Apple’s new AirPods at the moment are obtainable for pre-order. With the discharge of the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC, Apple has made some important enhancements that would make a distinction in your each day listening expertise.
Key upgrades within the AirPods 4 embrace a extra comfy match, improved sound high quality with a brand new low-distortion driver, and enhanced options like Customized Spatial Audio. For the primary time in the usual AirPods vary, the AirPods 4 provide optionally available lively noise cancellation for an extra $50, offering a quieter and extra immersive expertise, particularly in noisy environments.
This purchaser’s information breaks down these adjustments, compares them to earlier generations, and lets you determine which mannequin most closely fits your wants. Whether or not you are upgrading from the AirPods 2, AirPods 3, or deciding between the AirPods 4 fashions, this information lets you make an knowledgeable determination based mostly in your priorities—whether or not it is sound high quality, match, consolation, or superior options like ANC. We’ll additionally clarify who ought to contemplate upgrading to the most recent era.
| AirPods (Second-Era, 2019) | AirPods (Third-Era, 2021) | AirPods (Fourth-Era, 2024) | AirPods With ANC (Fourth-Era, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EarPods-like design (2012) with lengthy “stems” | AirPods Professional-like design (2019) with wider form, shorter “stems,” and improved match | Additional improved, extra comfy match with narrower form | Additional improved, extra comfy match with narrower form |
| Vent system for stress equalization | Vent system for stress equalization | ||
| Optical in-ear sensors | Pores and skin-detect sensors | Optical in-ear sensors | Optical in-ear sensors |
| Inward-facing microphones | Inward-facing microphones | Inward-facing microphones | |
| Faucet sensors | Power sensors | Power sensors | Power sensors |
| Double-tap to play, skip ahead, or reply a cellphone name | Press as soon as to play, pause, or reply a cellphone name, press twice to skip ahead, press 3 times to skip again, and press and maintain for Siri | Press as soon as to play, pause, or reply a cellphone name, press twice to skip ahead, press 3 times to skip again, and press and maintain for Siri | Press as soon as to play, pause, or reply a cellphone name, press twice to skip ahead, press 3 times to skip again, and press and maintain for Siri |
| Sweat and water resistance (IPX4) | Mud, sweat, and waterproof (IP54) | Mud, sweat, and waterproof (IP54) | |
| Customized high-excursion Apple driver | Redesigned high-excursion Apple driver based mostly on AirPods Professional | New low-distortion driver and acoustic structure | New low-distortion driver and acoustic structure |
| Customized excessive dynamic vary amplifier | Redesigned excessive dynamic vary amplifier based mostly on AirPods Professional | New excessive dynamic vary amplifier | New excessive dynamic vary amplifier |
| H1 chip | H1 chip | H2 chip | H2 chip |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| 2.4GHz connectivity | 2.4GHz connectivity | 2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity | 2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity |
| Adaptive EQ | Adaptive EQ | Adaptive EQ | |
| Spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring | Spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring | Spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring | |
| Lively Noise Cancellation | |||
| Transparency mode | |||
| Adaptive Audio | |||
| Dialog Consciousness | |||
| Customized Quantity | Customized Quantity | ||
| Voice Isolation | Voice Isolation | ||
| “Hey Siri” command assist | “Hey Siri” command assist | “Hey Siri” and simply “Siri” command assist | “Hey Siri” and simply “Siri” command assist |
| As much as 5 hours of listening time with a single cost | As much as six hours of listening time with a single cost (as much as 5 hours with spatial audio) | As much as 5 hours of listening time with a single cost | As much as 5 hours of listening time on a single cost with noise management off (as much as 4 hours of listening time on a single cost with Lively Noise Cancellation enabled) |
| Lightning Charging Case | Lightning Charging Case/MagSafe Charging Case with assist for Apple Watch charger, Qi‑licensed wi-fi chargers, and MagSafe | USB-C Charging Case | USB‑C Wi-fi Charging Case with assist for Apple Watch charger and Qi‑licensed wi-fi chargers |
| Wider charging case | Compact charging case (10% smaller in quantity) | Compact charging case (10% smaller in quantity) | |
| Speaker for Discover My | |||
| Lightning port | Lightning port | USB-C port | USB-C port |
| Bodily pairing button | Bodily pairing button | Capacitive pairing button | Capacitive pairing button |
| Beforehand $129, now discontinued | Beforehand $179, now discontinued | $129 | $179 |
Dimensions
With every era, Apple has refined the design of each the earbuds and the charging case, making them extra compact and light-weight. Within the AirPods 4, the earbuds are barely smaller and extra ergonomic, whereas the charging case has seen a ten% discount in quantity, making it simpler to hold round. Beneath, you will discover a detailed comparability of the scale of the AirPods throughout generations, serving to you see how Apple has improved the shape issue over time.
