Apple AirPods 4 review

The most immediate difference in AirPods 4’s audio is the way it handles bass. The original AirPods and AirPods Pro were really lacking that punch and power in the bottom end. The AirPods 4 quickly hit the decisive blow over its predecessor by delivering punchy and thumping bass in Purple Hat by Sofi Tukker. The AirPods 4 really showcase Apple’s mastery over clean presentation while maintaining impactful and lush bass in Blue Monday by New Order.

Although I feel they sound a wee-bit warm for my taste, Billie Eilish’s playful flirting in LUNCH never felt bloated or congested. The AirPods 4 maintain the huffing in Billie’s voice while the funky beats dictate the rhythm. That's something the Moto Buds+ and the other TWS around the ₹10K to ₹12K price point fail to capture.

The AirPods 4 can do 16-bit/44.1 kHz now which is Apple’s ALAC codec range. That extra push in format support is quickly noticeable in how the AirPods 4 maintain depth and detail in Lifafa’s voice, while keeping the dynamics from the drums and cymbals, in Foolmuse by Peter Cat Recording Co.

The crowning feature of the AirPods 4 is the ANC and how it works without the need for eartips for creating a perfect seal in your ear. The AirPods 4 have very good ANC but you need to temper your expectations as to what an open ear TWS can achieve. Is it as good or better than the AirPods Pro 2? No. The AirPods Pro 2 are almost twice as good with ANC and probably among the best on any TWS.

The AirPods 4, on the other hand, successfully reduced the overall noise of the environment to a considerable degree. Think of rickshaw noise with humming and buzzing sounds along with cars and bikes whizzing in traffic. The AirPods 4 with ANC can reduce and remove all of that but some honking and construction noise is still there. It can even reduce rattling and clanking sounds in Mumbai’s local trains but not the wind noise and platform announcements. Your ears will be exposed to less noise and more music, which is always a good thing.

No silicone eartips means it may or may not fall off from your ear easily. Which is why you may want to try the Apple AirPods 4 from your nearest Apple store before buying them. We’ve had few people in the Stuff team whose ear shape was not very friendly at keeping the AirPods 4 in place. I personally prefer anything with silicone eartips because I travel a lot and sleep in flights with my ear against a pillow or a friendly shoulder. The AirPods 4 can easily fall out if you listen to metal and headbang… be warned Black Sabbath listeners.

We wish the AirPods 4 also got the Loud Sound Reduction feature which, as the name implies, is going to reduce sudden loud sounds around you but that’s only available on the Apple AirPods Pro 2. The Apple AirPods 4 also don’t get the Hearing Aid feature which assists folks with hearing impairment. This feature will only be available on the AirPods Pro 2. If you’re interested in how much your ears are exposed to loud audio, the Health app on iPhones will tell you audio exposure levels from your music listening sessions and even warn you if you cross an unhealthy threshold.

The AirPods 4 gets a major upgrade in the microphone department. They now have the same H2 chip as the AirPods Pro 2, which means they have this Voice Isolation feature that makes your calls sound crystal clear. I hopped in an Uber during rush hour, and you know what? The traffic noise, the car rattling, and even the music on the radio? Gone. It was like they never existed.

Apple says that the H2 chip and its beam-forming microphones can block out all that background noise and focus on your voice. It's pretty awesome, and it doesn't mess with how your voice sounds either. We did try to push the noise cancellation to its limits, though. We took a rickshaw going 50kmph with the wind howling into the mic. It struggled a bit, but hey, someone had to try, right?

So, the H2 chip and a bunch of sensors allow the AirPods 4 to track your head movements for Dolby Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in music, movies, and games. It's pretty cool, and you can even use head gestures to control things. Nod your head yes or no to pick up or decline calls. It's like magic, and I sometimes forget to use it because it's so different and new.

The ANC version of the AirPods 4 also has Transparency mode, which lets you hear what's going on around you, Personalized Volume, which adjusts the music volume based on the noise in your environment, and Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when you start talking to someone. Apple's Transparency mode is one of the best out there, but I'm not a big fan of Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness. I like to be in control of the ANC and volume, and Personalized Volume adjusts too often, even when I'm just moving my jaw.

The AirPods have touch controls on the stem, but you can't swipe to control volume like you can on the AirPods Pro 2. The only drawback to the AirPods 4 is the glossy case. It's a fingerprint and stickiness magnet in humid cities like Mumbai. I wish there were more color options and a matte texture. The case is smaller and charges with USB Type-C. We wish the case was a bit bigger so more than just 30 hours of total battery life was available.

Only the AirPods 4 case for the ANC version has Qi-wireless charging and can also charge with an Apple Watch charger. It also has a speaker to help you find it quickly with the Find My proximity view.

The Apple AirPods 4 are totally legit for anyone who wants amazing sound without those annoying silicone tips. They've got top-notch audio quality, cool noise cancellation, and a bunch of handy features, all in a sleek and compact design. Sure, they don't have all the bells and whistles of the AirPods Pro 2, like super-powered noise cancellation and that Hearing Aid mode, but the AirPods 4 still kick butt in the wireless earbud game.

If you're looking for a pair of high-quality earbuds that work like a dream with your Apple devices, the AirPods 4 are definitely a great choice.