The original Apple AirPods are iconic: the white earbud with the long straight stalk coming out of the ear was not only something very new, but at the time it did comically seem as though owners had literally cut off the cable from the previously ubiquitous white Apple Earbuds.
The AirPods were certainly not the first wireless headphones, but with the iPhone dropping the headphone jack just a year later they quickly became the go-to for Apple iPhone users.
Fast forward seven years and Apple has iterated several times with their “classic” AirPod, while also introducing a higher spec version known as the AirPods Pro. This year, the current AirPods Pro 2 range gets a software update, but the new hardware drops in the entry level AirPod, to be known simply as AirPods 4.
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The packaging is familiar, though as a full environmental focus means fibre-based wrapping around the actual device, and paper used throughout. I was sent for review two sets, because Apple didn’t just launch the AirPods 4 but also a new string to their bow – the AirPods 4 with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). This is a huge leap forward for the base range, with ANC previously only possible in the $399 AirPods Pro series.
My main criticism of the predecessor AirPods 3rd Generation was the price, at $279 when they launched (now found for $249) they just seemed a touch over priced compared to the many strong competitors in this market. But hey – people seem always willing to pay for Apple. Remarkably, and this is rare, Apple has shocked on price, and launched the new entry-level AirPods 4 at just $219.
That’s $60 cheaper than the last generation, and the new AirPods 4 with ANC will launch at $299 – $100 cheaper than the Pro version.
Now it should be stated clearly that the Noise Cancellation on the AirPods 4 with ANC is not to the standard of the AirPods Pro 2 – but, for a headphone without a silicon tip to passively seal the ear canal from the outside world, the Noise Cancellation that is achieved is above average. I think the best description from my testing (which has not involved an actual flight where these products are normally tuned for), is that instead of the white noise of an aircraft in flight sounding like wind blowing past you, instead It sounds like that’s happening in the next room. On a set of more expensive headphones, like the AirPods Pro 2, it might sound like it’s happening in a distant room.
That said, with music playing and ANC on, it’s a pretty focussed experience.
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You also get the benefit of features like conversation awareness, so when you’re playing music and start talking to someone the transparency mode kicks in so you can hear them, and thanks to the H2 chip upgrade, you also get the Siri head gestures (shake your head to deny a call when one comes through etc). And perhaps the headline feature of these new AirPods 4 is the Voice Isolation.
This uses the microphone array on the AirPod to isolate your voice when you’re on a call. You’ll sound like a crazy person yelling at people on the phone over the noise around you, but the person on the other end of the phone actually won’t hear the noise around you – so you’ll just be raising your voice for no reason. Works pretty darn well too.
The charging case is very small, the smallest Apple has made, but it’s narrow like the original AirPods, while not being as wide as the AirPods Pro case.
One backward step comes from the battery life. While there’s still a total of 30 hours battery life available between the AirPods and the case, they’ll only manage five hours in-ear, an hour less than the previous generation. And while that doesn’t sound too bad, the benchmark on other brands is seven hours or more. This is a disappointing backward step, but one you’ll only notice on a long haul flight to be fair.
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Personally, this open-ear or non-silicone-tip style headphone is just not for me. I can’t get it to stay in my ear or at least feel snug like it’s going to and there are plenty of options even at the $219 price point or lower with silicon tips or other fit adjustment options if that’s a worry for you.
Price is the king here, it’s a fantastic entry price, and for anyone with more than one Apple device, thanks to the instant switching of audio from Apple device to Apple device it makes it hard to suggest other headphones for those Apple folk.
That said, the headphone market is by far one of the busiest and competitive in consumer technology. Brands like JBL, Sony, Shokz are fighting for your dollar – so shop around.
AirPods 4 are the best Apple has done at the entry level, more than worthy of consideration for any iPhone user.
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