AirPods 5 add on-stem volume control — just swipe
The new AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case bring the first on-stem swipe volume control, priced at $149.
Apple has refreshed its mass-market wireless earbuds. The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case bring, for the first time, on-stem volume control via a simple swipe.
The feature relies on a force sensor: users can now adjust volume by swiping up or down on the stem, without pulling out their phone or reaching for an Apple Watch. It's a small but genuinely useful upgrade for everyday listening.
The wireless charging case supports charging via USB-C, Apple Watch chargers, or any Qi-certified charger, giving users more flexibility in how they top up.
On battery life, the AirPods 5 offer up to 5 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation on, and up to 7 hours with it off. Total listening time with the case reaches 22 hours.
The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149 — $20 more than the standard USB-C case version at $129. Pre-orders opened September 9–10, with sales beginning September 18.
