Apple has a talent for removing the annoyances from our everyday routines and replacing them with a refined sense of style. Consider earbuds: for years, you had to select whether you wanted them to be incredibly comfortable or super quiet. You choose open designs that allowed the world in, or sealed tips that kept you completely out of touch, even in a packed subway. With the AirPods 4, which have active noise cancellation, now available for $99 (was $179), all of that sounds like old history.
At $99, you get features that were previously twice as expensive. Even the basic AirPods Pro with their in-ear design are more expensive, and that’s before you consider how much some consumers are ready to pay for enhanced sound. Apple incorporates the same H2 processor found in the high-end model into these small fellas, resulting in seamless iPhone pairing and quick switching between your Watch and Mac.
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem,...
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse...
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you...
The comfort is unparalleled from the moment you insert them into your ears. Apple spent a long time reviewing hundreds of ear scans from across the world to make them precisely right, so they fit without putting any strain on your ears. No more earbuds falling out of your ears while you’re running or simply drifting around like prior models. They weigh only 4.3 grams each, so light that you’ll forget they’re there until a song starts. For runners or walkers who need to be aware of their surroundings, the open design allows you to hear traffic or a friend attempting to grab your attention without having to turn up the volume. Voices and footfall are heard normally, but the buds stay in place even when sweating or moving, due to an IP54 classification that can withstand a light rain or a humid gym session.
Noise cancellation is where these really excel; open earbuds had tried this before, but it rarely worked; you could still hear the hum of the office or the rumble of the bus. These ones are far better since they use microphones that face outwards, allowing them to listen in real time and cancel out the undesirable stuff. Low drones, such as air conditioners or engines, become noticeably quieter, allowing your music to breathe. In a cafe, you can actually listen to a podcast, and on airplanes, the engine noise is reduced to a whisper. Now, does it block out everything? No, high-pitched sirens or close talk may still be audible, but listening to music reduces the total noise level by a third.
The sound quality has improved even more, and it’s evident. The bass hits harder than it used to, the mids carry vocals without being confused, and the highs really shine, especially on tunes with a lot of detail, such as Billie Eilish’s layered vocals or The Weeknd’s pounding pace. The Adaptive EQ technology appears to “understand” your hearing and adjusts in real time, whereas the Personalized Spatial Audio surrounds your music in a virtual 3D bubble that moves with your head. You can even say hello to Siri without raising your hand, and Conversation Awareness will lower the level when someone leans in to chat. Transparency mode reduces outside noises to a whisper exclusively for you.
The battery life stands up well to daily wear and tear. You should expect roughly 4 hours with ANC and up to 5 hours without. The charging case increases this to 20 or 30 hours in total. Wireless charging is compatible with Qi pads and MagSafe, and the built-in speaker alerts Find My when the case is misplaced under the couch cushions. Controls are still dead simple to use: pinch the stem to play or pause, swipe to turn the volume up and down, and hold to change modes.
