All articles tagged with #airpods
Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days feature significant price cuts on Apple hardware, with the AirPods Pro 3 dropping to $179 and the AirPods Max 2 falling to $429. These discounts represent some of the lowest prices recorded for these devices in 2026, coinciding with broader sales on Macs, iPads, and accessories.
Apple’s 2026 audio lineup presents a complex choice between the feature-rich AirPods Pro 3 and the newly repairable AirPods 5. While the Pro 3 offers superior noise cancellation and health tracking, the standard AirPods 5 introduce the first repairable battery design in Apple’s history, though with significant caveats.
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale, scheduled for October 6-7, offers limited discounts on Apple hardware. While the event spans multiple retailers, price cuts on flagship devices like the AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are modest, with some outlets suggesting shoppers wait for deeper reductions later in the week.
Apple's new AirPods 5 offer improved open-ear noise cancellation at a lower price, but the AirPods Pro 3 remains superior for those needing in-ear fit, heart rate monitoring, and clinical hearing aid features.
Apple released firmware 9A348 for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2, adding a new AirPods interface across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, plus an Adaptive mode slider and support for custom EQ and Siri AI; updates require connecting AirPods to a powered Apple device and can take hours since there’s no dedicated software update option.
Apple has replaced AirPods 4 with AirPods 5, making Active Noise Cancellation standard across the lineup. The base AirPods 5 cost $129 with ANC, while a $149 model adds a wireless charging case and on-stem volume control; both offer improved noise cancellation, IP57 water resistance, and similar core features, with the pricier model delivering up to 5 hours of listening time (22 hours with the case). AirPods 4 remains on sale through retailers but lags behind AirPods 5 in features, durability, and value, making AirPods 5 the recommended pick.
Installer No. 143 rolls in with Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and AirPods 5, plus Meta’s Muse AI, refreshed Sony XM4C headphones, Philips Hue Play Screen Sync, and more gadget picks; the issue also features Verge editor Emma Roth’s homescreen and current obsessions and invites reader recommendations for the crowdsourced section.
Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, with a 5.4-inch front display that unfolds to 7.6 inches and a starting price of $1,999 (top model north of $3,100), while also highlighting upgraded AirPods and other devices; analysts say the foldable could boost demand and signal strong innovation, even if Duo is a niche product.
Apple's AirPods 5 debuts with built-in ANC at $129, delivering up to four hours of playback with ANC (five hours with the $149 wireless-charging variant) in an open-ear design that costs far less than AirPods Pro 3; Pro 3 still leads in isolation and battery life, but AirPods 5 adds ANC at a much lower price and retains most software features, making it a compelling value for many buyers who don't need Pro-level sealing or sensors.
Apple unveiled five new products this week, led by the foldable iPhone Duo with prices from $1,999 for the base (256GB) and $3,199 for 2TB; the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 (42mm) and Ultra 4 at $799. AirPods 5 base model remains $129 with the higher-end at $149. Preorders begin Oct. 16 and shipments start Oct. 23. The lineup includes price hikes versus last launch, and the rollout comes under new CEO John Ternus.
Apple unveiled AirPods 5 at its Surprise and Shine event in two ANC‑equipped models. The $129 base version ships without a wireless charging case, while the $149 model adds wireless charging and a Find My speaker. Apple says the 5’s ANC is 1.5x better than AirPods 4 with ANC, and the wireless‑charging version delivers about 5 hours of battery life with ANC (one hour more than the base). AirPods 4 cases work with AirPods 5. There’s no Ultra Wideband (no Precision Finding). Sound reportedly has more bass and punchier mids, though a full review is pending; AirPods Pro 3 remains the top choice for best ANC overall.
Apple released a 95-second YouTube recap of its Surprise and Shine event, highlighting the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 with ANC; Apple also posted per-product recap clips and 9to5Mac provides full event coverage.
John Higgins argues that AirPods with cameras should not exist due to privacy concerns, noting rumors that any cameras would be low‑res and used to power Siri AI and Visual Intelligence rather than capture images; even with safeguards, ubiquitous earbud cameras could enable covert recording, so he’s glad Apple delayed them and hopes the concept never arrives, even as Apple pushes sensor-based features like Audio Intelligence on the Apple Watch.
Apple unveils AirPods 5 with a redesigned open-ear architecture featuring best-in-class adaptive noise cancellation (50% more effective than AirPods 4); a second model adds on-stem controls, longer battery life up to 5 hours, and wireless charging. Preorders start at $129 (or $149 with Wireless Charging Case) with shipments on Sept. 18, 2026.
Tim Cook retires as Apple’s CEO after 15 years, with engineer John Ternus taking the helm as the company pivots toward renewed innovation ahead of a rumored foldable iPhone launch. Under Cook, Apple grew into a tech giant and launched AirPods, a product line that’s generated roughly $10–$12 billion in 2025—arguably more than many Fortune 500 companies—while Watch and Vision Pro represent subsequent bets on the company’s future.