Unlock the Power: Apple AirPods Pro 4 Review: Busting Expectations with Impeccable Sound, Design, and Battery
The Apple AirPods 4: A Major Upgrade for Many
I’ve never been a huge fan of Apple’s standard AirPods. The first few models didn’t fit my ears securely, and I found their sound quality to be just okay. But I recognize that many people love the open design and comfort they offer. After spending a week with the new AirPods 4, I can tell you that they’re going to be an instant upgrade for many.
Design and Build
From the outside, you won’t notice any drastic changes from the AirPods 3. Apple has continued to tweak the shape and contours of the earbuds for the best possible fit, and the charging case is now smaller than ever. (And yes, it’s got a USB-C connector this time.) But these still look the part of AirPods – and they still only come in white.
Noise Cancellation and Sound Quality
Bigger changes await inside: for the first time, Apple is offering two different versions of the regular AirPods. Both deliver the same sound quality, so don’t worry about that. And each contains the company’s H2 chip, which powers several new features that boost sound quality and voice call clarity. They’re also both IP54 dust and water resistant. The base AirPods 4 cost $129, and the more premium model is priced at $179. For the extra money, you get a few key upgrades, with the headlining differentiator being active noise cancellation.
Key Features
- Noise cancellation can often be impressive for an open design
- Upgraded sound quality
- Wireless charging and built-in speaker on case
- IP54 dust and water resistant
- Head gestures for controlling Siri
- Voice Isolation feature for better voice calls
The Good and The Bad
The Good
- Noise cancellation can often be impressive for an open design
- Upgraded sound quality
- Wireless charging and built-in speaker on case
- IP54 dust and water resistant
The Bad
- No proper multipoint
- Controlling volume is less convenient than on the AirPods Pro
- ANC isn’t going to be helpful in all environments
Battery Life and Repairability
Battery life is rated at four hours of playback time with noise cancellation or five hours with it off. Add in the charging case and you get a total of 20 and 30 hours, respectively. (The cheaper AirPods 4 obviously get the longer numbers since there’s no ANC.) I haven’t used them long enough to extensively verify those estimates, but they’ve seemed on point so far. Sadly, Apple still hasn’t made repairability a priority with the AirPods 4, so inevitably, there will come a time when that endurance starts to wane.
Conclusion
I’ll be going right back to regular earbuds after this review. That’s just who I am, and I like having as much noise isolation as possible. But the AirPods 4 with ANC are far and away Apple’s most compelling take on this open design yet. The noise cancellation isn’t on par with more expensive in-ear alternatives, but it’s easily good enough to ensure you can enjoy your music at a normal volume no matter where you might be. You can tell a difference when the ANC is working, which I can’t say of other open earbuds that have advertised noise cancellation. That, combined with the wireless charging, is the biggest reason I’d steer most people toward the more expensive model.
The Verdict
Unless you’re very price-conscious, it’s worth stepping up to the AirPods 4 with ANC. Your ears will be supremely grateful you spent the extra $50.
