You can pre-order Apple’s cheaper AirPods with noise cancellation now

Apple hosted its annual September event in Cupertino, California, last night (September 9). As well as unveiling a new all-singing, all-dancing AI-powered iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the tech giant also showed off a new pair of AirPods, including two new AirPods 4, with and without active noise-cancellation.

The follow-ups to the second and third-generation AirPods, which were released in 2019 and 2021 respectively, are cheaper than the AirPods Pro, with Apple bringing onboard active noise cancellation and transparency modes to the mid-range wireless earbuds for the first time , as well as a smaller case and a more comfortable fit.

They feature a new H2 chip and a new acoustic architecture. While you can’t control the volume from the stem, like you can with the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 4 include a quick force sensor for playback controls and other updates.

Though Apple didn’t reveal a new pair of over-ear wireless headphones, it did introduce new colors for the AirPods Max in midnight blue, purple, orange and starlight. It also unveiled new health features for the current-generation AirPods Pro, such as a hearing aid feature.

Releasing next week, here’s how much the AirPods 4, with and without active noise-cancellation, cost in the UK, more when you can pre-order them.

How much do the new AirPods cost in the UK?

The base AirPods 4 are a follow-up to the second-generation AirPods in terms of price but are closer to the third-generation AirPods in terms of features. As the cheapest AirPods in Apple’s line-up, costing £129, which is the same price as the second-gen AirPods from 2019.

The mid-range AirPods 4 with active noise-cancellation, which are an open-ear version of the current-generation AirPods Pro, feature (as its name suggests) active noise-cancellation and transparency modes for the first time, as well as a smaller case with a speaker for Find My. They cost £179 – that’s the same price as the third-generation AirPods but with more features and longer battery life.

When can you pre-order the all-new AirPods in the UK?

You can pre-order the new AirPods from the Apple Store now, and they launch next week on September 20. We wouldn’t be surprised to see some carriers bundling the new AirPods as part of iPhone 16 deals, which could bring down the price, later this week.

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