Verdict
I am a huge fan of the AirPods 4 with ANC . If you ’ve struggled with the in - spike design of the Pro model , these offer many of the same feature in a less intrusive plan . The case is ridiculously lilliputian , and the battery liveliness is effective . You get all the common AirPods features , like frosty pairing with multiple devices , plus useful new additions like USB - C.
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Apple ’s recent round of drinks of AirPod updates are here , and there are now two versions to pick out from – AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC .
It ’s the latter I have been screen for over two weeks , set up the new ANC features to the test over land , sea and atmosphere to see whether or not these are thebest AirPods , or whether you might as well just pay more and go all out for theAirPods Pro 2 .
While the naming is a little clunky , you could almost think of these as an AirPods ProLight – or an AirPods 4Plus .
They not only have participating dissonance cancellation , something the stock AirPods 4 do n’t , but a smarter example and more charging option too . For an extra £ 50 / $ 50 , the selection seems obvious .
Design
Like previous iterations of the ‘ received ’ AirPods , the AirPods 4 with ANC do n’t sink into your ear canal like the Pro model , rather resting just inside the ear .
While many are ok with the sensation of the Pros in - ear design , I have sex just as many hoi polloi who just ca n’t deal with it . This style of earbud is far less intrusive and will be an light recommendation to many as a result – particularly as it packs ANC , too .
The AirPods 4 espouse much of the same design direction as the former version , although the case is low and lighter ( 34 g as opposed to 37 g ) and a niggling more pocketable . The chassis of the bud is slimly different too , and I think they ’re more comfortable on the whole .
Each bud has a sensor – Apple call it a Force Sensor – which can be weigh to pause medicine , or held down to switch ANC modes . Unlike the AirPods Pro , you ca n’t swipe down on the bud to alter volume .
Being plastic buds without any silicone lead does intend that if they do n’t fit snugly into your ear there ’s no direction to alter the tantrum . It ’s very much a one sizeshouldfit all . Luckily for me , they match – I can throw off my capitulum and they stay in shoes ; I can bleed without them go down out and so on . Not everyone will be so favourable .
The case has picked up a few raw feature from the AirPods Pro , admit a speaker for audio alarm from discover My and a USB - coulomb larboard ( rather than Lightning ) for lodge . There ’s no lanyard loop though , and you take to take the specific ANC - toting version to get the speaker – the regular AirPods 4 want this .
Features
ANC , or combat-ready racket cancellation , is the openhanded addition here and this is the first meter Apple has added this lineament to any buds but the AirPods Pro . it ’s a welcome gain , even if its performance is n’t a complete success .
Typically , you ’ll see ANC on earbuds that swallow into your ear canal – like the AirPods Pro – rather than one that rest in the capitulum like this . We have reviewed a couple of standardised products , theHuawei FreeBuds 5springs to beware , but the ANC performance has typically been so poor it ’s hardly worth experience .
It ’s a different story here . If you really ca n’t parcel out with that feeling of earbuds proceed down your ear canal then this version of the AirPods 4 is the dear choice . I ’ve worn these buds on three plane trips , multiple London Underground rides , a Eurostar journey to Belgium and in a meddling power and in each instance the benefit of ANC has been clear .
I ’ll make it light that the AirPods Pro still have superior ANC . The AirPods 4 with ANC tend to subdue auditory sensation , rather than completely remove it . It works very well at take vexing authority chatter and some of the rale of a wagon train , but it sputter with the thunder of a plane engine .
On the London Underground , you could still hear the high - frequency noises , but some of the small rattles are take away . It ’s the same when walk down a busy road : loud sounds from machinery still do through ; a car lead past tense is dampen .
Still , it does assist in example where the previous AirPods would have been almost useless . I could never wear AirPods on a flight , for example , whereas now I could . It ’s those little illustration where even though the ANC does n’t immobilize out everything , it blocks out enough .
While you ca n’t directly control the strength of the ANC – an Adaptive option does this automatically – you’re able to enable a Transparency mode that allows noise through in instance where you need to hear something . Apple has develop a very good Transparency mode across all of its audio products and again it works very well here . vocalism get through of course without any robotic tones and it is gentle to enable just by holding down the bud .
There is a mode called Conversation Awareness , which purportedly have the Transparency mood kick it mechanically when a spokesperson is get wind , but I have not had much luck here with it too often recognising cough and sneezes as voices . In the close , I just turned it off .
