Apple Debuts AirPods 4 and an All-in-One Hearing Health Experience With AirPods Pro 2

Apple today unveiled two new versions of the AirPods 4 wireless earbuds: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The Cupertino firm also announced new color options and USB-C connectivity and charging for its AirPods Max over-ear wireless headphones.

AirPods 4

The new AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation earbuds offer an open-air design which Apple says sets an entirely new benchmark for fit and comfort. Apple designed the earbuds using advanced tools like 3D photogrammetry and laser topography, precisely mapping and analyzing thousands of ear shapes for more than 50 million individual data points in total. Apple claims the new AirPods 4 are the most comfortable AirPods ever.

The new AirPods are said to provide a massive improvement in sound quality and feature an entirely new acoustic architecture, low-distortion driver, and high dynamic range amplifier. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking provides an immersive media experience.

Apple’s AirPods 4 are powered by the H2 chip, providing many of the same new iOS 18 features that are coming to the AirPods Pro. These include Voice Isolation, which offers clearer call quality in any environment, and Siri Interactions, which let users interact with Siri announcements with a nod of their head for yes or a shake of the head to respond negatively.

AirPods 4 also feature a new force sensor on the stem to play or pause media and mute or end calls with a quick press. The H2 chip means AirPods 4 are also great for gaming, delivering low wireless audio latency and excellent voice quality when communicating with other players. The AirPods 4 support 16-bit, 48kHz audio.

The provided charging case now offers USB-C charging and is more than 10% smaller than its predecessor, although it still delivers up to 30 hours of battery life. Users can charge the case with a USB-C charging cable, and customers that opt for the more expensive AirPods 4 with ANC can charge the case using an Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger.

AirPods 4, for the first time, bring ANC to an open-ear design. AirPods 4 with ANC help to reduce environmental noise and deliver a natural listening experience. They also offer features like Transparency mode to allow users to stay aware of their surrounding environment; Adaptive Audio, which blends Transparency mode and ANC based on user’s environment; and Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers the volume of the user’s media when they begin speaking to someone nearby.

AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test This Fall

This fall, AirPods Pro 2 will introduce what Apple says is the world’s first end-to-end hearing health experience. The earbuds will offer active Hearing Protection, a scientifically validated Hearing Test, and a “clinical-grade” Hearing Aid feature.

The test is easy to take and provides users with an interactive testing experience. After taking the test, users will be able to view a summary of their test results in a personalized hearing profile for AirPods Pro, stored privately in the secure Health app. Test results can also be shared with their healthcare providers to allow them to better communicate with them.

Both the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to receive marketing consent from global health authorities soon, and the tests will be available this fall in 100+ countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, and Japan.

AirPods Max

Apple has made a few changes to its AirPods Max over-the-ear headphones including USB-C charging and new color options.

AirPods Max are available in five new colors, including midnight, starlight, blue, orange, and purple, offering finishes that are complementary to other Apple products like the Mac and iPad. AirPods Max also now feature USB-C charging capabilities, making them more convenient than ever to charge at home or on the go.

Pricing and Availability

Customers can now pre-order AirPods 4 for $129 (US) from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in the US and 58+ other countries and regions. Availability begins Friday, September 20.

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation can be pre-ordered for $179 (US) from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in the US and 58+ other countries and regions. Availability begins Friday, September 20.

New hearing health features (Hearing Test and Hearing Aid) will be available this fall for AirPods Pro 2 customers in a free software update. An iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 is required.

The AirPods Pro 2 are available for $249 (US) from apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app.