Small surprise announced during the last keynote in September, the AirPods 4 are available in two versions. We were able to try the noise canceling headphones and were amazed.
If Apple’s last keynote was mainly focused on the new iPhone 16, there is another product that caught the attention of many Apple fans. The AirPods 4 were revealed in two different versions to succeed the third generation ofwireless earphones from Apple. If both versions offer headphones without silicone tips, one of them has noise reduction technology (commonly called “ANC”).
We were able to test the AirPods 4 ANC to check if their noise reduction is interesting despite the fact that no in-ear tip is offered on the headphones and we were amazed by the quality of the product. Check out our full review of the AirPods 4 ANC.
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A design that evolves little
Already own AirPods 3? You will not be confused by the design of the new AirPods 4. Apple has almost taken over exactly what was already the success of the third generation of its wireless headphones with a model with a reduced stem that can be pressed to stop or start your music . The microphone locations have, however, been moved and the AirPods 4 finally have resistance to dust, sweat and water (IP54). This should reassure athletes who enjoy enjoying their music while at the gym.
The AirPods 4 case differs a bit from Apple’s previous wireless headphones. The latter is intended to be decidedly smaller so that it can be stored more easily in a small pocket (ideal for jeans!). However, we lose the rear button which used to launch the Bluetooth connection. To pair your AirPods 4 with an Android smartphone, you must now hold the front of the case until an inlaid LED flashes. A fairly confusing and unintuitive decision that will surely require you to watch a tutorial on the web.
Apart from these small changes, the design of the AirPods 4 still remains very practical and recognizable at first glance compared to the competition.
The AirPods 4 feel quite pleasant once inserted into the ear. The absence of an in-ear tip avoids the feeling of a plug being pushed in, and you just need to place the headphones in the hollow of the ear to make them fit. They also hold well in place even during a sports session. Comfort, however, may depend on the shape of your ear.
Very decent audio quality for a small lack of bass
Apple was already known for offering excellent audio quality on its wireless headphones and headphones. We of course wanted to quickly test the sound of the new AirPods 4 by comparing them to their predecessors, but also to the AirPods Pro 2.
Overall, the sound produced by the AirPods 4 is very accurate and almost surprising. Without competing with the excellence of the AirPods Pro 2, these new headphones are clearly the best among Apple’s non-Pro wireless headphones. The mids are excellent and we greatly appreciate having such quality on certain vocal-rich titles. The highs are also very appreciable with instruments that sound in tune. We may perhaps regret a slight lack of force on the bass, especially if we are used to wireless headphones or earphones which emphasize bass and other serious tones.
In short, the AirPods 4 ANC appear to be well balanced. If we have already seen (or rather heard) better on certain headphones and earphones, we must recognize that for open earphones, the result is quite impressive, especially when noise reduction is activated.
Active noise reduction: Apple has done it!
When the AirPods 4 ANC were announced, we were quite skeptical. Active noise reduction without silicone tips? While other brands have already tried this in the past, the results are generally quite mixed. In-ear tips aren’t just for holding headphones in your ears. They also serve as passive noise reduction by filtering outside sounds.
So how could Apple offer sufficiently convincing noise reduction on earphones without tips? It is clear that they succeeded. The noise reduction of AirPods 4 ANC is astonishing, from the first use.
Without ever going so far as to compete with the ANC of the AirPods Pro 2, the noise reduction of the AirPods 4 ANC is still convincing. If we had to give a score of 10/10 to the insulation of the AirPods 2, that of the AirPods 4 ANC would be a 7/10. We are clearly below Apple’s “professional” headphones, but given the price difference between the two models, this is hardly surprising.
The noise reduction of the AirPods 4 is particularly poor in high-pitched sounds such as subway alarms or car brakes. Conversely, the headphones handle bass and midrange sounds surprisingly well. When wearing AirPods 4 ANC without any music, you will still hear some ambient sounds. Just add your music and you should barely notice anything. A truly stunning result and, we remind you, without an in-ear tip!
