AirPods 4: Apple’s most comfortable and feature-packed earbuds yet, now with ANC and spatial audio
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The AirPods debuted in 2016 and have long been the standard for wireless earbuds in the Apple ecosystem. They offer excellent functionality, decent sound, and the kind of design innovation that transformed the headphone industry. Now, AirPods 4 take that legacy and push it further, offering groundbreaking technology and comfort enhancements to deliver Apple’s best open-ear listening experience yet.
AirPods 4 maintains the iconic design that has made these earbuds a favourite of millions worldwide, but Apple has fine-tuned this generation for even greater comfort and fit. Apple uses advanced modelling techniques to analyse thousands of ear shapes and generate over 50 million data points to craft an earbud that feels more natural than ever. This precision refinement has resulted in the most comfortable AirPods to date — perfect for long hours of wear without discomfort.
The familiar, minimalistic design remains largely intact, but subtle adjustments in contour and proportions mean the AirPods 4 fit snugly in more ears while retaining their sleek, open-air look. If you’ve ever found previous generations of AirPods lacking in fit, you’ll notice the difference here. Of course, the design is a one-size-fits-all all, and if the previous versions didn’t work for you, I doubt these will either. I found the new AirPods 4 slightly more comfortable and less likely to fall out.
At the heart of the AirPods 4 is Apple’s H2 chip, the same processor found in the more expensive AirPods Pro. With its advanced processing power, the H2 chip enables a new acoustic architecture that delivers richer bass, clearer highs, and an overall more immersive sound than previous generations.
Thanks to the new chip, you also get support for spatial audio, which expands your listening experience by surrounding you with sound and adapting to your head movements and environment in real-time. Whether listening to music, watching a movie, or playing a game, the sound feels like it's all around you, delivering an immersive experience typically reserved for over-ear headphones. However, to fully take advantage of this virtual surround tech, you’ll need to be a subscriber to things like Apple Music, although other streaming services like Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix also support the format. While I’m still not a huge fan of surround sound for music – there are exceptions – it does work extremely well for movies and TV shows.
The AirPods 4 now supports gesture-based controls for Siri. If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where you can’t speak out loud to issue a command (think public transport or a crowded office), this new functionality is a clutch. For instance, when Siri announces an incoming call, you can simply nod your head to accept or shake your head to decline.
From replying to messages to handling calendar invites, Siri can notify you of important events and even allow you to respond hands-free.
Apple has improved call quality with the AirPods 4 thanks to enhanced voice isolation. Using advanced microphone systems and the power of the H2 chip, background noise can be filtered out more effectively than before, ensuring that your voice comes through clearly no matter where you are—whether it’s a busy street or a bustling office.
The AirPods 4 now comes in two variants, with and without Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). ANC on the AirPods 4 uses upgraded microphones and advanced computational audio to reduce low-frequency environmental noise, like aeroplane engines or city traffic. This means you can enjoy your media at lower volumes without sacrificing sound quality. As open earbuds go, the ANC is very effective but, not surprisingly, isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro, which uses ear tips to create a better seal.
The AirPods 4's Transparency Mode is excellent, allowing you to hear the world around you without removing your earbuds. Adaptive Audio is also available to adjust noise levels automatically based on your surroundings. This feature is particularly handy when moving between quiet and loud environments, as the AirPods 4 will adapt automatically to maintain the perfect balance of ambient sound and isolation.
The one feature I’ve been incredibly impressed with is the Conversation Awareness mode, which automatically lowers your media volume when you speak to someone nearby and raises it again when the conversation ends. I’ve used it often in the office because it reacts to my voice within a second or two and then quickly resumes my media back to its original volume when I stop talking. It’s a subtle but highly useful feature that makes the AirPods 4 feel smarter and more in tune with your real-world interactions.
All my testing has been done with the AirPods 4 with ANC, which features a vastly improved charging case over the previous AirPods. The case now supports USB-C, making it more compatible with the latest Apple devices. Despite its smaller size, the case still delivers an impressive 20 hours with ANC or 30 hours with ANC off of total battery life, giving you plenty of power for long days on the go. However, the buds are only good for up to four hours with ANC and up to five hours with it off.
The good news is the ANC model comes with wireless charging, allowing you to top up on any Qi-certified charger or even your Apple Watch charger. Apple has also added a speaker to the charging case, which works with the Find My app, making it easier to locate if misplaced.
The AirPods 4 are the best open-ear wireless earbuds for Apple devices thanks to their improved comfort, enhanced audio quality, and the addition of Active Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio. While the ANC model comes with all the bells and whistles, the standard model still comes with the H2 chip and all its benefits at a more affordable price.
AirPods 4 with ANC €199
AirPods 4 €149