AirPods can connect via Bluetooth to any gimmick , although many of the good features are reserve for Apple ’s own ecosystem devices . Spatial Audio , for example , command Apple Music and a supported iPhone , iPad or Mac , while there ’s no way to pull off any of the circumstance if you ’re on Android .
Audio from one lot of AirPods can be deal with another , so two masses can take in the same film on an iPad . This is a neat pinch , and it works well . partner off AirPods with an iPhone is also very easy , and once they ’re connected to a equipment associated with your Apple ID , they appear everywhere .
Battery aliveness is good , although not the very good on the marketplace . Apple claims the buds can last for four hr with ANC on and five with it off and in my tests , these results look to be straight . I ’d even go as far as enounce if you keep the volume lower , the ANC number are close to five hours . You ’ll then get between a further four or five charges with the fount , depending on your preferences .
Apple has shift to USB - ampere-second , ditching the Lightning port from another product . This is respectable for those enjoyment using newer iPhones , although it ’ll stand for two line for those using older hardware . Wireless charge corpse and you’re able to charge these with an Apple Watch charger too , which is a squeamish hint .
Sound Quality
The AirPod range has never been a home campaign for audio quality , instead offering a middling hunt - of - the - factory speech sound that adapts well to all genre . These are earbuds for the masses , not for those who will forego extra functionality for a 100 % focal point on sound .
With that being say , these are the best sound AirPods yet and are n’t too far off the AirPods Pro 2 .
The good affair is that whether you ’re listening to bass - heavy club strain from Charli XCX or more vocal - focussed songs from London Grammar , the AirPods 4 do a good problem .
There ’s a bright energy to the officious beats in Charli XCX ’s guessing , with the vocals managing to ward off being lost in the fleshy backing track . This is a very bassy song too , and these buds do a ripe line of work of relay that .
Something more downbeat , with distinct cat’s-paw and softer vocal music , like Fontaines DC ’s In The Modern World also sounds good , with a nice amount of atmosphere created and a wide soundstage . There could be a little more clarity , and you do get this on the AirPods Pro , but it ’s an melioration over theAirPods 3 .
I ’ve also scramble to be blow aside by Atmos mix of songs playing in Spatial Audio from Apple Music . There ’s modified immersion here compared to the big AirPods and you need to be listen to a really good mix to hear anything different . Jamie XX ’s In Waves voice virtually the same in Atmos or without , as does Supersonic from Oasis .
The open nature of the buds does mean that I have found sound is best when you ’re listening in a tranquil room , or with the ANC on . In louder environment , too many intrusive noises can dampen things down . I noticed this a lot with podcasts and audiobooks , where I ’d need to jack the volume up eminent . Sound also lean to leak out out , which can annoy people next to you . You do n’t get this as much with in - capitulum bud .
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Should you buy it?
The open spirit of these earbuds will be a keen benefit to many , particularly as they now have the benefit of ANC too .
The ANC here is welcome , and in many situation , it works . In tougher scenarios though , like on a flight of steps , you ’ll do better with theAirPods Pro 2 – or theAirPods Max .
Final Thoughts
For many , theAirPods Pro 2are thebest AirPods – specially as they often spend down in damage to around the same as the AirPods 4 with ANC . Apple ’s high - end buds sound intimately , do n’t leak sound recording and have solid ANC thanks to their in - capitulum design .
But , and this is important , if you do n’t like the whiz of earbuds swallow down your ear canal and want a less intrusive oblation , I ca n’t commend the AirPods 4 enough . They have the best ANC for this style of earbud around , and pick up a identification number of caliber - of - life update too – likeFind Mysupport , USB - C and tweaked conception that ’s both smaller overall and more well-heeled .
legal quality is n’t incisively audiophile - favorable and some of the subtler aspects of euphony are lost . They still fathom expert though , and the ANC permit the euphony to stay in your capitulum a little unspoiled than before . You ’ll find better - sounding bud at this price if that is your master concern .
There ’s a £ 50 / $ 50 difference of opinion in price between the AirPods 4 and the ANC model – for me , pay the extra price as it ’s worth it . Not only does the ANC make these buds prosperous to wear in various loud environments , but you also get wireless charging and detect My supporting inside the case .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test all the earphone we review thoroughly over an extended point of sentence . We use industry standard test to liken features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we bump . We never , ever , accept money to refresh a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics insurance policy .
FAQs
No , you postulate to provide your own line here . If you ’ve got an iPhone 16 or 15 , you’re able to apply that cable here . There ’s also Qi wireless charging , MagSafe and you could charge via the Apple Watch charger too .
