Alongside the latest fashion trends, Apple unveiled its cutting-edge flagship AirPods, the.
We’re introducing a new design and our first-ever Active Noise Cancellation, leading us to wonder: how do these features compare to those in the prior-generation AirPods Pro and AirPods 3?
This time around, Apple offers two distinct AirPods variants: a budget-friendly $129 model and a premium $179 version featuring Active Noise Cancellation. For the first time, ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) has been introduced in an open-ear headphone design at the sub-$200 price point, previously reserved for AirPods Pro and select products.
Apple has refined the design of its AirPods, crafting a new shape intended to accommodate an additional earpiece for stereo sound. The revamped design incorporates insights from tens of millions of ear scans, ensuring a precision-fit that provides unparalleled comfort and snugness for users. While the redesigned AirPods may not drastically alter their functionality, users who struggled to keep them snugly in place may find solace with this latest iteration.
ANC typically relies on a physical seal with the ear canal to function effectively, but that’s not possible in this instance. While Apple didn’t borrow silicone design elements from the AirPods Pro 2 for this iteration, the absence of active noise cancellation (ANC) doesn’t guarantee that ambient sounds will be completely eliminated; a proper seal is still crucial for effective sound blocking. The ANC technology excels at effectively eliminating distracting ambient noises such as air conditioning hum, distant aircraft engines, and similar disturbances.
Apple upgraded each model of its AirPods with the same H2 chip used in the AirPods Pro 2, representing a significant improvement over the H1 chip found in the AirPods 3. High-quality sound, akin to that of the AirPods Pro 2, results from this product’s design; its feature set is comparable in terms of support for spatial audio, Voice Isolation, customizable volume, transparency within the active noise cancellation (ANC) mode, and other functionalities. For users migrating from AirPods 3 to AirPods 4, the significant improvement in sound quality is likely to be a notable discovery.
Apple has significantly reduced the size of the AirPods case, allowing for a more portable listening experience. While the $179 model offers Qi-based wireless charging capabilities, it lacks a crucial magnetic component, which may compromise its overall performance. The affordable mannequin lacks wireless charging capabilities altogether. There’s no visible button for pairing and set-up, but a discreetly located option exists at the entrance to facilitate this process.
Battery life has significantly declined compared to the AirPods 3, leaving users disappointed with their overall performance. With Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled, you can enjoy up to 4 hours of uninterrupted listening time in one charge, while still having the option to extend that to 5 hours without ANC activated. Although there are still 30 hours of uninterrupted listening time with this new case, it is slightly smaller compared to previous versions.
With the pricier model, you’ll also get a built-in speaker, allowing you to locate misplaced AirPods by playing a sound from the case. While it’s not available in the entry-level version, this GPS-enabled feature still allows for seamless integration with Apple Maps through Discover My technology.
For the $179 retail price, the AirPods Pro deliver a comprehensive feature set, offering a robust performance; meanwhile, the ANC-free variant at $129 presents an attractive value proposition, undercutting many lower-cost Bluetooth headphones currently available. One of the most significant advantages of using AirPods with Apple devices lies in their seamless pairing and effortless switching capabilities, features that are uniquely available when integrating with other Apple products.
