Apple’s new AirPods 4 now come with active noise-cancelling – and it’s better than I expected – Digital Spy

If you’re an Apple fan who’s never quite gotten along with wireless earbuds that come with silicone tips, you’re not alone. But, those who have had to stick with the regular AirPods have also had to make do without one of the best features of the upgraded Pro model: active noise cancellation (ANC). That is, until now.

With the AirPods 4 that just launched, Apple has at last brought ANC to its semi-open design for the first time. I was of course eager to check them out to find if they could finally offer a comfortable fit, noise control and better sound for those who can’t stand the ear tips you find on the majority of AirPods alternatives.

In this review, I’ll go through my hands-on experience with the AirPods 4 including how they’ve fared in real-world use, from overseas travel to my daily commute, what types of music I’ve tested them with, and how they stack up against the flagship AirPods Pro 2. Let’s see if they’re worth the upgrade.

At first glance, the AirPods 4 design stays true to Apple’s long-standing look: sleek, all-white, and compact. However, Apple has made a few subtle refinements to get them to fit more people. For me, the semi-open fit now sits much more comfortably in my ears, making them easy to wear for hours on end without the pressure or fatigue you might feel with silicone-tipped earbuds. I tested these while working at my desk, during my morning commute, and while going for a walk – and they stayed comfortable throughout.

However, the downside to this design is that the fit isn’t as secure as in-ear models. I found that when I moved more – whether reaching for something or rushing to catch a train – the buds could shift slightly. The loose fit makes me cautious about using them during exercise at all. And, in the first week of testing, they did fall out after I was bumped by somebody at a train station. That said, if you’ve enjoyed previous AirPods and found them secure enough, these should feel pretty familiar.

Compared directly to the AirPods Pro 2, though, it’s clear that the Pro 2 offers a more stable fit thanks to the silicone tips, which come in four different sizes (from extra-small to large). Of course, if even the idea of using those tips is out of the question and you unequivocally prefer the comfort of semi-open in-ear buds, the AirPods 4 will deliver a better experience for you. The one other downside to mention is that they still only come in a white plastic that doesn’t only pick up dust and lint but bumps and scratches too.

Apple has definitely made improvements in the sound department. The AirPods 4 deliver extra clarity and depth compared to its predecessors. With new 11mm drivers and “Adaptive EQ”, the sound is more balanced across a variety of genres, and it adapts to how you’re wearing the buds too. While you can’t know exactly what changes Adaptive EQ makes for each specific wearer, it is designed to tune the music to the shape of your unique ears.

I tested these with my usual “headphone testing” playlist which features a wide range of music – from punchy pop tracks to bass-heavy hip-hop, classical, and acoustic songs. To my ears, everything sounded impressive for this design, although I did miss the kind of bass performance that you can get from sealed, in-ear buds. Overall, though, these deliver an enjoyable experience and mid-range vocals come through with clarity.

Where they shine is with personalised spatial audio. Listening to tracks mastered for Dolby Atmos, or watching movies and shows with the head tracking turned on is an immersive experience. I tested this while streaming recent episodes of Agatha All Along on Disney+, and the sound followed my head movements, making it feel much more like you’re at the cinema. This is ideal for anyone who enjoys a good binge-watch on the go.

The big news with the AirPods 4 is the introduction of active noise cancellation in a semi-open design. This was one of the features I was most curious about – unsurprisingly, open designs aren’t known for great passive noise isolation.

I put the ANC to the test in a variety of environments: on a flight, in a noisy cafe, and during my daily commute on the train. In all these situations, the AirPods 4 did a decent job at silencing the low hum of engines, background conversations and air conditioners. On my flight, they were especially useful, reducing the usual drone of the plane to a manageable background noise without requiring me to crank up the volume. It’s not complete silence by any means, but for open earbuds, it’s quite effective.

However, in busier, more high-pitched environments – like the airport departure lounge, for example – some noise did leak through. I could still hear the chatter of nearby conversations when I paused my music, though once I hit play, the ANC combined with audio, was good enough to block most distractions. One area where they’re outmatched, though, was on the loudest parts of the London Underground. If roaring sound levels go over 85 decibels, the AirPods 4 can’t cancel them.

When I compared this to the AirPods Pro 2, it’s clear the Pro 2 have the upper hand for noise-cancelling. The in-ear tips form a seal that, paired with superior ANC tech, offers a much quieter experience overall. But at least for anyone who prefers the open fit, I can confirm that the AirPods 4 strike a good balance between comfort and effective noise reduction.

If there’s one major area where the new earbuds fall a bit short, it’s battery life. You’ll only get around four hours of listening time with ANC on, which isn’t bad for most day-to-day tasks but does feel a bit restrictive if you’re on a long-haul flight or settling in for an all-day listening session.

With the charging case, you get about 20 hours total, and thankfully, a quick charge gives you an hour of playback from just five minutes in the case.

Overall, this is not that competitive. It’s worth noting that some rivals – like the Nothing Ear, Nothing Ear (a), JBL Live Beam 3 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 – offer significantly better battery life, with models sometimes stretching to six or seven hours on a single charge with ANC on. If battery longevity is a top priority for you, this is something to consider.

One of the best things about the AirPods 4, like every pair of AirPods, is how seamlessly they fit into the Apple ecosystem. Pairing them with my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook was effortless. As soon as I flipped open the case and did the initial setup, they were instantly available on all my Apple devices. This integration makes switching between devices incredibly easy.

It’s worth mentioning that these come with the suite of features that accompany Apple’s noise cancelling too, including the class-leading “Transparency” mode for ambient awareness, the “Adaptive Audio” (which balances out ANC and transparency for you) and “Conversation Awareness”, which notices when you start talking, lowers the volume of music and turns on transparency so you can have a chat with someone.

The AirPods 4 with ANC are a great upgrade for anyone who loves the semi-open fit of Apple’s regular AirPods but has been wanting noise-cancelling without sacrificing comfort.

They deliver impressive sound quality, especially when it comes to spatial audio for movies, and offer a good balance between decent ANC and everyday usability.

If you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem and prefer not to deal with silicone-tipped buds, the AirPods 4 are a no-brainer. The comfort and ease of use are top-notch, and Apple’s exclusive features like instant pairing, “Adaptive Audio”, Find My support and audio sharing help enhance the experience.

Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

However, if you prioritise deeper bass, more powerful noise-cancelling, or longer battery life, you might still want to consider the AirPods Pro 2 that don’t cost that much more (it’s £179 vs £229, but the Pro go down to £179 when on sale) and are much better.

There are also several other excellent alternatives like the JBL Live Beam 3 (£149.99), Nothing Ear (£129) or Nothing Ear (a) (£99) – it’s well worth noting that these latter two are much more affordable than the AirPods too.

Ultimately, if you’re already an AirPods user and love their comfort, portability and simplicity, the AirPods 4 with ANC are worth the upgrade. But, if you’re not especially fussed about silicone ear tips, the AirPods Pro 2 are significantly better, while several non-Apple rivals can deliver better sound and noise-cancelling, just without the Apple-specific perks.