperature sensing.
Whether any of those additions make it into AirPods 5 remains unknown.
The H3 chip is still up in the air
Apple is also developing an H3 chip designed to reduce audio latency and improve sound quality, but there is no word yet on whether AirPods 5 will get it.
Apple took a similar approach with H2, introducing it first with AirPods Pro before bringing the chip to other models. H3 could follow the same path.
Compared with the other products planned for Apple’s September 9 event, AirPods 5 have generated relatively few leaks.
Apple surprised buyers earlier this year when AirPods Max 2 arrived with features such as the H2 chip and live translation that had not been widely reported beforehand.
That gives Apple some room to surprise buyers again when AirPods 5 arrive next week.
