Apple AirPods 4th Gen - ANC Review

The Apple AirPods 4th Generation made significant strides compared to previous generations, now even offering active noise cancellation (ANC).

Sound Quality

Our audio specialists dedicated countless hours wearing the Apple AirPods 4th Gen, closely listening to an extensive playlist, and evaluating their experience. TThe Apple AirPods 4th Generation made significant strides compared to previous generations, now even offering active noise cancellation (ANC).

While you can now hear bass frequencies in the mix, they lack power, making them disappointing for genres like hard rock, EDM, and hip-hop. Turning up the volume does nothing to bulk up the relatively thin lower registers. They do their best work in the mid-range frequencies, with vocals, strings, and some synths sounding clean and realistic beneath crisp highs. If you like classical, jazz, light rock, or audiobooks, these buds will work.

The high-end frequencies come through clearly, with precision and focus. They don't get lost behind the clutter of any ambient noises. They could use more pop and sparkle, but they're adequate. In Van Morrison's “Into the Mystic,” for example, the high guitar notes and cymbal crashes are crisp with a smooth edge.

The well-defined mid-range is where they come into their own. They lack the warmth and richness of top-scoring options but are full without overpowering the mix. Mid-focused tracks like “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen shine, letting us enjoy the excitement of the swings in dramatic fashion.

Stripped-down tracks like “Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)” by Tenille Townes showcase the detailed clarity in the mids. Where raw, emotional vocals dominate, the mid-range is complex enough to allow multiple layers to sparkle. “Every crackle, breath, and nuance in her voice comes through over the delicate acoustic guitar,” noted our expert, adding a steady backdrop without overpowering the track. The song's simplistic beauty shines through.

The bass frequencies aren't epic, but they're much better than previous versions, where we often struggled to detect them. Tracks like “Changes” by Allie Crow Buckley demonstrate an audible low-end, with the introduction of a synth bass line at 0:47, adding warmth and body beneath her airy, ethereal vocals.

These earbuds fall short in powerful, thumping basslines. They aren't the best for genres like hip-hop, EDM, and hard rock. Tracks like “Panini” by Lil Nas X lack the thumping low-end that drives the song's energy. Check timestamp 0:12 for an example.

We increased the volume to capture finer details, with the ANC feature effectively allowing this. Bass frequencies fade at lower volumes and nearly disappear at the softest levels. These earbuds suffer from a drop in clarity and sound quality at higher volumes, with a lack of power. There is a sweet spot in between, and we appreciate that we don't need the volume as loud as we did with prior generations to enjoy a balanced sound.

We employ our Brüel & Kjaer Type 5128 Head Simulator and SoundCheck software to measure and chart the earbuds' frequency response. We compare the results to our ideal GearLab House Curve, our optimal sound profile.

The noise-canceling version of the AirPods 4th Gen is similar to the non-ANC version but emphasizes the bass frequencies around 90 Hz, resulting in a richer sound. However, the lowest and highest bass notes still feel a bit anemic.

While these buds don't align with our idealized house curve, their variation is less dramatic than previous versions, translating to smoother sound. The gain starts low in the bass frequency and is more pronounced in the mix. The elevated mids perform well, and although the treble could benefit from more emphasis, it's still clear and present in the mix.

Soundstage

The term “soundstage” refers to the sense of space that earbuds can create. High-quality earbuds can separate each element and give it space to resonate. A good soundstage surrounds you in music.

These earbuds don't create the largest, most immersive soundstage, but they are an improvement over previous versions. The stereo spread is broader than before, allowing you to appreciate each layer of the music separately and enjoy a more expansive whole.

Rock songs like Rush's “The Spirit of Radio” take advantage of the sense of space in their raucous buildup from 0:01 to 0:40. The lack of ear seal keeps them from sounding immersive. Even with the ANC on, background sounds easily pull you out of the concert.

