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Apple introduces two new versions with a major overhaul to the "regular" AirPods. Yes, they appear similar and have certain traits, but the most difference from the third-generation model is the inclusion of active noise cancel (ANC) at an extra fee. Although the AirPods 4 ($179) choice offers additional conveniences, the revamp has tremendously helped the AirPods 4 ($129) also. Apple has added more juice to its entry-level AirPods as well as provided a choice between those and the most costly earphones in their portfolio. Still, your decision of AirPods can ultimately come down to whether you choose a totally closed fit or an open-wear design.
Design
The form of the housing that fits your ears distinguishes the AirPods 4 from Apple's earlier iteration of "regular" AirPods. To hone the curves on this new pair of buds, the business claims to have examined hundreds of ear forms and over 50 million data points produced by 3D modeling. Specifically, Apple modified the border of the lower counter and decreased the overall width for a more secure and more comfortable fit for more users. The business also placed the H2 chip in the stem to enable a more compact design and enhance acoustics and airflow.
The new form does certainly contribute to a better fit for my ears. The AirPods 4 are more comfy and remain in place better than their predecessor. I never once felt like they were going to fall out when I was moving about, unless I rotated my head totally to the side to lay down. Open-fit earbuds often don’t feel the most secure in my ears, but they do, and one less worry contributed to a better overall experience using them. Of course, the most secure fit remains with the AirPods Pro.
There’s a force sensor on the stem of the AirPods 4. On both versions, you can use it to control music, take calls and summon Siri. Of course, hands-free access to Apple’s assistant is accessible on both versions as well. And on the ANC set, you may long press on the stem to toggle among Noise Control settings (ANC and transparency).
What you won’t find here are inbuilt volume controls. On the AirPods Pro 2, you can slide your finger on the stem to alter the level. That function is lacking on the AirPods 4. Apple advises you ask Siri to modify the volume, use your iPhone’s buttons, move the slider on the Lock Screen player or swipe over to the Control Center. There’s also the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch if you’re on the Now Playing screen. Honestly, it’s all a nuisance. Siri is too sluggish and reaching for something that’s not my headphones just makes me irritated. But, same trouble was present with the AirPods 3, so at least Apple is consistent.
Looking at the earbuds themselves, you won’t be able to identify the difference between the two versions of the AirPods 4. You can, however, tell them difference by glancing at their casings. The ANC variant includes a speaker in the casing to better aid Find My with beeps, therefore there are visible holes near the USB-C connector. On both AirPods 4, the LED indicator light is now concealed, so you don’t see an extinguished dot when it’s not on. What’s more, Apple eliminated the back button for connecting and resetting the earphones. Now, you’ll double touch near the LED to put the AirPods 4 in pairing mode. And you’ll double tap three times (six taps total) to activate a reset.
AirPods 4 Features
The H2 chip from the AirPods Pro enables numerous noticeable additional capabilities on the AirPods 4. Sure, some of functions are only accessible on the ANC model, but there are lots of beneficial features on the $129 option. On that new entry-level set, you’ll receive Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking — immersive listening that’s tuned to your hearing. The sound features also include 48kHz, “cinema-quality” audio for FaceTime and Adaptive EQ. And for calls, Apple’s recently announced Voice Isolation will give some extra aid when you’re accepting calls in less than optimal surroundings.
The last crucial aspect is Siri Interactions, which let you to accept or reject calls, react or dismiss messages and engage or ignore notifications. All of things are done with a nod or a shake of the head, so you’re free to accomplish those duties when you’d rather not talk or can’t access your phone. And like everything else, you can disable them if you’d rather do things the old fashioned way.
The AirPods 4 with ANC supports all those and then some. For $179, you’ll also get Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, wireless charging and transparency mode. Adaptive Audio comes in helpful when you face transient external noise, such a coffee grinder or running water, since the program instantly changes sound settings to retain the overall listening experience. Conversation Awareness provides a hand for fast talks so you don’t have to futz with the headphones to participate. However, I still wish Apple would totally halt the audio rather than merely decreasing the level. I found it annoying, and in some situations I felt I had to shout harder to project over sounds the other person couldn’t hear. (Apologies to my coffee shop barista if I was yelling while I thanked you.)
I’ll also note that transparency mode and ANC go hand in hand, so it’s not unexpected that a function to listen to ambient sound was deleted on the cheaper AirPods 4. And lastly, that case speaker on the ANC version will come in handy for Find My when you eventually forget the set. The ANC AirPods 4 case also only enables proximity view in Find My though, not the Precision Finding that AirPods Pro 2 gives.
Sound Quality
Apple provided the AirPods 4 with a newly built low-distortion 11mm driver and high dynamic range amplifier. The driver is created with a new membrane mesh as well as a new magnet, and altogether, it has increased excursion – or distance the cone can go. Importantly, Apple is able to deliver greater acoustic performance by driving the driver right into the ear rather than putting it off to the side. By doing this, the organization has decreased sound reflections that hampered overall clarity.
