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.
AirPods 4 come in two versions
When Apple took the wraps off AirPods 4 during last week’s “It’s Glowtime” event, there were two versions, not just one. Both have been redesigned to fit better, and feature personalized spatial audio for music and gaming. The charging case also drops the obsolete Lightning port for USB-C.
Then big difference is ANC in the pricier variant. Otherwise, the lower-cost option offers most of the same features.
AirPods 4 and active noise cancellation performance
Even a quick glance at the fourth generation shows it lacks ear tips. The conventional wisdom is that a solid seal is need around an earbud for active noise cancellation to work properly. Apple paid no attention to that and put ANC in its latest model anyway. Reviewers had plenty of comments.
“It’s not nearly as good as the AirPods Pro 2,” said the Engadget review. “But, for earbuds with an open-wear design, the difference when ANC is enabled is actually noticeable.”
And Gizmodo wrote, “The AirPods 4 with ANC makes sure to tune out noise where it counts fully.”
TechRadar said, “AirPods 4 block out most sound, but on an airplane – or a train – you’ll still hear the engine roar and even some cabin noise. Still, though, these effectively block out a lot of noise.”
Fit and comfort
Ear tips are a contentious issue. Some people dislike the way they feel, others consider them necessary for earbuds to fit properly. Apple’s latest skipped them, so reviewers weighed in.
“AirPods 4 fit really, really well. When I popped them into my ears, I didn’t feel the need to lodge them in tightly so they don’t take a tumble (like my AirPods Pro). Wearing them on two planes, they remained snug. I even ran on the treadmill with them for an hour — they never fell out,” said the Mashable review.
Not everyone is so enthusiastic. “They did fit my ears slightly better than the AirPods 3, though I sometimes had to adjust the angle of the buds to get a really secure fit,” said Cnet.
Improved audio quality
The Apple H2 chip in the fourth-gen model is intended to improve audio quality. Reviewers agree it does so.
“AirPods 4 provide a thicker layer of bass than their predecessors,” said The Verge reviewer. “There’s more finesse and clarity to the upper range / treble. The AirPods Pro maintain a leg up when it comes to overall fidelity, but I’d have no issues living with the AirPods 4.”
Engadget noted, “There’s more low-end tone than the previous model right out of the gate, and the punchier treble opens the sound stage so it’s wider and more immersive.”
Video reviews
Preorder AirPods 4 today
Immediately after announcing the earbuds on September 9, Apple began taking preorders for them. But the product is not yet available — the first shipments arrive September 20.
The two variants can be preordered now:
Alternatively, AirPods Pro 2 are still available. However, AirPods 3 have been discontinued.
