Choosing new headphones used to be easy. You either wanted the rubber tips that jammed into your ear canal for silence, or you wanted the hard plastic shells that let you actually hear the world. Apple basically upended that binary with the AirPods 4. It's a weird product if you think about it. Apple decided to release two different versions of the same generation—one with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and one without.
Honestly, it's about time.
For years, if you hated the "plugged up" feeling of the AirPods Pro, you were stuck with mediocre isolation. You’d be on a noisy bus or a plane, cranking the volume to dangerous levels just to hear a podcast over the engine drone. The AirPods 4 change that math. They’ve brought high-end tech to an open-ear design that doesn't require you to seal off your ear from the environment. It feels like a small thing. It isn’t.
What’s actually different under the hood?
Let’s get into the weeds of the H2 chip. This isn't just a marketing label. The H2 is the brain that allows for "Computational Audio." Because the AirPods 4 don't have a physical seal, they have to work twice as hard to make music sound full. Usually, when you have an open-ear bud, the bass just leaks out into the ether. It sounds thin. Tinny. Like a cheap radio from the 90s.
Apple uses a system called Adaptive EQ. It literally listens to what’s happening inside your ear in real-time and adjusts the low and mid-frequencies. This means the AirPods 4 actually have a punchy low-end that shouldn't be possible given how they sit loosely in your concha. You get that rich, warm sound profile without the pressure buildup that makes some people feel like they’re underwater.
The shape has changed, too. Apple claims they used "photogrammetry and laser scanning" to map thousands of ear shapes. That sounds like a lot of corporate fluff, but if you hold them next to the 3rd gen, you can see the tweaks. The "bulb" is thinner. The angle is steeper. They stay in better when you're running or checking your blind spot while driving. They just... fit. For most people. Obviously, ears are like fingerprints, so "universal" is a bold claim, but these are the closest Apple has ever gotten.
The ANC version vs. The standard version
This is where people get confused. Why would you buy the more expensive version?
Basically, the ANC version of the AirPods 4 is for the person who wants 80% of the AirPods Pro experience without the silicone tips. It’s impressive how much noise these can cancel out. It won't beat a pair of over-ear Maxes or the Pro 2s in a screaming matches contest, but it kills the hum of an air conditioner or the low-frequency rumble of traffic.
There's also Transparency mode. This is arguably Apple’s best feature across their entire audio line. It doesn’t sound like "piped-in" audio; it sounds like you aren't wearing headphones at all. On the AirPods 4, it's seamless. You can have a full conversation with your barista without taking them out, and it doesn't feel rude because you can actually hear your own voice at a normal volume.
The cheaper version? It's the "it just works" model. No ANC, no wireless charging on the case, but the same sound quality and the same H2 chip. If you only use your buds at home or in a quiet office, save the fifty bucks.
Let’s talk about the case and the "Find My" trick
The case is tiny. Like, "I’m going to lose this in my couch cushions in three minutes" tiny. It’s the smallest case Apple has ever made.
One thing that’s genuinely helpful: the ANC model’s case has a speaker.
If you’ve ever spent twenty minutes tearing your house apart looking for your buds, you know the pain. Now, you can trigger a chime from the Find My app and the case will literally scream at you from under the laundry pile. It’s a quality-of-life upgrade that you don't realize you need until you're running late for work. Plus, they finally switched to USB-C across the board. No more hunting for a Lightning cable. One cord for your Mac, your iPad, your iPhone, and your AirPods. Total harmony.
The stuff nobody tells you (The downsides)
It’s not all sunshine.
Battery life is... okay. It’s fine. You get about 5 hours on a single charge with the AirPods 4, or about 4 hours if you have ANC turned on. In a world where some competitors are pushing 8 or 9 hours, Apple is lagging. Does it matter? Probably not for a commute. But on a cross-country flight, you’re going to have to pop them back in the case for a quick juice-up halfway through.
Then there's the control scheme. Apple stuck with the "force sensor" on the stem. You squeeze it to play or pause. It works great once you get the hang of it, but there’s still no volume control on the stem like there is on the Pros. You have to talk to Siri or reach for your phone. It’s a weird omission for a "4th generation" product.
Also, keep in mind that since there are no tips, these will get dirty. Fast. Earwax is a reality of human biology, and without a silicone barrier, it goes straight onto the speaker mesh. You're going to want to keep a pack of Blu-Tack or a soft brush handy.
Is it worth the upgrade?
If you’re rocking the 1st or 2nd gen AirPods with the long stems, the difference is night and day. It’s a different universe of sound. If you have the 3rd gen, it’s a tougher sell unless you desperately want that noise cancellation.
The AirPods 4 represent a specific philosophy: tech shouldn't be invasive. Some people just don't want things in their ear canals. They want to hear their kids in the other room or be aware of a cyclist behind them. For that specific crowd, these are the best headphones on the market. Period. They've managed to bridge the gap between "open" and "quiet" in a way that feels like magic, even if it's just really clever math happening a thousand times a second in that H2 chip.
Actionable steps for new owners
If you just picked up a pair or are about to, do these three things immediately to get the most out of them.
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First, run the "Personalized Spatial Audio" setup. It uses the FaceID camera on your iPhone to scan your ears and creates a custom sound map. It sounds gimmicky, but it actually makes the soundstage feel wider.
Second, if you got the ANC model, go into your settings and toggle on "Conversation Awareness." This automatically lowers your music volume and enhances voices when it detects you’re speaking. It’s great for the office, though it might accidentally trigger if you’re someone who likes to hum along to your music.
Lastly, check your charging bricks. Since these are USB-C now, make sure you have a 20W brick to get the fast-charging benefits. Fifteen minutes in the case gets you over two hours of listening time, which is the easiest way to combat that mediocre battery life.
The AirPods 4 aren't a revolution, but they are a refinement of the "standard" earbud that finally brings pro-level features to the masses. Just don't forget to clean the mesh every once in a while. Your ears—and your music—will thank you.