AirPods 5

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New Apple CEO John Ternus reportedly wants to make Apple lean and agile. He wants to eliminate bloat — and push out more products at a faster tempo.

Is he tamping out his own “bozo explosion” at Apple? Or is the “hardware guy” just bringing a more engineering-focused eye to Cupertino’s top job? There’s plenty to discuss!

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

• The long-rumored (and long-delayed) Apple home hub, which reportedly arrives in a couple of weeks, will lean heavily on the new AI-infused Siri. Is the virtual assistant up to the task?
• And finally, it’s official: AirPods 5 are the “least unrepairable AirPods yet,” according to DIY gurus at iFixit.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in Apple’s Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. Or watch the video version, embedded below. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!)

Apple finally gave AirPods something we know you all wanted for years: a built-in equalizer that lets you change how your music sounds.

And unlike the EQ setting buried in Apple Music, this one is tied to your AirPods, not a specific application. That means your custom sound profile isn’t limited to music played through that singular app.

But to be clear: The new Custom EQ feature in iOS 27 isn’t the most sophisticated equalizer you’ll find for a set of headphones. It gives you just three controls — Low, Mid and High. But that’s enough to make a noticeable difference if you think your AirPods sound too bass-heavy, lack vocal clarity or need a little more treble.

Here’s how to set it up … and why you might want to.

AirPods 5 are Apple’s most repairable earbuds yet. But that doesn’t mean much, as the case is “still a disaster” when it comes to repairability.

As the iFixit teardown team aptly puts it, the “AirPods 5 are the least unrepairable AirPods yet.”

Apple made some big promises for AirPods 5, particularly when it comes to active noise cancellation. After spending time with the new earbuds, I can say the company wasn’t exaggerating. ANC is dramatically better than it was on previous open-ear AirPods, making AirPods 5 much more useful in noisy environments. Which is great, because Apple put ANC in its most affordable AirPods, too.

And that’s not the only upgrade that makes a difference. Apple also added something I’ve wanted on my AirPods for years: volume controls right on the stems. That’s reserved for the slightly pricier AirPods 5 variant, though.

I’m a long-time AirPods user, and I could argue that there are enough improvements in AirPods 5 that you might want to replace your AirPods 4. Here’s why.

The wait for Apple’s latest gear is over. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max hit retail stores Friday alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.

Crowds lined up outside Apple Stores around the world, even as a highly unusual launch cycle took place for the latest iPhones.

Apple’s new AirPods 5 aren’t even available in stores yet, but you can already save a few bucks on them. Amazon has knocked the preorder price of the new earbuds down to $124.99.

That’s not exactly a huge discount, but considering AirPods 5 were only announced last week and don’t officially arrive in stores until Friday, it’s a surprisingly quick start for discounts on Apple’s newest earbuds.

Apple just released new firmware for its latest AirPods models, bringing several new capabilities to the company’s wireless earbuds and headphones. Firmware version 9A348 is available for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2.

The update arrived Monday alongside iOS 27, enabling support for one of the most-requested AirPods features: a built-in equalizer that lets users customize the sound produced by their headphones.

Last year, Apple finally explained exactly how to update your AirPods firmware. The process can happen automatically, in the background, but there is a way to speed things up. It’s a good idea to manually check that you’re running the latest version, which brings bug fixes and sometimes great new features.

Read on for more details, and to find all current AirPods firmware versions along with instructions for getting the AirPods update as quickly as possible.

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s Surprise and Shine event is in the books! The iPhone Duo is real, and it definitely folds. New Apple CEO John Ternus didn’t, though. He acquitted himself admirably as he briefly uncapped Apple’s magic product pipeline.

We discuss how things went down and our reactions to iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

• How does iPhone 18 Pro stack up against iPhone 17 Pro? The new variable-aperture camera sounds impressive, but seriously … how much better do your iPhone pix need to be? And how much are you willing to spend for slightly better snapshots?
• The new Apple Watch models come with a powerful new chip that enables a pair of controversial features: Live Rewind and Siri Recap. Both involve the Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 quietly listening in the background at all times. And that stirs real privacy concerns.
• Another pair of Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 features — your readiness score and Health Age — raise a different kind of question. Namely, just how scientific and useful are they?
• We wrap up the show with a show of hands: Who’s getting what new Apple products? The subject proves dicier than usual.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

Apple began accepting preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this morning. Both phones arrive in stores on Friday, September 18, when the first preorder deliveries also reach customers.

The Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and new AirPods 5 were already available for preorder, with all three launching the same day. However, if you want the folding iPhone Duo, you’ll need to wait until October to place your preorder.

Apple is bringing active noise cancellation to its most affordable wireless earbuds with the AirPods 5, which the company unveiled today during its Surprise and Shine event. The new open-ear model promises up to 50% more noise reduction than AirPods 4 with ANC, while adding improved sound quality, Siri AI and Live Translation. And these features come in the $129 version.

Today’s launch means you should take a hard look at your current AirPods. If they are three years old or more, it could be time to replace them.

Apple kicked off its Surprise and Shine event Wednesday with a cinematic passing of the torch as former CEO Tim Cook introduced his successor, John Ternus.

Ternus then praised the company’s crown jewel — the iPhone, which he called an “intelligent personal hub” superpowered by artificial intelligence — before unveiling a slew of new products, including the first folding iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo.

Other new and upgraded products included the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. Plus, various Apple execs also showcased new software features coming soon in iOS 27 and the company’s other software platforms.

“iPhone sits at the center of an amazing ecosystem of intelligent features and experiences that work seamlessly across the products you use every day,” Ternus said, before name-checking the new AI-powered Siri and advanced features in the new Apple Watch and AirPods.

“Simply put, iPhone brings powerful AI capabilities together with your personal context on the device you have with you all the time,” Ternus continued. “So today, we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone.”

• See also: This is when iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate arrive

Update: This article is now moot because Apple introduced AirPods 5 at its Rise and Shine product launch event on September 12. Get the official details:

• AirPods 5 mean it’s time to replace your old earbuds 

AirPods 4 could give way to AirPods 5 in the coming weeks, likely ushering in improved audio quality.

It’s a somewhat surprising development — a new version wasn’t really anticipated for another year — but there’s solid evidence that Apple is preparing to give its entry-level wireless earbuds a refresh. Perhaps as soon as this month.

Here’s what we can look forward to.

Apple’s AirPods appear to have dodged a costly redesign after the European Commission carved out new exemptions to its upcoming replaceable battery rules for portable electronics.

The requirement could have also required changes to the design of the Apple Watch.

Apple is reportedly preparing to overhaul one of the iPhone’s most cluttered menus: the AirPods settings screen.

Over the years, the AirPods settings screen has grown more cluttered with every new feature Apple introduces to the popular earbuds. That could change with iOS 27, which could come with a completely revamped layout for the AirPods settings.

You can charge your AirPods to 100% and get more battery life out of them by switching off the default setting, which limits them to 80%. The charge limit can help preserve your AirPods’ battery to extend their useful life. But that comes at the expense of more frequent charging every day. And if you find yourself in a situation where you need that extra battery life, this tip lets you unlock it — for one day or forever.

If you want to squeeze as much battery life out of your AirPods as possible, and you don’t mind upgrading every few years, here’s how to change the setting. Keep reading or watch our quick video.

The Twelve South Valet combines a wireless charger with a Nappa leather-lined tray to hold your keys, glasses, wallet and more. It’s stylish and practical, powering up your iPhone or AirPods while keeping your essentials organized.

Of course, it comes in a range of color options.