Apple AirPods 4
The New Kid On The Block
Apple AirPods 4 introduce an open-ear design with Active Noise Cancellation, powered by the H2 chip. They provide personalized spatial audio, voice isolation, and a compact USB-C charging case
Apple AirPods 3rd Generation
The Reigning Champ
Apple AirPods 3 offer a comfortable fit with Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio for immersive sound. They feature MagSafe wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, and seamless integration with iOS devices.
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AirPods, if you think about it, are basically the fanny pack versions of tech. You don’t know if you really need them or want them, but try them on once and bippity-boppity-boo, they’re your most prized possession (and all you can talk about through the weekend). Enter stage - the AirPods 4, the latest shiny doodad from Cupertino. Sure,Applecould’ve just sent us a memo saying, “Hey, these are marginally better,” but where’s the fun in that?
I actually think that it makes more sense to pit them in a fight with the AirPods 3. See who comes out on top and everything. Did anyone ask for it? I’m fairly sure the answer will be a resounding no, but ah, let’s do this, shall we?
Design
Kicking things off with the superficial, one thing I can say about the 4s is that they are absolute lookers! Apple has kept that signature AirPod shape we know and love, but given the stems a little haircut. A shorter stem means less chance of rocking that goofy electric toothbrush look. The buds themselves are a smidge more petite too, so Apple’s promising a comfier fit for more ears out there.
Of course, comfort’s a personal thing, and what’s cushy for me might be agony for you. But from my testing, it seems like they nestle in there a little nicer than the 3s. Not wildly different, but you’ll notice it during a long listening sesh.The charging case got a bit of a slim-down too. It is now roughly 10 percent less chunky than it was before. It doesn’t sound huge on paper, but for real, you’ll appreciate the extra space in your pockets.One of those “how did I live without this” type upgrades if you’re a hardcore Apple enthusiast.
One thing that hasn’t changed? The open-ear design.Unlike the AirPods Pro, both the 3s and 4s stick with the one-size-fits-all approach. No silicone tips here,folks. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it feature, but personally, I dig it. There’s something to be said for earbuds that don’t make you feel like you’ve stuffed a marshmallow in your ear canal.
Audio
Okay, let’s get into the nitty-gritty part of things, the audio quality. Apple spiced things up with a new custom driver and amplifier promising more dynamic sound. But can you actually hear the difference? In short? Yes, you can, but it’s subtle sauce.There is definitely a bump in the bass impact, as far as I can tell. The mids and highs also sound a tinch clearer, letting you pick out extra details. I can definitely guarantee that your Spotify playlists will bang a little harder on the 4s than they did with the 3s.
But the AirPods 3 are no audio slouches either. They still sound great, especially coming from older AirPods. However, doing a side-by-side sound test, you can hear the upgrades. It’s not a night and day difference, but noticeable for the discerning ear.
Now here’s something juicy.The AirPods 4 are sporting Apple’s new H2 chip under the hood. These pods unlock bonuses like Adaptive EQ, constantly tweaking sound quality on the fly.It’s basically like having a little grumpy, under-paid, sound engineer inside your ear that works full-time. One area where the AirPods 4 really shine is spatial audio. Both models support it, but the 4s take it to another level. Listening to a well-mixed spatial audio track on the AirPods 4 is like being in the middle of a concert.The soundstage is wider, the instrument separation is clearer, and the overall experience is more immersive. If you’re big on spatial audio, this alone might be worth the upgrade.
Butthe real showstopper feature is active noise cancellation (ANC) on the higher-end AirPods 4 model.Open-ear buds have never been able to effectively block external noise, but Apple’s pulled some audio magic to make it work. The ANC won’t mute a jet engine, but it does a solid job of muffling everyday background noise.. And with Transparency Mode, you can let sound in when needed.
Battery Life
Both generations have really impressive battery life, with the AirPods 3 capable of six hours of listening time outside the case, and 30 hours total including charging cycles. The AirPods 4 match that closely, with ANC off extending listening time to six hours, dipping just slightly to five hours with ANC activated. Factoring in the case, you’re still looking at 30 hours max either way.
Of course, real world mileage may vary based on usage scenarios. Using power hungry features like Spatial Audio or frequently toggling between ANC and transparency mode could nibble away at playtime. From my experience though, both last admirably long whether you’re taking calls, streaming tunes or watching video. One novel bonus for existing Apple Watch owners though - the AirPods 4 case can now charge directly from an Apple Watch puck for added convenience.
Other Features
Both AirPods models have brains, but the H2 chip makes the 4s a bit smarter, powering handy upgrades like more seamless auto-device switching and a new Adaptive Audio feature that auto-adjusts volume based on ambient noise levels. Cool tricks like these make Apple’s ecosystem an intuitive place to live.
The AirPods 4 also introduce a new feature called Adaptive Audio. This automatically adjusts the volume based on your environment. So if you walk from a quiet room into a noisy street, it’ll bump up the volume to compensate. It’s subtle, but once you get used to it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. Another cool new feature is Conversation Awareness.When you start talking, it automatically lowers the volume of your music and enhances the voices around you. It’s like the AirPods are saying, “Oh, you’re having a conversation? Let me help you out with that.”
The AirPods 3 aren’t exactlydumb, though.They still have features like automatic ear detection, audio sharing, and “Hey Siri” support. But they lack some of the more advanced features of the 4s. One area where both models go toe-to-toe is call quality.Apple’s been killing it in this department for years, and both the 3s and 4s continue that tradition. But again, and you guessed it, the 4s do have a slight edge here, thanks to improved beamforming microphones and that H2 chip processing.
My Verdict
Look, it’s Apple. They just rehash the same thing every year, so you’re not looking at any real upgrades until you wait for two more years. Both these models are amazing, and give you a brilliant performance in terms of battery life, call clarity, and basic sound. The only new thing about the AirPods 4 is that you have Adaptive Audio, ANC (if you’re going for that model), and Conversational Awareness.
Are these features something that an everyday user absolutely needs? I don’t think so. The AirPods 4 are just slightly better than the 3s, and still a notch below the Pro 2s. In fact, you’re not even going to get the ANC on the standard 4s unless you spring extra. So what I’d say is - if you have the dough for a new AirPods, go for the 4 instead of the 3. BUT if you already own an AirPods 3, then I don’t think it makes sense to upgrade it so soon. In fact, we have some speculations about the new AirPods Pro 3 coming out in early 2025. My recommendation would be to save up and go for those, if a switch is what you’re after.
FAQs
Do the AirPods 4 come with different sized ear tips?
It looks like Apple is sticking to the whole one-size-fits-all approach from the previous non-Pro models, so the AirPods 4 sadly not come with interchangeable ear-tips. That’s something you can find on the AirPods Pro 2, though!
Are the AirPods 4 waterproof?
Yes, these puppies have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, making them suitable for workouts and light rain. No Olympic swimming, though. Sad, I was going for gold this year.
How long does it take to fully charge the AirPods 4?
Roughly speaking, they take about an hour to get a full charge. If you don’t have the time to spare, a quick 5-minute charge should be enough to give you about an hour of listening time.
