In addition to the iPhone 16 and the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple has also expanded the AirPods lineup this evening.
As previously rumored, Apple is splitting the regular AirPods into two different models. Contrary to the rumors, Apple is not calling the two AirPods 4 and AirPods SE or AirPods Lite, but rather naming them according to their function: “AirPods 4” and “AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.” This will delight editorial teams worldwide – and Apple, when everyone starts writing simply “AirPods with ANC.” The two new models replace the AirPods 3 and the AirPods 2, which Apple has kept in the lineup as the most affordable model for a very long time.
AirPods 4 – What’s New
Design
For the most part, the AirPods 4 look almost identical to the AirPods 3, although Apple claims to have slightly revised the design to ensure they fit in even more ears. In both cases, they continue to be open-ear headphones, meaning they do not plug into the ear canal, as exemplified by the AirPods Pro 2.
New is the sensor on the stem, which the AirPods 4 inherit from the AirPods Pro 2. This expands the controls on the regular AirPods to include the same features that previously only the AirPods Pro 2 had – including volume control on the headphones themselves.
What makes the AirPods 4 with ANC technically very interesting is the combination of open-ear design and ANC. So far, this function has only been reserved for proper in-ear headphones that sit in the ear canal with silicone or foam tips. We are curious to see how well this works.
The most noticeable change to the case is likely the USB-C port, which replaces the Lightning port of the previous AirPods. Both the AirPods 4 and the case are rated with an IP54 protection class, making them dust- and water-resistant for a certain period of time. You shouldn’t go swimming with them, but dropping them in a pool with AirPods in your pocket is not as wild.
Under the Hood
Under the hood, Apple equips the AirPods 4 with the H2 audio chip, which is also used in the AirPods Pro 2. Furthermore, the sound quality is said to have been significantly improved – “with a completely new acoustic architecture, a low-distortion driver, and an amplifier with a wide dynamic range,” the press release states. How this plays out in practice remains to be seen.
Whether due to a larger battery or more efficient chip – the AirPods 4 are said to last up to 30 hours with the case, at least with ANC turned off. If you turn off Active Noise Cancellation, the battery life drops to “up to 20 hours.” The headphones themselves should last up to 5 hours at a time and 4 hours with ANC enabled.
The two AirPods versions come with different cases: the case of the standard AirPods 4 can only be charged via USB-C, while the AirPods 4 with ANC can also be charged wirelessly – Qi2 compatible – and it also features, like the AirPods Pro 2, a speaker for the “Find My?” function.
Software
The biggest difference between the two models is undoubtedly the Active Noise Cancellation. One has it – the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation – the other does not – the AirPods 4.
While the regular AirPods 4 are the direct successors of the AirPods 3, the AirPods 4 with ANC position themselves between the regular AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2. They take over the most important functions of their more expensive siblings: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the accompanying Transparency Mode, while the case supports the “Find My?” network.
Additionally, both models support personalized 3D audio with dynamic head tracking.
Price & Availability
Two models, two prices: the AirPods 4 cost 149 euros, which is still significantly above the average price of comparable mid-range true wireless headphones.
The AirPods 4 with ANC, on the other hand, cost 199 euros, only 50 euros more than the non-ANC version and 80 euros less than the AirPods Pro 2, with a similar range of features – at least for those relevant to the general public. This also makes them quite interesting beyond the Apple ecosystem, although one should certainly wait for reviews.
The pre-orders for both models begin today, and they will hit stores alongside the iPhones on September 20.
All information about the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max can be found in our other article: “iPhone 16 Pro Introduced: What Apple’s New Top Smartphone Offers.”