The Apple AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC here — yes, there are two versions of Apple’s most affordable wireless earbuds, with a mere $50 separating them. But that bit of cash belies a pretty big delta in specs.
So what’s new? What’s different? And which should you spend your money on?
Here’s everything you need to know.
AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC
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AirPods 4 - 2.
AirPods 4 with ANC
Apple announced the newest version of its iconic and massively popular wireless earbuds on September 9, 2024, along with the iPhone 16, the Apple Watch Series 10, and some pretty major changes in hearing health to the AirPods Pro 2.
However, Apple didn’t just announce a new generation of AirPods, it announced two new models. The AirPods 4 become the new entry-level earbuds, replacing both the second-gen AirPods and third-gen AirPods, which Apple had continued to sell until the AirPods 4 announcement. Meanwhile, an upgraded version known as the AirPods 4 with ANC becomes Apple’s mid-tier offering.
Physically, the two new models are identical, with a new shape that Apple claims makes them the most comfortable AirPods the company has ever made. Though the AirPods 4 with ANC has noise cancellation as the name suggests, they accomplish this without the use of silicone eartips, something you’ll only find on the AirPods Pro 2.
The new earbuds ditch the tap controls of the second-gen, opting instead for the squeezable force-sensing controls on the stems used by the third-gen and AirPods Pro. Apple has also added resistance to dust, giving the new earbuds an IP54 rating.
Also changed is the charging case, which Apple says is now 10% smaller than the AirPods 3.
Pricing and availability
At $129, the AirPods 4 are the same price as the now-discontinued second-gen AirPods, while the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179 — the same price as the discontinued third-gen model.
Though Apple no longer sells the second- or third-gen AirPods directly from its online or brick-and-mortar stores, you can expect that other retailers will begin offering discounts on their remaining inventory, making it a good time to buy if you don’t need the latest and greatest models.
Features
The fourth-gen AirPods use Apple’s H2 chip, the same processor found in the AirPods Pro 2. This enables a number of features like audio-sharing, personalized spatial audio with head tracking, voice isolation on calls, and the ability to use head gestures to respond to Siri prompts — something Apple calls Siri Interactions.
Both models can charge via USB-C. Now that Apple has updated the AirPods Max with USB-C charging, the entire AirPods family has fully migrated to the new port. Curiously, Apple is declining to include a USB-C charging cable with the AirPods 4 models, marking the first time the company has sold earbuds without a cable. Apple-owned Beats made this move when it released the Beats Solo Buds earlier in 2024, which suggests cable-less earbuds may become the new norm.
That certainly won’t be a problem for the AirPods 4 with ANC. In addition to its active noise cancellation feature, its charging case works with any Qi wireless charging mat or the MagSafe charger for the Apple Watch. This, according to Apple, makes the AirPods 4 with ANC’s case the smallest in the world to offer wireless charging.
Like the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 4 with ANC case also has a built-in speaker to help with locating it when using Apple’s Find My app. However, it does not have a built-in lanyard loop like the Pro’s case.
Both models get a new acoustic architecture: an Apple-designed low-distortion driver powered by a high dynamic range amplifier. The result, according to Apple, is “exceptional detail, with deeper bass and crystal-clear highs.”
New for the AirPods 4 is much better voice call quality when using FaceTime. The earbuds incorporate the AAC-ELD codec for a higher-fidelity reproduction of your voice along with very low latency. The feature supports quality levels up to 16-bit/48kHz, and it works when multiplayer gaming too.
Noise cancellation without eartips
We’ve seen companies try to provide active noise cancellation on semi-open wireless buds in the past. The results have been less than impressive. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds 3 offer ANC without eartips, and neither provided meaningful reductions in noise.
The AirPods 4 with ANC are much more successful, as Caleb Denison notes in his full review.
The ANC version of the AirPods also get transparency mode plus adaptive audio, which blends ANC and transparency to match your conditions. Conversational awareness lets the earbuds switch from ANC to transparency when you start speaking, while simultaneously dropping the volume of your music or podcast so you can hear the other person.
Battery life
One of the few areas that hasn’t changed much on the fouth-gen AirPods is battery life.
In fact, it may have gotten slightly worse. Apple says you’ll get up to five hours per charge on the new models (up to four if you’re using ANC), with 30 hours of total playtime when you include the case’s capacity. The previous generation had the same total time, but with six hours per charge.
Five minutes in the charging case will buy you about an extra hour of listening time.
From ANC to Pro
With the new shape, comfort, and available ANC on the AirPods 4, you may be wondering if it’s still worth paying more for the AirPods Pro 2.
In some ways, this is a trick question. If you hate the feeling of silicone in your ears, the AirPods Pro 2 will never be your cup of tea. But if you don’t mind the use of eartips, the Pro still offer better sound quality (especially in noisy environments) and their ANC remains the best that Apple offers.
The AirPods Pro 2 also offer a unique advantage for those concerned with hearing health: Hearing protection, a hearing test, and hearing aid features were all added with the release of iOS 18.1 software for the iPhone. It’s not available in all countries yet, but it puts the AirPods Pro 2 in a class of their own.
