AirPods 4 Review: The Active Noise Cancellation That Users of the Entry-Level AirPods Deserved

• The new AirPods 4 are better due to the addition of several features from the Pro lineup but at an affordable price.

• Despite costing $50 more, the AirPods 4 with ANC offers a far better experience than the model without this feature.

This year, Apple has embarked on the adventure of revamping the iconic product in its catalog that has been the biggest design inspiration for the current consumer market: the AirPods.

The new AirPods 4 come in two versions: with and without active noise cancellation (ANC). In addition to having interesting prices, Apple designed them for particular users: those who don’t need closed-back headphones to enjoy their music or media content and those for whom in-ear headphones, such as the AirPods Pro, are uncomfortable. Or perhaps out of their budget since they cost about $100 more. The result, which we’ve managed to test at Xataka On, is pretty spectacular.

AirPods 4 Specs

Comfort vs. Sound Isolation

Apple is simplifying its headphone lineup by moving from the previous “basic” AirPods to the new AirPods 4. The entry-level lineup now consists of AirPods 4 in two versions.

With a $50 price difference ($129 vs. $179), you can buy the new basic AirPods 4 or opt for the more exciting AirPods 4 with ANC. These in-ear headphones also have other improvements associated with the noise cancellation technology, such as the fantastic Adaptive Audio feature.

Choosing between one set of headphones or the other depends only on whether you want this ANC feature or not. They’re identical at the design level. In fact, in my test (I had the two versions of AirPods 4 simultaneously), I was careful not to mix charging cases or earphones of the two versions because it was impossible to distinguish one model from the other.

The AirPods 4 are wireless in-ear earphones that don’t sit as tightly in the ear canal as the Pro models.

Some people may find AirPods 4 more comfortable to wear for long periods, as they put less pressure on your ears. On the other hand, there’s no grip and sound isolation capability to make noise cancellation more effective.

In fact, the AirPods 4 are very comfortable to wear for extended periods. Without silicon tips to hold them in place, their comfort and grip depend entirely on the contoured design that Apple has given them.

The new AirPods 4 fit snugly but lack the secure grip of the Pro model. They stay in place in most situations. However, I always felt that I could accidentally throw them away.

I noticed that the AirPods 4 didn’t have as much grip during sudden head movements, such as when you bend over or turn your head sharply. The same applies for sports.

However, I invited several people to try the earbuds. Some found the new AirPods 4 more comfortable than the Pro models, which I also offered to get their impressions.

One of the good choices Apple has made in the design of the headphones is the shorter body, which makes the AirPods 4 more discreet and manageable. The company didn’t sacrifice the integrated controls thanks to a new pressure sensor that allows users to control audio playback and calls by simply touching a specific area.

However, these earbuds don’t support gesture control like the AirPods Pro 2. The user cannot control the integrated volume, which is a pity.

But it’s not the only way to decide whether to answer a call. The AirPods 4 support head gestures to answer or decline calls or message alerts

Finally, the new AirPods 4 have an IP54 certification, making them resistant to dust, sweat, and water in intense workouts or rain. The charging case has the same level of resistance to these everyday elements.

A Smaller Case

AirPods 4 users can store and charge their earphones in a case with new dimensions. It may seem like a small change, but I enjoyed carrying virtually nothing in my pocket during my tests.

The charging case has a USB-C port. However, the case of the AirPods 4 with ANC also offers wireless charging. In this way, users can place it on the Apple Watch charger or any Qi-certified charger. Many Apple multi-device charging mounts can charge some AirPods cases wirelessly.

Another exciting feature of the charging case of AirPods 4 with ANC is that it includes a small speaker that works with the Find My app. For those who are prone to losing things, it’s a “life-saving” function.

The Apple Ecosystem Is Very Comfortable

Without offering the best sound quality on the market or the best ANC for the price users pay, the new AirPods 4 fit in perfectly with the Apple ecosystem. They’re unrivaled.

If you have an Apple device like an iPhone 16 Pro, open the AirPods 4 case to link them to your Apple ID. Then, the headphones will be paired with all of your Apple devices, so you can use them on all of them without having to pair your earphones again.

The experience of using the AirPods 4 with Apple services and devices is extensive. In addition to the integration with the Find My app, you can interact with Siri by nodding or shaking your head. You can also use two pairs of AirPods connected to the same device to listen to media content.

This ease of use carries over to the configuration options. There’s no dedicated app, but the options—not many of them—are in the iPhone’s Settings. You’ll see them there once you pair your AirPods 4.

Users can configure the few options in the headphone section, which focuses exclusively on control alternatives and noise reduction modes. There’s no equalization or settings related to pure sound options. As with the camera, Apple’s philosophy is for users to trust the company and its Adaptive EQ technology, which works very well. However, the fact that it doesn’t offer more configuration options is a disadvantage.

There’s also room for Adaptive Audio options and Spatial Audio mode, which users can customize by using the iPhone camera to “scan” the shape of their ears.

AirPods 4: Versatility Without Sacrificing Sound Quality

As much as I talk about the convenience of the headphones or the ease of integrating them into the same ecosystem with all your devices, audio quality is what really matters when users are checking out these devices.

Apple designed the AirPods 4 for the broadest consumer market imaginable. So, in addition to Adaptive EQ technology, they have specifications intended to satisfy the widest range of users. That means they can be used to listen to all types of content, musical and otherwise.

