I could upgrade from my AirPods Pro 2 to AirPods 4

This seems to be the year I realized I’m no longer a Pro. Instead of upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro, I plan on pre-ordering the iPhone 16. Instead of buying that pretty Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Satin Black, I pre-ordered the Apple Watch Series 10 in Jet Black.

And now I’m even considering ditching my AirPods Pro 2 for the new AirPods 4. I already have a pre-order and am ready to potentially replace the last Apple Pro product I’ll ever own (after upgrading from the iPhone Pro to the Apple Watch Ultra which is actually the Apple Watch Pro).

The AirPods Pro 2 are getting a few software updates and apparently improved noise cancellation. Why should I get rid of them? Well, it has to do with two things.

Noise cancellation and adjustment are the factors

Glow Time 2024

(Image credit: Apple)

The first — and biggest — reason I’m considering replacing the AirPods Pro 2 is their fit. While the AirPods Pro 2 are great, the biggest issue I’ve had with them is that they’ve been falling out of my ears — every time I exercise or chew too much gum.

If I go for a run, I’ll have to adjust the AirPods Pro tips over and over again. If I go hiking, it’ll be the same. And don’t even try doing sit-ups or push-ups: These babies are going to come out no matter how hard I try to secure them.

I found the open-ear earbuds to be more comfortable, so I definitely want to try the AirPods 4 to see if they not only live up to that, but if they end up being more secure in my ears. That’s a big ask since the AirPods Pro 2 offer four different ear tips for a more personalized fit, but I’ve heard from several people that the regular AirPods actually stayed in their ears better than the Pros. I’ll have to see if I fall into that camp as well.

Glow Time 2024

(Image credit: Apple)

The second reason I’m considering upgrading from my AirPods is because the AirPods 4 get the one feature I’ve stuck with the AirPods Pro for: noise cancellation. It’s the most important feature of my earbuds, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Being able to drown out outside noise when you’re trying to focus at work, on a plane, or during a workout is a must-have feature these days.

With noise cancellation coming to the AirPods 4 with this open-ear design, I wonder if they’ll be a better choice for someone like me who has fit and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2. I know the noise cancellation on the AirPods 4 won’t be as good as the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2, but as long as they’re good enough, I’ll sacrifice a little performance here.

So that’s where I stand. If the noise cancellation of the AirPods 4 is good enough for my use cases and solves my fit and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2, they might just make me switch from an Apple Pro to a non-Pro product once again.

We’ll see what happens when they come out on September 20th. I’ve already placed my pre-order!