The “richer bass, crisp highs and even more instrument separation” are all statements that stand true when compared to AirPods 3. There’s more low-end tone than the previous model straight out of the gate, and the punchier treble widens the sound stage so it’s larger and more immersive. The enhanced frequency response is on full show with Dolby Atmos material (movies, music and TV), but the AirPods 4 are also more musically competent with non-spatial tunes and video.
That promised instrument separation is obvious on Tycho’s synth-laden Infinite Health. Rather than being squashed together, the synthesizers are all layered, duplicating the ambient ambiance the creator intended. Billy Strings’ Live Vol. 1 isn’t an Atmos album, but the AirPods 4 do a wonderful job with the finer aspects of the live recordings. You catch the reverb of the PA system, warmth of the upright bass and the subtle percussion in the bluegrass plucking. The acoustic instruments stand on their own, with lots of character studio songs don’t give. And for bass-heavy songs, like Kaytrana’s Timeless, the AirPods 4 offer lovely, pounding low-end that doesn’t overwhelm. Vocals nevertheless pierce through the mix, as does the rest of the electronic/hip-hop accompaniment.
ANC Performance on the AirPods 4
Active noise cancellation on open-design earphones is typically minimally effective. It’s quite difficult for the technology to give the type of peace from interruptions you presumably seek when your ears aren’t sealed off with an ear tip. Apple isn’t the first firm to do this, but I’d say it is the first to offer a solution that genuinely makes a difference.
Apple leverages the H2 processor and the same ultra-low-noise microphones from the AirPods Pro 2 to power the ANC arrangement on the AirPods 4. The primary purpose is to minimize low-frequency noise, which means you’ll notice the biggest impact on things like airline cabin hum, HVAC systems and city traffic. The business guarantees you’ll be able to listen to music and other media at lower volumes on the ANC model without distraction or concessions to audio quality, all owing to this method.
It’s not the world-blocking wizardry that Sony’s WF-1000XM5 and other devices that seal off your ears give, and it’s not quite as excellent as the AirPods Pro 2 either. But, for earphones with an open-wear design, the difference when ANC is enabled is truly perceptible. The AirPods 4 suffer with TV noise and human voices, but they do well with continual, low rumbling noises. On identical models I’ve tested from other brands, active noise canceling made little to no impact, and merely served to deplete the battery quicker. If you’re searching for something near to quiet, the AirPods 4 won’t offer you that. However, the earbuds will produce a noise reduction that will put a dent in boisterous surroundings, and do so most successfully with low-frequency sounds.
Read Also: Review of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Call Quality
AirPods are popular alternatives for hands-free conversations, so Apple has enhanced how you sound while taking voice and video calls. Voice Isolation is an H2-powered tool that Apple says “isolates and enhances your voice,” and is a new feature for the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. Essentially, it reduces background noise to keep you sounding your best while you’re in loud surroundings.
With compatible AirPods, like the fourth-gen model, Voice Isolation is on by default for calls and FaceTime video, but you can turn it off under microphone settings on iOS, iPad and Mac. The capability also works with any third-party apps that use CallKit, such WebEx, Zoom, WhatsApp and more. Like the ANC, this is another incredible effort from Apple. Voice Isolation absolutely excludes loud fans, running water and other would-be distractions for the person on the other end. I did detect a very tiny difference in overall speech quality, but it’s a reasonable trade-off for seeming like you’re in a silent room when you’re not.
AirPods 4 Battery Life
Apple claims you should anticipate five hours of battery life on both versions of the AirPods 4. With ANC activated on the costlier model, you’ll get one hour less of play time. Both of the AirPods 4 offer five charges in the case, which increases total useable time to 30 hours. Apple adds that all of the claimed battery estimates are at 50 percent loudness with Spatial Audio disabled. For the ANC version, the business claims the estimations also involve deactivating Conversation Awareness.
50 percent volume won’t be loud enough for most folks on iOS, so I ran my testing at roughly 70 percent there. Around 50 percent is fine enough on Mac, though. Using a mixture of those two settings across the devices, and employing a mix of both ANC and transparency mode while playing spatial audio and conventional material, I got four hours out of the noise-canceling AirPods 4 with no trouble. I had no difficulties hitting the specified amount on the non-ANC version either.
Conclusion
With the noise-canceling AirPods 4, Apple has closed the gap between the entry level model and the AirPods Pro. The ANC version receives virtually all of what makes the AirPods Pro 2 so amazing, save for the most effective noise cancellation, the future hearing health features and a few other items. However, a $179 set of AirPods isn’t a fantastic value right now with the AirPods Pro 2 available for almost the same price if you catch them on sale. The $129 AirPods 4 is a considerable advance over the previous iteration nevertheless, and they’re a worthwhile update for lovers of the simple, non-ANC formula. The decision then becomes if you like the open design and can live without the Pro’s frills. Both versions of the AirPods 4 have their benefits, but for once, pricing won’t be a decisive factor when selecting between two Apple goods.