AirPods 4 Review: Is This Apple’s Best Version Yet?

As a longtime Apple AirPods 3 user, I was excited to preview the release of the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC), to test whether any updates would be worth it financially and functionally. I considered the AirPods 4 across a number of categories, looking at sound quality, functionality, design, price point, and more. Read on for my in-depth review and to find out if the AirPods 4 are worth it for you!

Unboxing and first impressions

Clean, modern, and minimalist, the AirPods 4 are everything you’d expect from an Apple product. They arrive in a sleek white box, within which you’ll find the AirPods housed inside a small white charging case. If you’re familiar with the AirPods 3, not much has changed about the packaging between the 3 and the 4—with one notable exception: The AirPods 4 don’t come with a charging cable. Both the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC require USB-C cables to charge, and since I didn’t have one, I had to purchase an additional charging cable to use the AirPods 4. This added an extra expense and it meant I was unable to use my AirPods for a few days—after they initially ran out of battery and before my cable had arrived. This was frustrating for me, and may be for other users, as well.

AirPods 4 Pros and cons

AirPods 4 Price

Currently listed on Amazon at $119 for the regular AirPods 4 and $169 for the AirPods 4 with active noise canceling, these earpods are an appealing deal. The AirPods 4 regular version is currently listed at the same price as the AirPods 3, which is especially exciting for the budget-conscious shopper looking to upgrade.

Apple link, regular ($129)

Apple link, ANC ($179)

AirPods 4 specifications

• Drivers: Custom high-excursion Apple driver
• Active noise cancellation: Apple 4 (no), Apple 4 with ANC (yes)
• Battery life: 30 hours with charger, five hours of listening time
• Weight: 1.14 ounces
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
• Frequency range: 30-50 feet
• Waterproofing: Both the AirPods and the case are IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant

AirPods 4 key features

Personalized spacial audio

One interesting feature on the AirPods 4 is spatial audio. Once you set this up, you can change how you receive sounds, whether that be fixed or head tracked audio. Head tracked movements in particular can give you a unique audio experience for TV, games, and more. These features won’t be for everyone, but it’s another great option to have. 

Adaptive audio

Adaptive audio is a good way to choose whether to let in more or less noise. This will allow you to customize levels depending on the environment, which can definitely help with clarity during phone calls. While you may not use this all the time, it is very nice to have hands-on control for noise adjustment. 

Redesigned charging case

I’m happy with any reduction in the size of the charging case, and the AirPods 4 case is now 10% smaller than the previous version. Another nice feature for the AirPods 4 is the addition of USB-C connectivity. With the rest of our devices quickly migrating towards USB-C, it's good to see Apple finally adding USB-C which has faster data transfer than any USB connection yet. 

App

Since the case and earphones themselves don’t feature a battery life indicator, it's important to have quick access to this kind of vital information. Apple has created an easy widget that you can add to your homepage to show your battery life. In addition, you can find out your battery life by simply opening up the (unplugged) case in front of your phone with airpods inside, and an indicator will pop up which tells you the remaining power of both case and AirPods. 

Contoured fit

There have always been those who say that AirPods just don’t fit properly in their ears, with some even claiming they fall out frequently and often at inopportune times. While I’ve never had an issue with AirPods fitting properly, I was impressed with how the AirPods 4 seem to be even better designed. They fit perfectly in my ears: I never worried about them falling out, and they also weren’t so snug as to be uncomfortable. Both versions of the AirPods 4 feature this new better-fitting design, adding more stability and engineered to fall less frequently from your ears.

AirPods 4 performance

Sound 

One of the most obvious improvements for the AirPods 4 is its audio performance. Now with personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, conversation awareness (ANC version), and transparency mode (ANC version), the sound quality feels more nuanced and modern. As far as audio output, the AirPods 4 sound terrific, most notably, with crisp high-end sounds, which should be instantly noticeable to those who previously used the AirPods 3. 

Battery life 

When including the charging case, the AirPods 4 offers a whopping 30 hours of talk time. However, this is not an improvement from the previous AirPods 3. In fact, the AirPods 3 offers six hours of listening time while the AirPods 4 only allows five. While that might not be a huge issue for some users, it’s disappointing to not see an upgrade with battery life, and somewhat surprising to see an overall regression. 

Bluetooth range

The Bluetooth range for the AirPods 4 is about 30 to 50 feet, which is around the same as the AirPods 3. However, the AirPods 4 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3, which means faster speeds, less issues with connection, and better security while in use. While the lack of improvement in actual Bluetooth range is disappointing, the upgrade to Bluetooth 5.3 is a nice bonus.  

Microphone

Like AirPods 3, the AirPods 4 come equipped with dual beamforming microphones, as well as an inward-facing microphone. In practical use, I found that the AirPods 4’s microphone performance was slightly better than the AirPods 3. 

Voice calling performance

Both versions of the AirPods 4 offered mostly crystal clear calls. The noise reduction qualities of both earphones made it much easier to hear calls. The improved high end frequencies for the AirPods 4 made voice calls more clear and reduced the struggle to hear another caller. The ANC version of the AirPods 4 was even better at limiting the outside environmental noise. 