The AirPods 4’s heart is the H2 chip and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, which clearly indicates that the head-end codec is AAC. Users will have to wait for Apple Lossless technology, but these aren’t the best headphones for that.

The sound of the AirPods 4 is closer than ever to that of the AirPods Pro 2 without the reduced sound isolation. However, for the average listener, the experience is very similar.

The sound is clear and quite crisp in the mid-frequencies. The bass presence is balanced, and the new low-distortion transducer and high-dynamic range amplifier are excellent for Apple’s revamped basic AirPods.

I was pleasantly stunned by the wide soundstage, especially its depth. The lack of distortion below 75-80% of the maximum listening volume also surprised me.

I think the AirPods 4 will be well-suited for different uses. Calls, podcasts, and other content where listening to conversations is key provide excellent experiences. In these cases, the ANC system helps when listening to podcasts or making calls.

Users will appreciate the surround sound in Dolby Atmos content and Spatial Audio for media content. It may not be for everyone, but it helps you enjoy shows and movies.

Everything I said about the sound quality of the AirPods 4 applies to the model with ANC and the basic one. However, as I’ve said several times earlier, given the difference in price and extra features, I recommend opting for the more complete version of the AirPods 4.

Enough Noise Cancellation for Everyday Use

Considering that Apple didn’t design the AirPods 4 to provide complete noise isolation from the outside world, the arrival of ANC is excellent news.

The H2 chip gives the AirPods 4 an excellent ANC performance in environments where low-frequency ambient noise dominates. During tests, the headphones completely canceled out continuous traffic noise and sounds like rooftop air conditioning. However, users may miss the lack of passive noise isolation from the AirPods Pro 2’s silicon ear tips during conversations.

Yes, the AirPods 4 are more comfortable. Still, the grip and especially the passive isolation don’t compete with the features of the AirPods Pro 2.

Knowing that these aren’t noise-isolating earphones, the result is very successful. They offer versatility for listening to music, podcasts, and other audio content in environments that are a daily source of non-high-level noise. In addition, users won’t experience the sometimes-overwhelming feeling of being completely isolated from the world around them.

In addition to the proper functioning of noise cancellation, what I liked most about using these AirPods 4 (especially the model with ANC) was the excellent implementation of Apple’s adjustment options.

Beyond basic noise cancellation options, the AirPods 4 already allow functions that, until now, users only had on the company’s Pro models.

The most powerful feature is Adaptive Audio, which adapts the earphones’ operation and noise cancellation to different everyday situations. It can mitigate very loud ambient noise to protect the user’s ears or automatically lower the volume when a conversation begins (and it works perfectly, returning the volume to its previous state when the conversation ends).

It’s a radical change not to have to take your earbuds off to talk with someone. You’ll be able to hear them perfectly without raising the volume of your voice even though you have the earphones on.

Of course, if you want to have a long conversation with someone, you better take off your AirPods 4. However, the Adaptive Audio feature will help when you ask questions while walking down the street with your headphones on. It will also come in handy if you want to respond to something specific a person said while listening to music, a show, and a podcast completely isolated from ambient noise.

The Charging Case Is Always Close at Hand

Talking about autonomy in a pair of earphones, especially when they have ANC and other features that rely heavily on their processor, is complicated. It also depends on how you use them and the volume at which you usually listen to your favorite media content.

Apple claims the AirPods 4 have up to 5 hours of battery life if you use them without ANC mode and one hour less with noise cancellation enabled. I used them intensively during my review, and their battery life was more or less what the company states.

With Adaptive Audio on about 50% of the time and ANC on the rest, the average battery life of the AirPods 4 was closer to four hours than five. So, if you’re a heavy headphones user, you’ll need to keep the charging case nearby.

With the charging case, you should expect an average of about 30 hours of battery life.

Integrating the remaining charge info of both the headphones and the case into the operating system of Apple products helps you stay informed of the battery life.

Integrating the remaining charge info of both the headphones and the case into the operating system of Apple products helps you stay informed of the battery life.

AirPods 4: Xataka’s Opinion

With the number of in-ear earphones on the market inspired by the spirit of the original AirPods, either associated with a reputable brand or sold at flea markets, Apple had to take a step forward with the new AirPods 4, its entry-level line.

It’s done so by offering a model without ANC that’s easy to use and offers excellent audio quality. However, it also offers a version that includes the noise cancellation feature that more consumers demand for everyday use, not just in noisy environments.

With the AirPods 4 with ANC, Apple offers a decent noise cancellation that’s not complete given the lack of passive sound isolation but, above all, stands out for its different modes of use. Adaptive Audio stands out among these features, which generally invites the user to activate it by default.

It’s fantastic that playback volume and noise isolation automatically, reliably, and transparently adapt to the user, both when it comes to the environment and the person’s situation. People no longer seem isolated from their surroundings or potentially stupid for trying to carry on a conversation or say something to another person while wearing earphones.

Of course, the device doesn’t offer total noise cancellation, and the headphones might not fit everyone’s ear canal. However, given that the AirPods 4 offer a slightly different use profile than closed-back headphones, they seem like a good choice for sound quality and user experience.

Images | Xataka On

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These devices have been loaned for testing by Apple. You can check how we test new products at Xataka On and our Corporate Relations Policy.