AirPods 5 Delivers ANC at $129, Sparking a Budget Open-Ear Shift
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.