The AirPods 4 come with notable upgrades, offering improved sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life. With a Custom High-Excursion Apple Driver and High Dynamic Range Amplifier, the audio is crisper and bass deeper, making it a significant improvement for users upgrading from AirPods 1 or 2. However, for those with AirPods 3, the sound enhancements may feel minor.
The Active Noise Cancellation in the ANC model is effective but not as powerful as the Pro series. Battery life has improved, offering up to 6 hours of listening time, or 30 hours with the case, though ANC reduces it to 4 hours. Fast charging and multiple charging options, including USB-C, add convenience.
At $129 for the standard model and $179 for the ANC version, the AirPods 4 are a solid choice for users of older models. However, if you already own AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, the upgrades may not be compelling enough to switch.
