Apple AirPods 4 come in two variants: these are the differences
Big news, AirPods lovers! Apple AirPods 4 are finally here – and in two flavors! Additionally, Apple unveiled major updates to the entire AirPods lineup. AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation just debuted at Apple’s much-hyped It’s Glowtime iPhone 16 event.
It shouldn’t surprise us: Apple’s biggest AirPods launch yet was predicted earlier this year, and we have to hand it to Apple that it delivered.
So here we are. Here’s the full scoop from Apple Park (yes, we have our people on site – but if you want to be caught up, our Glowtime liveblog is the place to go) and here are the key differences between the two sets of AirPods.
Oh, and in case you came here looking for them, the cheaper pair is likely the long-awaited AirPods ‘Lite’. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 haven’t landed yet, but there have been several software updates.
And while the new AirPods Max may have (to a certain extent) won a party at Apple Park, their support for lossless audio isn’t what we were hoping for.
That said, we’d prefer two brand new sets of AirPods over none at all (we’ve had to wait a while for those).
@techradar
♬ original sound – Ny Breaking
AirPods 4: The Dual AirPods Release You Need to Know About
The design of both sets is… well, on the surface it’s just a regular day at the office for Apple (and if you wanted the purple color scheme Apple once planned, you’re going to be disappointed), but Apple has worked extensively on open-ear sizing, developing over 50 million sizing charts and there’s an “all-new acoustic architecture” in what Apple is calling its “best AirPods design ever, in this open-ear design.”
In terms of specs, the most notable feature is the presence of Apple’s H2 chip, in both pairs.
That means support for personalized Spatial Audio and gesture detection in both sets, using machine learning for better hands-free calling. You’ll be able to shake your head no or nod yes in response to Siri’s announcements. Voice isolation technology also promises to remove unnecessary noise in conversations on the fly.
Both pairs feature a force sensor, which allows you to play or pause music or end (or mute) calls.
Now, active noise cancellation: it’s only in the step-up set (a first in non-Pro AirPods, and a first in this open-back AirPods design), along with upgraded mics and processing. You also get Conversation Awareness support (which lowers the volume when you’re speaking) and wireless charging support in the case for the more expensive pair — which now also includes a speaker for easier Find My support. The cheaper case charges via USB-C, naturally — and it’s also the smallest case ever made for AirPods.
Battery life was an area ripe for improvement in Apple’s groundbreaking 2024 earbuds, and Tim Cook’s behemoth has been… well, a little quiet about the stamina in these new Spatial Audio-supporting headphones. We only have a slightly disappointing total claim of 30 hours – yes, that’s all we’ve got so far.
The more expensive AirPods 4 also have a transparency mode and adaptive audio, which automatically adjusts the sound level when you are in a different environment.
Price? Of course – it’s a major factor when considering whether to buy a new set of AirPods. Unsurprisingly, while they may make an appearance in our guide to the best noise cancelling earbuds soon, these aren’t a truly cheap pair of wireless earbuds. That said, they’re not ridiculously expensive either, at $179 / AU$299 for the active noise cancelling AirPods 4 (so probably £179) and $129 / £129 / AU$219 for the entry-level AirPods 4.
Availability? September 20th.
Considering that the AirPods 3 that launched in 2021 had a price of $179 / £169 / AU$279 and the AirPods Pro 2 that released in late 2022 had an asking price of $249 / £249 / AU$399, that’s (dare we say it?) a fair price from Apple. Because Apple.