Earbuds
| AirPods (Second-Era) | AirPods (Third-Era) | AirPods (Fourth-Era) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | 40.5 mm (1.59 inches) | 30.79 mm (1.21 inches) | 30.2 mm (1.19 inches) |
| Width | 16.5 mm (0.65 inches) | 18.26 mm (0.72 inches) | 18.3 mm (0.72 inches) |
| Depth | 18.0 mm (0.71 inches) | 19.21 mm (0.76 inches) | 18.1 mm (0.71 inches) |
| Weight | 4.0 grams (0.14 ounces) | 4.28 grams (0.15 ounces) | 4.3 grams (0.15 ounces) |
Charging Case
| AirPods (Second-Era) Charging Case | AirPods (Third-Era) Charging Case | AirPods (Fourth-Era) Charging Case | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | 53.5 mm (2.11 inches) | 46.40 mm (1.83 inches) | 46.2 mm (1.82 inches) |
| Width | 44.3 mm (1.74 inches) | 54.40 mm (2.14 inches) | 50.1 mm (1.97 inches) |
| Depth | 21.3 mm (0.84 inches) | 21.38 mm (0.84 inches) | 21.2 mm (0.83 inches) |
| Weight | 38.2 grams (1.35 ounces) | 37.91 grams (1.34 ounces) | 32.3 grams (1.14 ounces) ANC mannequin: 34.7 grams (1.22 ounces) |
Is It Value Upgrading?
The AirPods 4, particularly the ANC model, characterize a major step ahead over their predecessors. Essentially the most essential improve is the introduction of lively noise cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods 4 with ANC, a primary for Apple’s open-ear earbuds. This elevates the general listening expertise by enabling customers to get pleasure from their music and calls in noisier environments without having silicone in-ear ideas. For a lot of, this alone will justify the improve, significantly for customers who dislike the match of in-ear designs just like the AirPods Professional.
One other standout enchancment is the sound high quality. With a newly designed low-distortion driver, the AirPods 4 ship deeper bass, clearer highs, and higher general readability than earlier fashions. That is additional enhanced by Apple’s Adaptive EQ and Customized Spatial Audio expertise, which optimize the sound to every listener’s ear. This enchancment is critical sufficient that even informal listeners will discover a marked distinction, significantly in the event that they’re upgrading from the AirPods 2 or AirPods 3, the place sound high quality enhancements had been extra incremental.
Match and luxury have additionally seen refinements. The AirPods 4 characteristic a narrower, extra ergonomic design that matches a wider vary of ears extra securely, addressing complaints in regards to the AirPods 3’s much less safe match for some customers. The charging case has additionally been made 10% smaller and, within the ANC model, features a speaker for simpler monitoring by means of Apple’s Discover My app.
Upgrading From AirPods 2
For those who’re coming from AirPods 2, upgrading to the AirPods 4 is a worthwhile transfer, with numerous important design, sound, and primary quality-of-life enhancements. The AirPods 2 lack many options that turned normal in subsequent fashions, akin to improved sound high quality and spatial audio. Customers upgrading from the AirPods 2 will discover the AirPods 4 with ANC to be a fair greater leap ahead.
Upgrading From AirPods 3
For AirPods 3 customers, the choice is extra nuanced. The sound high quality and luxury enhancements are notable however maybe not sufficient for all customers to justify the change until ANC is a precedence. If noise isolation and the power to pay attention comfortably in busy environments are essential for you, then the AirPods 4 with ANC could be a worthwhile improve. For individuals who do not want ANC and are glad with the sound high quality of the AirPods 3, sticking together with your present mannequin may be extra sensible until consolation and match are a persistent problem.
Upgrading From AirPods Professional
These utilizing AirPods Professional probably will not discover sufficient cause to change until they’re searching for a lighter, open-ear design with out silicone ideas. The AirPods 4 cannot match the noise cancellation or seal of the Professional, however they provide a extra comfy various for many who choose an open-ear match whereas retaining lots of the options Professional customers get pleasure from, akin to Customized Spatial Audio and dynamic head monitoring.
AirPods 4 or AirPods 4 With ANC?
Selecting between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with ANC largely hinges on whether or not lively noise cancellation is a precedence for you. For those who regularly end up in noisy environments—akin to commuting on public transport, touring by airplane, or working in cafes—the AirPods 4 with ANC ought to dramatically enhance your expertise for simply $50 extra. Though the noise cancellation is not as affective as that of the AirPods Professional, it performs surprisingly properly for open-ear earbuds and affords sufficient isolation to make a distinction in lower-frequency environments like engine hums and busy streets.
The flexibility to cost with an Apple Watch or Qi wi-fi charger can also be notable, as is the speaker within the charging case for Discover My. These added options usually make the AirPods 4 with ANC price the additional $50 over the non-ANC mannequin for many enthusiastic tech customers.
Then again, if you have not owned any AirPods earlier than or just do not feel the necessity for noise cancellation, the usual AirPods 4 might be a extra economical alternative. They maintain the sound high quality enhancements, spatial audio, and luxury enhancements of the AirPods 4, however at a lower cost level. For customers upgrading from AirPods 2 or 3 and who hardly ever discover themselves in noisy locations, the AirPods 4 are a good selection that gives you a lot of the key updates with out the additional value.
