AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 4 with Noise Canceling: Which Should You Buy?

Apple AirPods 4

For

Reasonable price
Gesture control adds value
Decent battery life

Against

No noise cancellation
No wireless charger
No speaker just in case

AirPods 4 just in case

Battery (buttons): 5 hours (4 hours with noise cancellation)

Battery with case: 30 hours (20 hours with noise cancellation)

Weight (bud): 4.3 g per earphone

Noise cancellation: Yes

Spatial audio: Yes, personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking

Water resistance:IP54

For a little extra, AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation bring even more to the table. Additional features include, of course, noise cancellation (which will be the deciding factor for many buyers), but you also get adaptive audio, transparency mode, and conversation awareness. Additionally, you have the option to charge not only with USB-C, but also with any Qi wireless charger or your Apple Watch charger. The case has a speaker for use with Find My. OUR first verdict of AirPods 4 with noise cancellation details all these features.

For

Noise cancellation has a big effect
Audio playback is rich and clear
Spatial audio sounds good

Against

Below-average battery life
Some sound leakage from outer ear adjustment

Apple’s latest version of the popular AirPods makes a great addition to the best AirPods align. They come in two different models, so we’re here to help you choose between them. While they both bring welcome improvements to Apple’s wide selection of glacier white headphones, there are a few key differences that we’ll detail in this article.

If active noise cancellation is your make-or-break feature, choosing between these two AirPods 4 models is a breeze – you have to pay the extra and get the whole thing with ANC (although we can point you to the AirPods Pro 2 who recently won a plot software upgrades, or another model in our guide to the best noise-canceling headphones).

However, if you’re hesitant (you might often use some of the best open-back headphones to better hear the world around you and that way you won’t miss the noise cancellation you don’t want) or would like to take into account Consider other features, keep reading – we’ve got all the details you need to make the best decision.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 4 with noise cancellation: price and release date

Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation cost $179 / £179 / AU$299. They were released on September 20, 2024.

The regular Apple AirPods 4, released the same day, are a little cheaper at $129 / £129 / AU$219. They offer the same great audio quality but lack ANC and other features.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation: Features

Both versions of AirPods 4 have some exciting new features. The current shape has been updated to fit more people’s ears, more comfortably and safely. The new H2 chip and voice isolation function enable clearer phone calls. New acoustic architecture and personalized spatial audio improve sound quality. The adaptive equalizer calibrates the sound to suit your ears. The stems have been updated with a force sensor, giving you access to the controls with a simple pinch. The IP54 rating means they are dust and sweat resistant. Although the case is smaller, you still get five hours of listening time on a single charge, up to 30 hours with the case.

Both models also support head gestures using Siri, meaning you can accept a call or respond to notifications and messages by nodding your head up and down, or decline a call (or dismiss notifications and messages) by shaking your head from side to side. as long as you make sure Announce Calls and Announce Notifications are enabled.

AirPods 4 with noise cancellation have additional exclusive features. Obviously, active noise cancellation is the most important, but transparency mode, adaptive audio, and conversation awareness (which detects when you speak, reduces your music, and amplifies voices around you) work with mic technology ANC to ensure you don’t miss out. about what surrounds you.

Other features exclusive to the more expensive model include wireless charging (via the Apple Watch charger or any Qi charger) and an in-case speaker for use with Find My.

AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 4 with noise cancellation: audio performance

Apple confirms that audio performance for listening to music and videos will be similar (the acoustic design is improved equally on both models), although of course the ANC will likely make a big difference to the clarity of your tracks when listening in a noisy environment.

OUR AirPods 4 review with noise cancellationJacob Krol, found the sound quality to be comparable to the AirPods Pro 2, even without the earbuds sealing in the ear like the AirPod Pro 2’s silicone tips do. The clear, rich sound quality is enhanced with Spatial Audio support. Spatial Audio completely immerses you in sound, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action when watching a video. As you listen to music, various elements of the track appear to flow around you – and thanks to dynamic head tracking, you can also turn your head and use your source device as a fixed point for the audio.

The H2 chip in both models powers the adaptive EQ that defines the audio experience. Adaptive EQ brings high excursion custom drive and high dynamic range amplifier. There is an H2 chip inside each earbud and Bluetooth 5.3 connects them to your device.

You’ll get a balanced rendition of whatever you’re listening to, including a surprising amount of bass for the headphones that are what Apple calls its best-fit “open-ear” design. No matter what genre of music you prefer, you’ll get the sound you expect, although there will be some sound leakage at higher volumes.

There are significant differences in audio performance between AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation. AirPods 4 with noise cancellation have additional features that cheaper AirPods 4 don’t have. In addition to ANC, the more expensive model has Transparency mode, adaptive audio, and conversation awareness. Transparency mode lets you hear your surroundings clearly. Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts noise control, balancing noise cancellation and Transparency mode for you. Conversation Awareness reduces the volume of whatever you’re listening to on AirPods when they sense you’re talking with someone.

AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 4 with noise cancellation: design and fit

Both AirPods 4 models have the proven AirPods design – but better. The stems are short, like the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2. The hard plastic part that sits in your ear is more curved and refined than the AirPods 3, making the fit better for most people. Our reviewer wore them continuously on a 4.5-hour flight and intermittently for countless hours, quite comfortably. They didn’t fall out, even with the turbulence of the flight, walking around a busy city and training.

The case is smaller than the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2, measuring just 1.82 inches (46.2 mm) X 1.97 inches (50.1 mm) X 0.83 inches (21.2 mm). An individual AirPod weighs just 0.15 ounces (4.3 grams). In the case, the AirPods 4 weigh 1.14 ounces (32.3 grams) while the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation weigh 1.22 ounces (34.7 grams).

Both models charge with a USB-C cable, although no cable is included in the box. AirPods 4 with noise cancellation can also be charged with your Apple Watch charger or with a Qi wireless charger.

The back button for easy pairing is gone; Now you double tap the new secret and capacitive button for pairing with other devices.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 4 with noise cancellation: Verdict

If active noise cancellation is the feature that matters most to you, I’m surprised you’ve read this far because the choice is clear. If price matters most, the savings you’ll make by skipping the ANC model will make your choice easier. However, if you are hesitant, other differences will come into play.

AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation offer some features that regular AirPods 4 don’t have. In addition to ANC, this model offers Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness, which prevent noise cancellation from blocking your surroundings if necessary. Transparency mode is basically the opposite of noise cancellation, letting the outside world in. Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume when your AirPods detect that you’re talking to someone (in person.)

Both models charge via USB-C, but only AirPods 4 with noise cancellation can also be charged wirelessly with an Apple Watch charger or any Qi wireless charger. The case of this model also has speakers, for use with Find My. This is an especially important feature for someone who tends to misplace their AirPods.