Apple could give its standard AirPods lineup its first major refresh in two years today, with AirPods 5 expected to make an appearance alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12.
Reports ahead of Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event point to two versions of the fifth-generation earbuds, continuing the strategy Apple adopted with AirPods 4. One model is expected to offer active noise cancellation, while a less expensive version would omit ANC.
Apple is also expected to move the earbuds to a new H3 chip. The upgraded silicon could improve audio processing, reduce latency and provide the foundation for additional features while increasing efficiency.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has included AirPods 5 among the products to watch for at today’s event, alongside Apple’s new iPhones and Apple Watch models.
More ambitious AirPods equipped with cameras have also been the subject of recent reports, but those are not expected to be part of today’s launch. Camera-equipped earbuds are believed to be a separate future product rather than a feature of AirPods 5.
Apple’s event begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, or 6 p.m. in the UK. If AirPods 5 are announced, Apple should confirm pricing and availability during or immediately after the presentation.
