AirPods 4 bring professional-grade features to Apple’s non-Pro earbuds. Apple also tweaked the design to make them more comfortable and secure. And they come with improved audio quality, too.
There are two models: the affordable entry-level earbuds and higher-end models with active noise cancellation. The ANC is fairly good, which is a surprise because the earbuds don’t have foam in-ear tips like AirPods Pro 2.
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The similar-looking higher-end earbuds add active noise cancellation. This was previously only available on the AirPods Pro, with in-ear rubber tips; and the AirPods Max over-the-ear headphones. The earbuds themselves are identical on the outside, with a clean white design.
Adding active noise cancellation adds $50 to the price.
While the noise cancellation is twice as powerful on the AirPods Pro 2, according to Apple, our reviewer was impressed by its effectiveness.
All AirPods come with a charging case that stores the earbuds safely while silently charging them up.
You can get an additional case for your charging case, which helps you personalize your AirPods and identify yours from friends and family. Some are made of hard plastic, which adds additional drop protection. If you’d like something lighter weight, there are plenty of options made of a thinner, softer material.
AirPods 4 add a few features compared to the older AirPods 3, like Voice Isolation and Personalized Volume. This is thanks to the internal H2 chip, upgraded from the older H1 chip. The shape of the buds is also subtly different, and the case is smaller. The charging case also uses USB-C instead of Lightning and is dust-resistant.
The models with Active Noise Cancellation add many more smart features: Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness. These models come with a case that can also be charged using an Apple Watch charger or Qi charger, and has a built-in speaker for Find My.
Both models use Apple’s H2 chip, which provides instant smart pairing across all your Apple devices. The AirPods Pro 2 have an extra hour of battery life in the buds themselves, but both have 30 hours of battery life when including the case.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Pro 2 have many of the same smart features: Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and more. These dynamically blend noise cancellation with outside sounds to make sure you can hear your music but stay aware of your environment. The entry-level earbuds do not have these smart features.
The higher-end models with ANC come with a nicer charging case, like the AirPods Pro 2. Only these models have a case that can be charged using an Apple Watch charger or Qi charger. These models also have a speaker built into the case for Find My. The case that comes with the basic AirPods 4 does not have these features.
Both models of AirPods 4 were announced on September 9, 2024 at Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event. They were announced alongside the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, Satin Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 and AirPods Max with USB-C.
Both models were available for preorder that same day, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning on September 20, 2024.
Apple redesigned AirPods 4 for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. The earbuds feature the Apple-designed H2 chip with Voice Isolation that improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions.
This version does not include active noise cancellation, but Apple does offer AirPods 4 with ANC for a slightly higher price.
The entry-level models without ANC are available from Apple for $129. Amazon often has these on sale at lower prices.
Apple's entry-level earbuds add noise cancellation to the mix. They don't use silicone tips, so some noise seeps in, but features like Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode and Personalized Spatial Audio make them a winner.
The higher-end models with active noise cancellation are available from Apple for $179. These are often discounted on Amazon at lower prices as well.
In our own review, we were impressed with their enhanced sound quality, particularly the significantly improved bass, and the inclusion of active noise cancellation. However, it’s noticeably less effective than the ANC in AirPods Pro due to the absence of silicone ear tips.
We appreciated the comfort upgrades and secure fit, though the difference from the previous generation was subtle. Features like Conversation Awareness, which smartly pauses audio when you speak, work very well, while Personalized Volume was more frustrating than helpful. And using these smart features reduce battery life.
The seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem remains a standout benefit of AirPods to competitors. Other reviewers had similar experiences.
Connecting your AirPods to an iPhone, Mac, iPad or other Apple device is easy. Unlock it, open the lid of your AirPods, and hold them nearby. You should see a popup; tap Connect. And that’s it!
All your devices that are signed into the same Apple Account will be able to instantly pair or switch to your AirPods as well.
To use your AirPods 4 with a MacBook, use the instructions above.
To connect them to a PC laptop, you can use them like typical Bluetooth earbuds. Open the case with the earbuds inside, then double-tap the front of the case. The status light should flash white. Then, you’ll be able to pair them like Bluetooth headphones.
If basic features refuse to work properly, you may want to know how to reset your AirPods. There are a variety of steps you can try. Try them one at a time until they work normally.
You’ll also want to reset your AirPods if you intend to give them to someone else, resell or trade them in. In that case, you should follow all the steps below.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation have dropped to near their Black Friday low at just $99.99. Amazon’s stock of entry-level AirPods 4 (without ANC) seems depleted, because those earbuds shot up to cost more than their more sophisticated siblings!
With the “regular” AirPods 4 AWOL from holiday sales, you should jump on this deal on AirPods 4 with ANC if you want to gift a pair of Apple’s affordable earbuds.
These excellent Cyber Monday deals on all AirPods models make Apple’s lineup of trend-setting headphones more affordable than ever.
Whether you want Apple’s entry-level earbuds (AirPods 4, with or without active noise cancellation), the amazingly versatile AirPods Pro 3 or the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max headphones, you can be sure that the latest models will work like a charm with all your Apple devices.
They’re even better when you can snag them at a discount — and most of these Black Friday deals drop AirPods to their lowest prices yet!
A new open-source app called LibrePods aims to make the AirPods experience on Android nearly as good as on an iPhone.
Currently, Androids do not officially support AirPods. You can technically pair Apple’s earbuds with Android phones, but you won’t be able to access most of coolest features.
I put AirPods’ new Live Translation feature to the test and came away impressed with the results.
I tested the feature with the help of Niléane, a native French speaker and fellow tech blogger. While we hit a few stumbling blocks in our conversation, we were able to have a perfectly good chat for a solid 10 minutes.