Comfort and Fit

One of our favorite upgrades is improved comfort. Shorter stems and reduced bulk help them settle comfortably and securely in the ear. No testers reported pressure points or discomfort, regardless of ear size.

Earbuds with customizable silicone or foam tips still feel better, especially for extended wear.

Stability

Since they lack a secure seal, these earbuds are not entirely stable. The slick, smooth plastic casing can be hard to hold onto in your ears or hands. Even though the stems are shorter, they still get caught on clothing or hair.

Noise Cancellation

The key difference between the 4th-ANC and non-ANC AirPods 4 is that they include active noise cancellation (ANC). For ANC to work well, earbuds must create a seal in your ear so the software can quiet surrounding sounds. These buds can't compete with the best ANC earbuds as they have no physical barrier.

With active ANC, these earbuds soften ambient sounds, making it easier to focus on your music. But they're not powerful enough to fully relegate surrounding sounds to the background, and they're a far cry from top performers.

We used the Bruel & Kjaer 5128-B tester and SoundCheck software to measure their effectiveness in a bustling café using ANC on the AirPod 4th Gen.

These earbuds don't offer passive noise isolation, which wasn't surprising. Earbuds with soft ear tips perform better in this area, especially at higher frequencies, so you can block ambient sounds.

The 4th Gen AirPods with active noise cancellation fall short of our favorites; they reduce ambient noise by about 10 decibels from the mid-bass to the high-mid range (from about 70 to 2000 Hz). In the low and mid-treble range, these buds provide more protection from pesky distractions, lowering the surrounding sounds by about 15 decibels. It's only subpar for noise-canceling earbuds.

Ease of Use

We reviewed the app, focusing on its features and ease of use. While the user experience is better in the 4th Gen, there's room for improvement. Apple earbuds do not work well with Android phones. An Apple phone is required to access all the features.

App Features

AirPod settings are easy to use but minimalistic, providing few customizations. You can monitor the earbud and case battery life, check fit, and enable Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio. Apple shifted to USB-C cords, and the AirPods no longer have a charging cable.

The adaptive EQ and spatial audio features only offer subtle sound enhancement. Other competitors blew our minds with similar features, but we could barely detect a shift with the AirPods.

With the adaptive EQ feature, which adjusts the mix in real-time based on how it fits, you can't turn on the ANC.Android users have even less control, losing Apple-exclusive features and making these basic Bluetooth earbuds.

Connectivity

We noted pairing issues and difficulties using features, such as lag time during video playback. We also scoured Amazon's 1-star user reviews to see the frequency of connectivity issues mentioned.

Battery Life

We evaluated the AirPods 4th Gen battery life by setting them to 75% volume and playing them until they powered off. They exceeded Apple's claims of a 5-hour run time, playing for 5 hours and 40 minutes without ANC. Apple claims that they last around four hours with ANC.

Their battery life is on the lower end compared to competitors. The case holds an additional five charges. A quick 5 minutes on the charger will give you another hour.

Call Quality

We tested the AirPods' ability to isolate a female and male tester's voice from background noises in a quiet room, an office environment, and a subway platform. To evaluate call quality, we used SoundCheck software and the Brüel & Kjaer 5128-B head simulator.

These earbuds provide average call quality in each scenario. Our testers' voices sound pretty good, but a bit grainy. The man's voice is slightly muffled in the quiet room, and the woman's is clear. Both are somewhat distorted, but you can easily understand them.

You can also hear the voices over the hum of office noise, but the background sounds are still audible.

Subway sounds blare in the background, but the man and woman's voices are clear and easy to understand, though the background noise is more noticeable than in some other models.

Should You Buy the Apple AirPods 4th Gen?

The Apple AirPods 4th Gen don't earn high scores in our tests and don't excel in any particular area. There are better options that don't cost much more, and a few that cost less. However, if you're integrated into the Apple ecosystem and can't afford the Pros, these are a passable choice. They aren't the best choice if you need a more secure option.

What Other Earbuds Should You Consider?