The AirPods have defined an era of true wireless headphones, and Apple has sold over 150 million of its little white earbuds.
The AirPods 4 are a major revamp of the “entry-level” model, introducing a more advanced ANC version that sits between the standard AirPods and AirPods Pro models.
This new model brings active noise cancellation, transparency, smart features, and improved calling, powered by the all-powerful H2 chip.
But how do they stack up – and is the new AirPods 4 ANC the right choice? We’re focusing on the AirPods 4 with ANC here, but will also cover the standard model, too.
Read on for our review.
Compare: Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
Price and Comparisons
Here’s the price breakdown for the Apple AirPods family, which now has a neatly balanced lineup with the new AirPods 4 ANC sitting in the middle:
- $129/£129 – AirPods 4
- $179/£179 – AirPods 4 ANC
- $229/£229 – AirPods Pro 2
Design and comfort
The AirPods 4 (both ANC and standard) retain the classic molded fit of the AirPods – hard plastic designed to fit every ear – though I suspect they don’t fit anyone perfectly.
According to Apple, they have an insanely large database of ear shapes (true story), and they’ve designed something approaching the ultimate universal fit.
And it is better. I haven’t worn AirPods since Gen 2, and they now feel much more natural in my ears.
They still feel somewhat loose and sit lightly in the ear. I’ve always had the urge to push AirPods deeper or twist them for a more secure fit. The AirPods 4 are a much better fit – though still not snug.
We should also shout out the case, which is small and sleek. The ANC version includes Find My features, with a little speaker to help you locate it via your iPhone, and it adds Qi wireless charging. Both models have USB-C.
The AirPods 4 have also been updated to IP54 – the ‘5’ refers to improved dust resistance. The water resistance remains at ‘4’, meaning they’re sweat and splash-resistant, but you shouldn’t wear them in the shower.
One thing the AirPods 4 and ANC models are missing is volume control from the stem – which is odd, given that they support other touch gestures via the force sensor on the stem. Leaving out volume control seems strange, as it’s a handy feature on the AirPods Pro, even if it can be a bit fiddly.
Active Noise Cancellation
The ANC in the AirPods Pro changed my life. It’s pretty much my favorite thing about them – I love shutting out the world and playing some big tunes in the morning, on public transport, or in the office. And when you press the stem to enable it, the world disappears.
The AirPods 4 ANC don’t have quite the same effect. Due to the lack of a seal, background noise still creeps in, and the ANC is about half as effective as on the AirPods Pro 2.
There are times when I’m not quite sure if it’s enabled, and I quickly toggle it on or off to check. It helps make music clearer in noisy environments, which is an issue with older AirPods.
Similarly, the transparency mode isn’t as pronounced, as sound leaks in anyway due to the fit.
But it still makes a noticeable difference. Using the AirPods 4 ANC in the office clears some background noise, even if it remains somewhat audible.
On the noisy London tube, I could still hear that cowbell on Lay Lady Lay, and the extra clarity was welcome. It’s not the hermetically sealed bubble of the AirPods Pro, but it’s an improved experience.
But again, and I’ll say this a lot, you might as well spend $50 more and get the significantly superior AirPods Pro 2.
Smart Features
Both the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC feature the H2 chip, borrowed from the AirPods Pro 2, which enables a host of smart features.
The voice isolation makes calls better – and we had no complaints about quality in any of our tests.
Adaptive Audio also changes the audio volume depending on your environment – another feature that didn’t really engage me too much, and I just noticed the audio dipping unnecessarily or suddenly being able to hear my wife on the phone. It just created more unnecessary friction points than it solved.
Likewise, Conversation Awareness lowers the music volume when you speak to someone and then amplifies their voice – but I’d rather just take the headphones out when talking. It feels a bit rude to leave them in. It’s particularly annoying when I’m out walking my dog and saying simple commands like “stay” or “heel”, and the music dips as if I’m having a conversation. He doesn’t talk back that much, so for me, that setting stays off.
As for notifications being read aloud, I’m not a fan (could you have guessed). Do people really not want five minutes of peace? I don’t need a message from my wife buying milk being displayed on my phone, watch, and read out on my headphones all at once. I lasted 30 minutes with this feature on before switching it off forever.
While I’m clearly a cantankerous dullard that doesn’t like any of the smart features on offer here – I know plenty of people who do like them. And the AirPods 4 offers a lot of these useful features, if you want them.
Apple also uses the H2 chip to add a head gesture control, so you can shake your head when Siri asks something like, “Do you want to record this walking workout?” A neat feature.
Sound Quality
I’m often surprised by how good AirPods sound, especially given the lack of an ear tip. There are better-sounding true wireless buds, but the AirPods 4 offer solid, universally pleasing sound that most non-audiophiles will enjoy.
The bass is solid, and the overall sound is neutral, designed to suit everyone. It’s spacious, detailed, warm, and works well for any genre.
While there are better-sounding earbuds out there, there’s a good reason to choose AirPods: they give you access to Apple Music’s Spatial Audio, which remasters tracks to sound more spacious, as if you’re sitting among the band.
Spatial Audio is hit or miss, with some remasters sounding better than others. But often, it adds a whole new dimension to the music. For example, John Lennon’s Bring On The Lucie (Freda People) sent shivers down my spine with its arrangement when I stumbled across it using Apple Music’s excellent personalized playlists.
Both AirPods 4 models also support “Personalized Spatial Audio,” meaning the sound moves as you turn your head, as if you’re in a front-row seat. I’m not a fan of the sound shifting while looking to crossing the street, and it can feel like a feature for feature’s sake, pulling me out of the music.
Battery Life
I’ve always been impressed by AirPods’ battery life, and the AirPods 4 are no exception.
Apple says the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer “up to 4 hours of listening time with ANC,” and that seems accurate.
After writing this review and a half hour Zoom call, three hours later, the battery was at 48% with ANC enabled, so four hours seems nailed on.
For the standard AirPods 4, Apple promises 5 hours of battery life.
The case provides six full charges, giving you 30 hours of listening time (non-ANC) or 20 hours with ANC.
Plus, a quick five-minute charge in the case gives you an extra hour of listening time, which is super handy.
For the ANC version, you’ll get an audio alert when the case is running low on battery, so if they ever run out, it’s on you.
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