Apple AirPods 4 Review: Finally, AirPods Worth Getting Excited About
Rating: 4 / 5
For years, the standard AirPods were the easy, comfortable choice — but never really the exciting one. The AirPods Pro handled serious listeners, and the base AirPods were there for everyone else who just wanted something simple that worked. The 4th generation changes that calculus. With a redesigned fit, meaningfully better sound, and — most surprisingly — active noise cancellation without silicone ear tips, the AirPods 4 are the most compelling non-Pro AirPods Apple has ever made.
Design & Fit
The AirPods 4 look familiar at a glance, but the details are refined. The stem is somewhat shorter, and the case is about 10% smaller than before, with a more squarish look that leaves plenty of extra space in your pocket. CNN The earbuds themselves have been reshaped based on a wide sample of ear geometries, and the result is a noticeably more secure fit than previous generations — even without silicone tips.
These are some of the most comfortable Apple buds to get in your ears, with improved ergonomics designed to fit more people than ever. They’ve stayed impressively secure for a pair of buds that aren’t completely lodged into the ear canals CNN — though it’s worth noting that fit is inherently personal, and some users with less typical ear shapes will still find them prone to slipping. Since they lack swappable ear tips, this one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work for all ears. SoundGuys
At just 4.3g each, they’re feather-light, and the open design means you never feel pressure or fatigue during long listening sessions.
Sound Quality
The AirPods 4 are a significant improvement over the 3rd generation, with superior sound quality and a notably improved bass response. RecordingNow Powered by a custom high dynamic range amplifier and the H2 chip, the bass is deeper and music sounds clearer than before. TODAY.com Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio round out the feature set, with head-tracked audio creating a genuinely immersive experience for movies and music in Dolby Atmos.
That said, the open design has inherent acoustic limitations. Without a physical seal, the soundstage is naturally more airy and less bass-heavy compared to in-ear alternatives. For most casual listeners this is a non-issue — the sound is warm, detailed, and enjoyable. Audiophiles or anyone who wants deep, room-filling bass should look at the AirPods Pro 2 or a sealed alternative instead.
Active Noise Cancellation: The Surprise
This is where the AirPods 4 pull off something genuinely unexpected. Without a physical seal, outside noise can enter freely — so when Apple introduced ANC for the regular AirPods, skepticism was warranted. But after real-world testing, the result is surprisingly effective. RecordingNow
The ANC is impressive, minimizing the sounds of a noisy office, a vacuum, or city traffic — though it doesn’t totally drown them out, so you shouldn’t expect total quiet. TODAY.com It’s not on par with the sealed AirPods Pro 2 or a pair of over-ear headphones, but for an open-ear design it dramatically exceeds expectations. The ANC model ($179) also adds transparency mode, adaptive audio, and conversation awareness — features that automatically blend in ambient sound when you start speaking, so you don’t have to yank the buds out mid-conversation. This is only available on the higher-priced ANC model; the base $129 version lacks these modes entirely.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery life runs close to 6 hours of continuous use, with the charging case providing multiple additional charges. Best Buy That’s solid for everyday commuting and work sessions. The ANC model adds wireless charging support for the case, and both models now use USB-C — finally ditching Lightning to align with the rest of Apple’s current lineup. The ANC model’s case can also emit a chime when tracked via Find My CNN, a handy addition that’s been on the Pro for years.
Ecosystem & Compatibility
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods 4 are seamless. Pairing with iPhone is instant, automatic switching between Apple devices works reliably, and touch controls are intuitive. Best Buy Android users, however, get a notably stripped-down experience — while they’ll pair with Android devices, the experience is far less smooth and most features, including customization and spatial audio, are iOS-only. TechGearLab These are Apple earbuds through and through.
The Honest Verdict
For people who hate silicone ear tips, Apple may have finally cracked the code on good open-ear noise cancellation. NBC News The AirPods 4 with ANC, at $179, are the sweet spot of the lineup — comfortable, capable, and loaded with features that used to be exclusive to the Pro line. The base $129 model is fine for casual listeners but gives up quite a bit without ANC, transparency mode, or wireless charging.
One thing to keep in mind: the AirPods Pro 2 are almost always on sale for a similar price, and offer a more secure fit, better noise cancellation, and additional health features like hearing aid functionality. CNN So before you buy the ANC model, it’s worth checking current Pro 2 pricing. But if you’ve always loved the open, airy feel of classic AirPods and wished they were just a little better at everything — the AirPods 4 are exactly that.
