It’s turning out to be a good week for Apple fans. First, the new black Apple Watch Ultra 2 received a $50 discount, and now both versions of the new AirPods 4 are on sale for the first time. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are down to $169 ($10 off) at Amazon, while the standard AirPods 4 are on sale at Amazon for $119 ($10 off). Neither is an enormous discount, but if you’re an early adopter, it beats the prices you’d be paying at Best Buy, Apple, and other retailers.
Regardless of which model you choose, the AirPods 4 represent a substantial upgrade over their predecessor. Both pairs of earbuds deliver better sound than the second-gen AirPods, with more bass than the third-gen AirPods. They also sport the Voice Isolation feature found in the latest AirPods Pro, which uses a series of machine learning algorithms to isolate your voice in noisy environments, resulting in clearer voice calls.
The main difference between the two is that the pricer AirPods include active noise cancellation and a transparency mode. Granted, they’re not going to completely tune out noise the way Pro models can, but they still do a good job of reducing sound. They also inherit a few other Pro features, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that can emit a sound for easy tracking via Apple’s Find My app.
Of course, the AirPods Pro ultimately sound better and offer a few extra capabilities, like easier-to-use volume controls and (soon) the ability to double as hearing aids. But if you don’t mind making some tradeoffs, Apple’s new entry-level earbuds are a cheaper option that still integrates well with other Apple devices and services.
