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 next month.
Here’s what we can look forward to.
AirPods 5 coming soon? Already?
Although Apple introduces new iPhone and Apple Watch models every year, other products are on a much slower replacement cycle. There’s no better example than AirPods.
The original AirPods arrived in 2016, but customers had to wait nearly three years for AirPods 2, which debuted in spring 2019. AirPods 3 followed another two-and-a-half years later, in fall 2021, and then Apple waited three more years before introducing AirPods 4 in fall 2024.
If the rumors are accurate, AirPods 5 would arrive only about two years after the previous generation — the quickest turnaround ever.
Nevertheless, a recent report by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Apple is “planning to debut fresh AirPods as early as the September product launch event.” He went on to clarify that “the rollout will include new AirPods 5, an update to Apple’s entry-level earbuds.”
Two versions on the way
And we have more than Bloomberg‘s assurance. The recent macOS Tahoe 26.7 Release Candidate included mentions of a treasure trove of upcoming Apple products, with AirPods apparently making the list.
References to products with code names B868M and B868E were found in the OS. These are almost certainly new earbuds, considering the two current AirPods 4 models have the codenames B768M and B768E.
Two codenames are needed for AirPods 4 because there’s a basic version without Active Noise Cancellation and a more advanced version that includes ANC. It seems a safe assumption that AirPods 5 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor.
A new H3 chip could improve audio
Concept image: Apple/Cult of Mac
While new fifth-generation Apple earbuds seem virtually certain, it’s not yet clear what will make them different from their predecessors. No leaks have revealed any cool new features.
That said, the basic AirPods are just that: basic. They connect automatically to a range of Apple devices to let users listen to music, podcasts and videos, as well as make phone calls and use Siri…. and not much else. It’s likely the next-gen models will do the same, just better.
One possible way to accomplish this would be with a new Apple H3 processor. Both AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 are powered by the H2, and rumors have previously suggested that Apple is developing a successor that could deliver better audio quality and lower latency.
There’s no confirmation that the H3 will actually appear in AirPods 5, however. Still, it would give Apple a clear way to differentiate the new generation from both current models.
That said, this is mostly speculation based on the simple reality that AirPods 5 will need to be better than their predecessors in some way. And there haven’t been reliable reports predicting changes to the design, battery life or other hardware features.
Pricing
Apple recently left AirPods prices unchanged during a broader round of product price increases, so it’s possible the new models will remain around those price points. Especially considering what pushed computer prices up is the rising cost of memory chips — that’s not a significant factor with wireless earbuds.
The current AirPods 4 start at $129, while the ANC model costs $179. Expect AirPods 5 to cost approximately the same.
Not AirPods with cameras
Evidence recently came to light that Apple is developing AirPods with cameras, and there might be some expectations that these will be out soon… perhaps at the same time as AirPods 5.
Not gonna happen. Rumors say these cutting-edge wireless earbuds are still many months away. AirPods Pro 3 hit the market only a year ago — it’s much too soon for a replacement.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