I cut it down to a seven-minute video, where you can see it for yourself. Keep reading for my full thoughts and analysis of the fantastic new feature.
AirPods have a new trick that lets them work as a camera remote. Simply pressing the earbuds’ stem can control your iPhone’s Camera app and snap a picture. This proves helpful when you want to set your iPhone to take a large group photo with you in it.
However, the feature is off by default. You need to activate it. Here’s what to do.
You don’t have to buy the just-announced AirPods Pro 3 just to get Apple’s new Live Translation feature. The AI-powered communication option is coming to older models of wireless earbuds, too.
An iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence is required as well.
Apple now makes it easy to install prerelease AirPods firmware on your wireless earbuds. The company once reserved this option for only a select few developers. But now, anyone willing to put potentially buggy software on their AirPods can try upcoming features early.
The temptation is understandable. The upcoming iOS 26 brings a range of enhancements to Apple earbuds, but you need unreleased AirPods firmware to take advantage of them. Install the beta AirPods software, and you can try out improved audio recording, auto-pause when sleeping, and many other new features.
Feeling brave? Let’s go.
P.S. Not looking for the prerelease version? We also have a guide on how to install the regular non-beta AirPods software.
iOS 26 will not just make your iPhone better. It will also add several new features to AirPods, improving the already excellent experience of using Apple’s super-popular earbuds.
The changes will further deepen the AirPods integration with the iPhone. Find out all the ways iOS 26 will improve your AirPods experience.
Apple’s yearly Back to School sale is now live in the United States, India and other countries. As part of the deal, eligible students and teachers can get Macs and iPads on education pricing, along with an accessory worth up to $179.
Unlike the last few years, Apple will not bundle a gift card with your purchase. Instead, it will bundle a free accessory, ranging from the Magic Keyboard to AirPods 4 with ANC.
iOS 19/iOS 26 will reportedly enhance the AirPods experience by introducing new head gestures. The earbuds will also become smart enough to stop audio playback when you fall asleep while wearing them. Plus, you may finally be able to use the AirPods as a remote shutter for the camera.
With every new major iOS release, Apple added new features to AirPods as well. It appears the company may continue that trend this year as well.
Thanks to AirPods 4 with noise cancellation, actor Pedro Pascal beats heartbreak and the big city’s wintry deep freeze in the colorful new Spike Jonze short film Someday.
Jonze’s second ad for Apple, the new short released Tuesday evokes what an immersive listening experience can do, waking memories of better times — and stirring hope for better ones to come.
AirPods Pro 2 are — hands down — the best earbuds for iPhone users. They offer high-quality audio while also seamlessly switching between Apple devices as needed. And AirPods sales from multiple retailers mean you can pick up a pair at a sweet 32% off.
And there are more sweet discounts, including AirPods 4 at up to 22% off, and AirPods Max at up to 13% off.
★★★★☆
AirPods 4 bring professional-grade features to Apple’s non-Pro earbuds. Fairly good active noise cancellation sits at the top of the list of additions, which is a surprise because the earbuds lack foam ear tips.
Apple did tweak the design to make them more comfortable and secure. And the company improved the audio quality, too. Especially the bass. How does all this play out in real-world testing? Read our hands-on AirPods 4 review to find out.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin takes the wraps off his new iPhone 16 Pro in desert titanium — and he doesn’t like what he sees. The new “color” revealed in his iPhone 16 Pro unboxing fails to knock our socks off.
Still, there’s plenty to talk about, though, including the new Camera Control and how third-party case manufacturers are coping with it.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
The first set of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro preorders began arriving for customers late Thursday U.S. time, with the new iPhones also officially going on sale in Apple Stores. Around the world, Apple fans lined up at stores to snatch up the latest, greatest iPhones.
Besides the iPhone 16 series, AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10 preorders also began reaching customers.
The first reviews of Apple AirPods 4 are in to answer the question, how well does active noise cancellation work without foam ear tips? The consensus: pretty well.
Early reviewers of the new wireless earbuds also had plenty to say about fit, sound quality and more.
Is it time for you to upgrade and buy the new AirPods 4? The fourth-generation AirPods boast advanced noise cancellation features previously only available on AirPods Pro 2. Meanwhile, the refreshed AirPods Max swap out the legacy Lightning port for USB-C and bring new color options.
Now that the new headphones are available to preorder, you might be wondering whether it’s worthwhile to upgrade. That depends on what AirPods model you own. I put together a buying guide and a video to help you decide.
At Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event, the company introduced the Apple Watch Series 10, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, fourth-generation AirPods and more. It was a big event — and some people complained about the length.
If you don’t have an hour and forty minutes to spare, here it is in just 90 seconds.
New fourth-generation AirPods are the latest models of Apple’s popular wireless earbuds. Two new AirPods 4 models bring advanced new features to the lower end of Apple’s lineup.
Both models of AirPods 4 feature personalized spatial audio for music and gaming. The charging case also moves to USB-C for easier charging, while delivering over 30 hours of battery life. The higher-end models add active noise cancellation, with Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio and Conversational Awareness.
You can preorder both new models today, with deliveries on September 20. The entry-level AirPods start at $129, with the higher-end models priced at $179.
AirPods 4 could launch in just a few days to replace two models of wireless earbuds now in Apple’s lineup. Rumors indicate the new version will borrow a feature from the Pro models: Active Noise Cancellation.
And AirPods Max 2 could be in for a revamp next Monday, too. Probably not so for AirPods Pro 3, though.
Here’s what to look forward to in new AirPods variants when they’re unveiled at the “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9.