Apple is preparing to launch AirPods 5 as soon as 9 September, in standard and noise-cancelling versions, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Like the AirPods 4 before them, the AirPods 5 will come in two tiers: a standard model and one with active noise cancellation. Gurman’s report did not say how the new earbuds improve on the 2024 model, which launched in the US at $129 and $179. References to unreleased AirPods 5 models have already surfaced in the macOS 26.7 code, per MacRumors.
The camera-equipped AirPods are a separate, later project. Bloomberg reports those have slipped off the 2026 schedule and now target 2027, as Apple works through supply-chain and software challenges. The low-resolution cameras feed Siri AI for Visual Intelligence; they will not take photos or video. We covered the camera AirPods’ 2027 timing when the demo video surfaced.
AirPods 5 in the UAE: hold off on AirPods 4
The September event is weeks away — the iPhone 18 range and a foldable iPhone Ultra are among eight products tipped for it — and an AirPods 5 announcement could ride along.
AirPods 4 currently start at AED 549 in the UAE, with the noise-cancelling version at AED 749 on Apple’s regional store. AirPods 5 pricing has not been announced, but the current lineup is the reference point. With the successor weeks away, the 2024 model is a difficult sell.
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Will the AirPods 5 have a heart rate sensor?
No. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said heart-rate sensing stays exclusive to the AirPods Pro 3, keeping the standard and Pro lines separate. The AirPods 5 is expected to repeat the AirPods 4’s standard/ANC split instead.
What is the difference between AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3?
AirPods are Apple’s open-ear earbuds, worn without silicone tips; AirPods Pro are in-ear models with stronger noise cancellation and extra health features. In the UAE, the AirPods Pro 3 costs AED 949, while AirPods 4 start at AED 549.
When will the AirPods 5 go on sale?
Bloomberg expects an announcement as early as 9 September 2026. A shipping date has not been reported; the AirPods 4 were announced at Apple’s September 2024 event and went on sale that month.
