Gurman: Apple to Launch AirPods 5 Next Month in Two Versions, Including Active Noise Cancellation

While the much-anticipated camera-equipped AirPods are not expected until next year, a new report from Bloomberg suggests Apple could unveil the AirPods 5 as early as next month's iPhone event.

In a comprehensive report, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed several upcoming products from Apple, with the AirPods 5 being a key highlight. He indicated that the new earbuds could debut at Apple's next major event, which is anticipated to take place on September 9. This event is also expected to feature the first foldable iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro series, and new Apple Watch models.

Gurman wrote, "Apple is also preparing a series of minor upgrades for the Apple Watch, including enhanced fitness tracking and a ceramic case option for the Series 12. Additionally, the company plans to launch new AirPods as early as the September event." He added, "According to sources, the release will include the new AirPods 5, an update to Apple's entry-level wireless earbud line, which was last refreshed in 2024."

Adding to his report, Gurman later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the AirPods 5 will be available in two distinct models: a standard version and one featuring Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This move would bring a premium feature, previously reserved for the Pro and Max lines, to the standard AirPods for the first time.

This potential release timeline is much earlier than previously anticipated, as many reports had suggested the AirPods 5 wouldn't arrive until 2027. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly still developing the camera-equipped AirPods, which will leverage Visual Intelligence and Siri for advanced AI functionalities. A demo video of these futuristic earbuds was recently discovered in a macOS 26.7 release candidate, though it didn't reveal significant hardware changes.