Apple has just made Active Noise Cancellation much easier to get without stepping up to AirPods Pro. The new AirPods 5 bring ANC to the regular AirPods line, along with improved sound, Live Translation, Siri AI and a redesigned acoustic system.

And there’s a wonderfully Apple-shaped catch.

ANC is included on both AirPods 5 models. The case is where Apple asks you to pay extra.

Yes, Apple has essentially decided that noise cancellation should be democratic, while the ability to wirelessly charge your earbuds remains a slightly more exclusive privilege.

Apple announced AirPods 5 today, September 9, with pre-orders opening immediately. The earbuds start at $129, while AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case cost $149. Both versions will arrive in stores on September 18.

The funny part is that Apple isn’t actually charging extra for ANC.

That feature is included with the $129 model.

The company specifically says AirPods 5 deliver its best Active Noise Cancellation yet in an open-ear design, removing up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. That’s made possible by a new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio algorithms.

So if your only reason for buying the more expensive model was ANC, congratulations: you don’t need to.

But then you look at the two options on Apple’s store and realize what happened.

The $129 AirPods 5 come with a USB-C charging case. Spend another $20 and Apple gives you the Wireless Charging Case, longer battery life and volume controls on the AirPods stems.

In other words, Apple has basically said: Noise cancellation for everyone. Wireless charging? That’s a premium lifestyle.

The $129 AirPods 5 aren’t exactly the budget leftovers

The standard AirPods 5 are considerably more interesting than a basic entry-level refresh.

Apple has redesigned the acoustic architecture and added next-generation Adaptive EQ, which it says delivers richer and more detailed sound across a wider range of ear shapes. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is also included.

There’s also Adaptive Audio, which dynamically mixes ANC and Transparency mode depending on what’s happening around you. Conversation Awareness can lower the media volume when you start talking to someone nearby.

That means you can theoretically walk around with ANC enabled, start talking to somebody, and let the AirPods figure out that you have temporarily remembered other humans exist.

The earbuds also gain IP57 dust, sweat and water resistance, according to Apple’s product information.

Battery life on the standard model is rated at up to four hours with ANC on a single charge. The $149 version stretches that to five hours, with up to 22 hours of listening time through the Wireless Charging Case.

And then there’s the $20 case

This is where Apple’s new AirPods lineup gets particularly amusing.

The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149, or exactly $20 more than the standard model. The upgraded case supports USB-C, Apple Watch chargers and Qi-compatible wireless chargers. It also has a speaker for Find My.

But the case isn’t merely about charging.

The $149 model adds a force sensor with volume swipe, allowing users to swipe up or down on the stem to adjust volume. Apple says this is a first for the open-ear AirPods form factor.

So the extra $20 buys you longer battery life, wireless charging and physical volume control.

That’s actually a pretty reasonable upgrade.

It’s just funny that Apple has managed to make the pricing feel backwards at first glance: the complicated computational feature that actively fights the outside world is included, while the extremely straightforward act of placing the case on a charging pad costs extra.

The screenshot practically writes the joke itself.

“Active Noise Cancellation included on both models.”

Then, immediately underneath:

“Would you like the case to charge without a cable? That’ll be $20.”

Fair enough, Apple.

ANC in an open-ear AirPods design

The bigger technical story here is that Apple is bringing ANC to an open-ear design without turning AirPods 5 into AirPods Pro.

Apple says the new model can cancel up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. Transparency mode has also been improved to make nearby voices and sounds feel more natural.

That’s an interesting balancing act because open-ear earbuds don’t seal the ear canal in the same way as in-ear models with silicone tips. Apple’s approach relies heavily on computational audio, microphones and the new acoustic architecture.

The result, at least according to Apple’s claims, is an open-ear pair of earbuds that can provide substantially more noise reduction while retaining the familiar AirPods fit.

For people who don’t like silicone ear tips but still want ANC, that’s arguably the most important part of the AirPods 5 announcement.

Siri AI and Live Translation come along for the ride

AirPods 5 aren’t just about audio.

When paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, they support Siri AI features rolling out with iOS 27. Apple says Siri can understand more personal context, perform actions across apps and answer questions using broader world knowledge. Users can even respond to Siri using head gestures.

Live Translation is also supported, allowing users to hear translated conversations through the AirPods. Apple says the feature is powered by Apple Intelligence and requires compatible devices, software and supported languages and regions.

That’s a surprisingly substantial feature set for the $129 model.

Apple is essentially taking several features that used to make higher-end AirPods more appealing and pushing them down into its cheapest current AirPods option.

The AirPods 5 lineup is now pretty simple

For U.S. buyers, the choice comes down to two models:

AirPods 5 — $129: ANC, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Spatial Audio, Siri AI, Live Translation, USB-C charging case and up to four hours of listening with ANC.

AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case — $149: Everything above, plus wireless charging, volume swipe controls, a Find My speaker in the case and up to five hours of listening with ANC, or up to 22 hours with the case.

Both models are available to pre-order now and go on sale September 18.

But let’s be honest: the image of Apple’s store page showing “Active Noise Cancellation included on both models” while the $149 model sits directly underneath is going to be the part people remember.

Apple has finally made ANC standard.

Now it just wants $20 for the privilege of putting the case on a charging pad.

And honestly, that’s one of the more entertaining examples of Apple’s product segmentation we’ve seen in a while.