Apple’s new AirPods 5 are cheaper than AirPods 4 in the UK
Key Points
- Apple's AirPods 5 have officially been revealed and are available to pre-order in the United Kingdom.
- While the AirPods 5 feature greatly improved active noise cancellation, they are actually cheaper than the previous-generation AirPods 4.
- AirPods 5 will begin shipping to customers on 18 September 2026.
Apple has officially unveiled its new AirPods 5 wireless earbuds, which retail at a cheaper price in the UK than its previous model.
The latest generation of Apple’s wireless earbuds were announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo smartphones at the company’s “Suprise and Shine” event on Wednesday 8 September 2026.
AirPods 5 are available in two variations: standard AirPods 5 and a more expensive set with a wireless charging case, longer battery life, and on-stem volume control.
Both AirPods 5 models feature active noise cancellation (ANC), which was only available on the more expensive version of the AirPods 4 when they launched last year.
The ANC functionality has also been improved significantly over the previous generation, thanks to a new multiport acoustic architecture and adaptive equaliser.
Apple says the open-ear ANC technology in AirPods 5 removes up to 50% more background noise compared with AirPods 4 with ANC, and the newer earbuds have a more natural-sounding Transparency mode.
AirPods 5 pricing in the UK
When the Airpods 4 launched in September, the base model was priced at £129 and the model with ANC cost £179.
The AirPods 5 are substantially cheaper, despite both models of the new earbuds featuring ANC. Apple Store pricing for the AirPods 5 is shown below:
- AirPods 5 – £119
- AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case – £139
Customers in the United Kingdom can pre-order AirPods 5 today, with availability in stores beginning on Friday, September 18.
If you order the newest generation of AirPods from the Apple Store, you will be able to have your pair engraved with your choice of text, emoji, or numbers to personalise them to your taste.
“We’re thrilled that with AirPods 5, we’re able to bring Active Noise Cancellation — one of our most beloved features — to our most affordable AirPods,” said Apple VP of Hardware Engineering Dave Pakula.
“Both AirPods 5 models deliver a world-class listening experience and enable features like Live Translation for even more people. Paired with Siri AI, AirPods are a game changer for unlocking powerful hands-free capabilities.”