Case

The AirPods 4 charging case has now been designed to be 10% smaller, allowing it to fit even easier in your pocket or purse. Since it is generally good practice to keep your earphones in the case when they are not in use, any size reduction on the case is welcome. The case stays closed with the help of magnets, but I found that this iteration of the case closed a bit too strongly, occasionally resulting in a pinched finger or two. The case still has the same durable exterior and same smooth design as previous versions. 

Active Noise Canceling 

While not everyone places a high priority on active noise canceling, those who do will be very pleased with the ANC version of the AirPods 4. And even those who choose to buy the regular version of the AirPods 4 will find increased noise canceling capability just based on the fact that the buds fit better in your ears. The ANC earphones offer many features, like adaptive audio and transparency mode, which can really improve your listening experience. The ANC version does an excellent job of allowing more of the sounds you want to hear and eliminating those you don’t. 

Design and build quality

Apple has been known for beautifully simple designs for decades, and the AirPods 4 live up to that reputation. Like the 3rd version, the AirPods 4 are fairly comfortable and almost always stay in my ears with little pain and adjustment. The controls of the AirPods 4 are quite simple and easy to use. The charging case for the AirPods 4 is very useful because it organizes, protects and also charges your earbuds. The case itself also seems durable which is helpful because if you’re anything like me, you’ll remain glued to your AirPods 4.

The AirPods 4 weighs only 1.14 ounces, slightly lighter than the AirPods 3, which tips the scale at 1.34 ounces. While the difference is small, it’s still welcome. For perspective, the AirPods Pro 2 weighs about 1.79 ounces, so not a bad improvement from other products. The weight of each earbud remains the same as the previous version, coming in at just 0.15 ounces. There is a slight difference in the size of the earpod on the AirPods 4, with the depth of each one coming in at 0.71 inches, as opposed to the previous 0.76 for the AirPods 3. In addition, Apple has added some contoured shape to the earbud which helps them stay more securely in your ears.

AirPods 4 compared to AirPods 3rd generation

While there are very small changes in size and shape, the AirPods 4 don’t initially seem much different from the AirPods 3. But the audio improvements and sound performance of the AirPods 4 are where things get more interesting. With the new H2 chip from Apple, the AirPods 4 offers clearer calls with voice isolation, which helps you hear your calls better, especially in loud crowded areas. The AirPods 4 (ANC) is especially exceptional when trying to block out unwanted sounds.

Like the AirPods 3, both versions of the AirPods 4 lack any ability to change volume on the earbuds. That means you have to change the volume using your phone itself or Siri. On many Bluetooth earbuds today, it’s common to be able to change the volume directly on the earbuds, so I found this frustrating. However, those of us who have been already using AirPods 3 or before are already accustomed to this design feature.

I was initially skeptical that the updated shape of the earbuds would increase stability, but it does stop them from moving around in your ears as much as the AirPods 3 do. However, some users might find this a little frustrating because they do feel a little tighter in your ears and might feel more restrictive, allowing for less movement. Some users have told me that previous versions of the AirPods always fall out for them, so maybe these fit enhancements will be the answer. I did find that this change, along with the other sizing adjustments, allowed the AirPods to fit better in my ears and even offered a passive improvement in blocking out some noise. The regular AirPods 4 does not offer the sound blockage available on the active noise canceling version, but the improvement was definitely still noticeable.

AirPods 4: Is it for you?

What seems like long ago, I was loyal to my Apple wired earphones. When a friend kept begging me to at least try some wireless earbuds from Apple, I felt embarrassed to have not used them sooner. Since then I’ve been an AirPod disciple. Whether you’re at work, grocery shopping, listening to a podcast, or simply walking home, AirPods take the hassle and frustration out of fighting a wire every day, and are also fantastic headphones for working out, allowing you to focus more completely while moving around.

The AirPods 4 in particular offer a range of great features. They pair so seamlessly with your phone, and thanks to the addition of the H2 chip, they sound fantastic. The H2 chip also offers improvements to Siri. Those who prefer an even more hands-free experience will be happy to see features like the ability to answer calls with simply a nod, or denying a call by shaking your head. Both the AirPods 4 (regular) and AirPods 4 (ANC) feature adaptive EQ which gives a very personalized audio feel. Based on things like the shape of your ear, the EQ is adjusted and then saved. This is a useful and powerful feature showcasing the power of the Apple H2 chip.

But, are the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation worth the additional price? That depends on how important audio is for you. Features such as Voice Isolation and Transparency Mode do offer incredible audio control and are not available on the regular AirPods 4. The noise canceling capability of the AirPods 4 (ANC) made a vast difference whenever I turned it on. While the AirPods 4 provides some much needed noise reduction on its own, the AirPods 4 (ANC) are clearly superior in this department. Active noise canceling will consume more of your battery, and while it may not justify the price increase for everyone, it’s definitely appealing for those who place a high value on silence and clarity.

Final verdict

With a price that is now around $120 for the regular version, these are a great buy. The AirPods 4 (ANC) is about $60 more, but for the amount of noise canceling capability it provides, this doesn’t seem like an unreasonable price. Battery life, Bluetooth range, and size haven’t changed much, if at all, from the previous version. But the audio changes are notable and a place where the AirPods 4 shine. The improvements on call noise is very welcome and music sounds fantastic on the AirPods 4, especially with the ANC version. While it might seem silly to upgrade mostly for audio enhancements, the AirPods 4 are definitely worth the money—and they might just be the best version yet.