Hands-on with AirPods 4 with ANC: It’s like Sabrina Carpenter singing “Espresso” in a soundproof cafe

I don’t know what Sabrina Carpenter put into her song “Espresso” to make it so addictive, but on the new AirPods 4, it sounds like it was prepared to perfection.

To give you some context, the entry-level AirPods have always been without active noise cancellation (ANC). If you want to block out unwanted noise, you’ll need to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2.

But the Cupertino-based tech giant unveiled the fourth-generation AirPods on September 9 at Apple’s “Glowtime” event. In other words, the new AirPods 4 are now more “Pro” than ever. Not only do they feature ANC, but they also have Conversation Awareness, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio.

You might be wondering, “Is the ANC on the new AirPods 4 effective?” Let me tell you about my brief experience with them.

Hands-on with Apple AirPods 4

I had the chance to test the new AirPods 4 and, before putting them on, I was afraid that they wouldn’t fit me.

I was one of those “Is there something wrong with me?” AirPods users had to buy ear hooks to complement my first-generation AirPods Pro because they kept falling out. (It seemed like everyone had their AirPods Pro on tight, but since my ears are an anomaly, I had a hard time keeping them in place.)

However, to my surprise, the AirPods 4 fit great snug. I shook, tilted, and shook my head, but the AirPods wouldn’t budge an inch. How is this possible?

Speed ​​of Light Mashable

Secure fit

Apple said it analyzed thousands of ear shapes and more than 50 million data points using advanced technology to design a more secure and precise fit (for most (people) on the AirPods 4. And let me tell you, whatever Apple did during its analysis, it worked — for me at least.

I have unusual ears, and despite their odd, atypical shape, the AirPods 4 fit snugly in my ear canal without falling out.

Active noise cancellation is surprisingly good

Next, I turned on one of my favorite songs of the year: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. There was a simulation of white noise in the demo room, similar to the hum of an airplane, and then I turned on the active noise cancellation.

Wow !

It was as if the noisy world around me faded away, letting Carpenter’s sweet, sugary vocals take center stage. Even if you’re not in a crowded room or on a noisy street, you don’t realize how cacophonous your surroundings are until you turn on the ANC. From the ticking of a nearby clock and distant traffic to the hum of an air conditioner and the whirring of a refrigerator motor, these environmental sounds negatively impact the immersion of your listening experience.

“Espresso” already sounds like a hot vanilla drink with a frothy finish, but with ANC on, it felt like Carpenter was serenading me in a cozy soundproof cafe while I sipped a pumpkin spice latte.

Why was I blown away? Well, for starters, it’s almost unheard of to find ANC in an open-ear design like the entry-level AirPods. The AirPods Pro 2, for example, have silicone tips that create a perfect seal in consumers’ ears, making it easier to block out external sounds in addition to ANC.

But open-ear models like the AirPods 4 are tricky because they don’t completely seal off your ears, leaving them somewhat exposed. However, Apple has managed to achieve this, thanks to a mix of improved microphones, the H2 processor, and cutting-edge computational audio.

I’m looking forward to putting the AirPods 4 to the test in more challenging environments, like airports. The AirPods Max are, in my opinion, the best active noise-canceling earbuds out there. It’s unlikely that the AirPods 4 will be able to compete with the AirPods Max, but I’m curious to see if they could be a portable alternative with a few compromises.

The AirPods 4 come in two models: one with ANC and one without. The AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179 via Best Buy while the model without ANC will set you back $129.