AirPods 5 Models Surface in macOS 26.7: Two New Earbuds Expected at Apple's September Event

Two unreleased AirPods models have been found in macOS Tahoe 26.7 code, strongly suggesting Apple will announce AirPods 5 at its expected September 9 event.

What Was Found

The models carry internal codenames B868M and B868E, which follow Apple{"'"}s naming convention for standard AirPods (the AirPods 4 used B768 codenames). The two codenames almost certainly correspond to:

• AirPods 5: The base model without Active Noise Cancellation
• AirPods 5 with ANC: The mid-tier model with noise cancellation, succeeding the AirPods 4 ANC

Why This Matters

The standard AirPods line hasn{"'"}t been updated since September 2024 — nearly two years. This is the longest gap between AirPods generations in the product{"'"}s history. Expected upgrades include an improved H3 chip, better battery life, and refinements to the open-ear design.

Separate from Camera AirPods

These are not the camera-equipped AirPods that were recently delayed to 2027. The AirPods 5 are traditional wireless earbuds without cameras, positioned below the AirPods Pro 3 in Apple{"'"}s lineup.

Should You Buy AirPods Now?

If you need earbuds today, the AirPods Pro 3 at $199 are unaffected by this announcement and remain the best buy. For the base AirPods, wait until September 9 — the AirPods 5 announcement is near-certain, and AirPods 4 prices will drop. Current AirPods 4 deals at $123 on Amazon may get even better post-launch. Browse all options in our earbuds guide.