Apple AirPods 4 ANC Review

Our Apple AirPods 4 ANC Experience

The AirPods 4 ANC have a familiar look and feel to other AirPods that came before them. Sure, the stem is somewhat shorter, but the vibe is all Apple. The buds still have an open-air feel with no in-ear tips, and the case retains a bare-bones, non-nonsense, minimalist design that Apple is known for. It's smoother than a shaved dolphin, and the slickness made it harder to get the buds out without feeling like a butterfingers. It is uber small and fits in the tiny pocket on some jeans. It now uses a USB-C cord, but doesn't come with one.

While these buds will pair with iOS and Android devices, iOS is far less clunky and includes all the features, making them a poor choice for those outside the ecosystem. We experienced some pairing issues and difficulties using certain features, including lag time during video playback. However, they play happily within the Apple ecosystem.

There isn't much of an app here as they work with the iOS software, and there is nothing offered for Android. If you want all the features, limited as they may be, you have to have an Apple product. While the user experience is better in the 4th Gen, there's room for improvement. When paired with your Apple product, you'll find adaptive EQ, spatial audio, transparency mode, and the option to turn ANC off. The overall experience is meh and not even worthwhile given the mid-range price.

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. Although the stems are shorter, they can still catch on clothing or hair. The app features a fit test, but we're unsure how much it can help without ear tips or the ability to seal the ear. We didn't experience much difference in fit or sound when rotating the bud in our outer ear.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

The Apple AirPods 4 ANC made significant strides compared to previous generations, bu they still miss the mark of spectacular. 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 enjoy classical, jazz, light rock, or audiobooks, these buds will suit you.

The high-end frequencies are delivered with precision and clarity. 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 truly shine. 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, adding a steady backdrop that never overpowers the track. The song's simplistic beauty shines through.

The bass frequencies aren't epic, but they're significantly improved over 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. 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.

We increased the volume to capture finer details. Bass frequencies fade at lower volumes and nearly disappear at the softest levels. These earbuds experience a drop in clarity and sound quality at higher volumes, accompanied by 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 measure and chart the earbuds' frequency response. We compare the results to our ideal GearLab House Curve.

The noise-canceling version of the AirPods 4 is similar to the non-ANC version, but it emphasizes bass frequencies around 90 Hz, resulting in a richer sound. However, the lowest and highest bass notes still feel somewhat underwhelming. While these buds don't align with our idealized house curve, their variation is less dramatic than that of previous versions, resulting in a 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

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. However, they are still not as comfortable as most of the competition.

Earbuds with customizable silicone or foam tips still feel more comfortable, especially during extended wear. We were only able to wear the AirPods 4 for 3.5 hours maximum without needing a break.

Noise Cancellation

The 4th-ANC, unlike the AirPods 4, includes active noise cancellation (ANC). For ANC to work effectively, earbuds must create a seal in the ear, allowing the software to quiet surrounding sounds.

These buds can't compete with the best ANC earbuds, as they lack a physical barrier, so there is passive noise isolation to assist them. This results in an inability to block higher frequencies in ambient sounds. With active ANC, these earbuds soften ambient sounds, making it easier to focus. However, they're not powerful enough to fully relegate surrounding sounds to the background.

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.

App Features

AirPod settings are easy to use but minimalist, offering few customization options. 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.

Battery Life

We evaluated the AirPods 4 battery life by setting them to 75% volume and playing them until they ran out of power. They exceeded Apple's marketing of 5 hours, playing for 5 hours and 40 minutes without ANC. Apple claims that they last around four hours with ANC.

Their battery life is significantly below the average, which is over 8 hours. While the case holds an additional five charges, and a quick 5 minutes on the charger will give you another hour, it is still not enough to get through a full day of commuting, working, the gym, and heading home.

Call Quality

We tested the AirPods' call quality capabilities in multiple situations with different voices. Overall, the experience is about average. Voices sound pretty good, but somewhat grainy. The man's voice is slightly muffled in the quiet room, and the woman's is clear. Both are distorted, but you can easily understand them.

Voices are also pretty clear over the hum of office noise, but the background sounds are still audible.