The transparency mode allows you to accentuate ambient noise to hear more of those around you even when you are listening to music. Not much to say about this mode even if some noises still remain a little too artificial as the headphones will push them so that you can hear them correctly. It is always better to remove an earphone if you want to hear the discussions around you.
Microphones that always need improvement
We may praise the developments of AirPods regarding their sound quality, but we must admit that the quality of the microphones of the wireless headphones often remains quite mediocre. The AirPods 4 microphones thus turn out to be rather correct but without really making any sparks. Answering a call in an isolated room is generally the best arrangement and your communications will be clear and clear to those you are talking to.
It is outdoors or in noisy environments that the AirPods 4 microphones quickly show their limits. Headphones tend not to adequately absorb ambient noise and muffle your voice when too much sound is present. The result is not deplorable, however, but we would have appreciated a little more effort on this point.
Controls and application: the bare minimum is required
As usual with Apple, no application dedicated to AirPods is offered. If you have a iPhoneyou will find the different options and customization directly in the phone settings. These above all allow you to play with the AirPods 4 controls, noise reduction mode and transparency.
Unlike AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 ANC don’t have slide controls on the stems to control the volume of your media. You can therefore only pinch the stems of the headphones to start or interrupt your calls, videos and music. It is also possible to switch between active noise reduction and transparency mode by holding down the stems.
On the Android side, you can always forget about any customization of the headphones. You will still have the commands but will not be able to modify them. The AirPods 4 ANC, however, remain fully usable with an Android smartphone.
Reduced autonomy with noise reduction
While the previous AirPods 3 had a battery life of 6 hours on average with 30 hours when adding the rechargeable case, the AirPods 4 ANC do a little less well. Apple’s new headphones last around 5 hours on a single listen, which is correct but down compared to the previous generation. However, this is the autonomy with noise reduction activated! By using AirPods 4 without ANC, it is possible to go up to around 6 hours of listening time.
We wanted to check Apple’s numbers and our results turned out to be a little less enthusiastic. In a single listening session, our AirPods 4 ANC reached the end of their battery after 4h40 with noise reduction and 5h30 without reduction. Figures that still allow you to enjoy them for a whole morning or afternoon, but you will have to go through a small recharge with the case if you want to use them for longer. The latter allows you to fully recharge the headphones for a little less than 4 complete cycles, in just a few minutes.
Exemplary or confusing connectivity depending on your device
Pairing Apple objects with each other is always extremely fluid and intuitive. AirPods 4 automatically locate your iPhone, Mac or iPad when they are near the open case. It is thus possible to connect the headphones in a fraction of seconds and to automatically alternate between several Apple devices when you launch media on them. This connectivity is still at the center of the Apple ecosystem and its greatest strength.
Conversely, pairing with an Android smartphone or a Windows computer is a bit more complicated. If previously, the AirPods had a synchronization button on the back of their case, the latter is no longer present for the AirPods 4. You will now have to hold your finger on the front of the case when it is open and select the headphones in the Bluetooth settings of your device.
Our conclusion to the AirPods 4 test
If we had serious doubts about the proposal for new non-Pro AirPods with noise reduction, it is clear that Apple proved us wrong. The AirPods 4 ANC are simply astonishing with their very complete audio signature, their everyday comfort and above all their noise reduction which is excellent even without in-ear tips.
The AirPods 4 ANC are not without flaws, however. Although the noise reduction is very good, it does not reach the level of that offered on the AirPods Pro 2. The new case is also not very intuitive for connection with an Android smartphone or a Windows computer. Finally, the autonomy and quality of the microphones could have been a little better.
However, we strongly recommend purchasing AirPods 4, but in their ANC version. If the classic version without noise reduction remains interesting with its price of 149 euros, it turns out to be a little too similar to the old AirPods 3 to be of real interest.