Apple has announced AirPods 5, and the interesting part is not the sound: it is that Active Noise Cancellation now starts at AED 539. The version with the Wireless Charging Case is AED 629. Pre-orders are open now, with both in UAE stores on Friday 18 September.
ANC in an open-ear design, without the silicone tips
AirPods 5 keep the open-ear shape — no ear tips, nothing sealing the canal — which has always been the reason this model could not cancel noise properly. Apple says a new multiport acoustic architecture and revised computational audio algorithms remove up to 50 per cent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, and it is claiming best-in-class for the open-ear category, measured against the bestselling open-ear wireless headphones under IEC 60268-24.
Read that claim precisely: it is a comparison within open-ear designs, not against sealed in-ears like AirPods Pro 3. If you commute on the Metro or fly often, tips still win. What open-ear ANC buys you is a pair you can wear for eight hours in an office without your ears sweating, that also takes the edge off the air conditioning.
Transparency mode has been retuned to handle voices more naturally, and Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and head-gesture replies to Siri all carry over. Personalised Spatial Audio benefits from the next-generation Adaptive EQ, which Apple says now works across a wider range of ear shapes.
What the extra AED 90 gets you
| Model | UAE price | What is different |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | AED 539 | ANC, Transparency, Adaptive Audio, improved dust, sweat and water resistance |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | AED 629 | Adds force sensor with volume swipe, up to 5 hours ANC playback (22 with case), Apple Watch and Qi charging |
The volume swipe is the one to notice. Sliding a finger up or down the stem to change volume has never been available on the open-ear AirPods, and on the cheaper model you are still reaching for the phone. Battery life on the wireless-charging version is up an hour on AirPods 4 with ANC, at five hours with noise cancelling on and 22 hours in total with the case, which also charges from an Apple Watch puck, any Qi pad or USB-C.
Should you buy these or AirPods Pro 3?
If your priority is silence, no. Sealed in-ears cancel more, and they always will — physics does not care about acoustic architecture. AirPods 5 are for people who dislike the plugged-in feeling, who need to hear a colleague or a car, or who lose ear tips. At AED 539 they are the cheapest way into most of the AirPods software stack, and they sit in the same bag of the market as the open-ear sets from Shokz, Huawei and Anker that have been selling well here.
Both models go on sale the same day as the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s new Wrist Strap for the iPhone also carries AirPods Pro 2 and 3 — the accessory line is converging. Everything from the keynote is in our event live blog.
How much are AirPods 5 in the UAE?
AED 539 for AirPods 5, and AED 629 for AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case. Pre-orders are open now, with stores stocking them from 18 September.
Do AirPods 5 have noise cancelling?
Yes. Both versions have Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says removes up to 50 per cent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. It is an open-ear design, so it will not match the sealed AirPods Pro 3.
What is the difference between the two AirPods 5 models?
The AED 629 model adds a force sensor with volume swipe on the stem, a redesigned battery good for five hours with ANC and 22 hours with the case, and a case that charges wirelessly from Apple Watch chargers, Qi pads or USB-C.
When do AirPods 5 go on sale in the UAE?
Friday 18 September 2026, the same day as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Pre-orders opened on 9 September.
