Apple Cuts AirPods ANC Price to $129 With Rebuilt Lineup

Apple Inc. has dropped the entry price for active noise cancellation in its standard earbuds to $129, a repositioning that also removes the previous non-ANC tier from its lineup. The new AirPods 5 series, announced from Cupertino, consists of two configurations: the base model at $129 and a premium version with Wireless Charging Case at $149. The prior ANC-equipped AirPods 4 sold for $179, and those legacy non-ANC AirPods 4 units have been pulled from Apple’s official storefront.

The $129 AirPods 5 and the $149 version both include an IP57 rating, meaning protection against limited dust ingress and immersion in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. Both models also feature real-time Live Translation powered by Apple’s software ecosystem, along with ANC technology that Apple claims delivers up to 50 percent better noise suppression than previous open-ear designs.

The higher-tier $149 model adds hardware not found on the base version, including touch sensors on the stems that recognize swipe gestures for volume control. Its battery capacity is expanded to provide one additional hour of listening time, and the updated charging case includes built-in speakers that emit audible alerts during Find My tracking searches. That premium case supports wireless charging through Qi protocols, Apple’s MagSafe magnetic chargers, and Apple Watch charging pucks.

Apple’s original wireless AirPods debuted in December 2016 alongside the iPhone 7, the first flagship iPhone to remove the traditional 3.5mm analog headphone jack. Optional wireless charging cases followed in March 2019, and the higher-tier AirPods Pro line arrived in October 2019 with silicone ear tips and hardware-level noise cancellation.

The standard AirPods design was refreshed in October 2021 with the third-generation release, introducing shorter stems and spatial audio support. In September 2023, Apple transitioned its audio lineup from proprietary Lightning connectors to universal USB-C charging ports across cases, aligning with European Union Directive 2022/2380, which mandates standardized charging interfaces for portable electronic devices.

Apple now maintains a three-tier consumer earbud lineup, led by the flagship AirPods Pro at $249 and flanked by the $149 and $129 AirPods 5 options. The over-ear AirPods Max sits at the top of the broader audio line at $549. Industry supply chain reports suggest Apple is researching future audio hardware iterations, including early development of sensor-integrated models with low-power optical cameras and computer vision capabilities for subsequent release windows.