AirPods 4 Review: Which Ones To Get?

Summary

The video reviews Apple's new AirPods 4, highlighting two versions: a base model for $129 and a noise-canceling variant for $179. Both feature a redesigned shape for better fit and IP54 dust and water resistance. The noise-canceling version includes a smaller case with USB-C, wireless charging, and a speaker for locating lost AirPods, but lacks MagSafe. The ANC is effective but not as impressive as the AirPods Pro. Transparency mode is praised as one of the best. Battery life is slightly reduced with ANC. The video also touches on the lack of updates to the AirPods Max and the benefits of the H2 chip in the new AirPods.

Takeaways

• 🎧 Apple introduced two versions of AirPods 4: a base model for $129 and a noise-canceling model for $179.
• 🔄 The new AirPods 4 have a slightly redesigned shape with improved angles for better fit and sound directionality, but the stem is shorter.
• 💦 Both versions now have IP54 dust and water resistance, an upgrade from the previous IPX4 rating.
• 🔋 The noise-canceling version of AirPods 4 comes with a new case that supports USB-C charging, wireless charging, and has a speaker for finding and charging notifications.
• 📱 The case design has removed MagSafe compatibility due to its slightly smaller size, which is a downside for some users.
• 🔍 The physical pairing button from the previous model is replaced with a capacitive touch area on the case for initiating pairing mode and factory resets.
• 🎵 Active Noise Cancellation on the AirPods 4 is not as effective as on the AirPods Pro due to the hard-tip design allowing slight air gaps.
• 🔊 Transparency mode on the AirPods 4 is highly praised, possibly being the best among AirPods for letting in environmental sounds.
• 🕒 Battery life with ANC enabled is rated at 4 hours for listening and 20 hours total with the case, which is slightly less than the non-ANC version.
• 🎚 The H2 chip in the new AirPods 4 enhances features like noise cancellation, transparency mode, and allows head gestures for Siri interactions.
• 💰 For those who prefer a better fit and noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro are recommended, and they can be found for around $199 on Amazon.

Q & A

What are the two types of people in the world according to the video in terms of AirPods?

The video suggests there are two types of people: those who AirPods fit in their ears and those for whom AirPods don't fit well.

What are the two versions of the new AirPods mentioned in the video?

The video discusses two versions of the new AirPods: the base AirPods 4 for $129 and the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation for $179.

How has the shape of the AirPods buds been tweaked in the new version?

The new AirPods have a slightly different shape with new curves and angles, and the driver points more directly into the ear with less reflections. The stem is also a bit shorter.

What is the IP rating for the new AirPods and how does it compare to the previous version?

The new AirPods have an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, which is an upgrade from the IPX4 rating of the previous version.

Does the new shape of AirPods 4 improve fit for the reviewer?

The reviewer found the new shape of AirPods 4 to be slightly better but still not ideal for their ears, as they would slowly fall out even when just sitting.

What are the differences between the case of the base AirPods 4 and the noise-canceling version?

The case for the noise-canceling version is smaller, has a USB type C port, a small speaker for charging and locating sounds, and supports wireless charging, but lacks MagSafe functionality.

What is the hidden feature of the new AirPods case that replaces the pairing button?

The hidden feature is a capacitive touch area under the pairing light on the front of the case, which allows for initiating pairing mode with a double tap and factory resetting with a triple tap.

How does the reviewer rate the Active Noise Cancellation of the new AirPods compared to AirPods Pro?

The reviewer finds the Active Noise Cancellation on the new AirPods to be impressive but not as effective as the AirPods Pro, due to the hard tip not fitting perfectly in the ear.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the transparency mode of the new AirPods?

The reviewer considers the transparency mode on the new AirPods to be possibly the best they've ever heard on any AirPods.

How does the battery life of the new AirPods with ANC compare to the base model?

The battery life of the new AirPods with ANC is slightly worse, rated for four hours of listening time with a total of 20 hours with the case.

What is the reviewer's personal preference regarding earbud tips and why?

The reviewer prefers silicon ear tips for a better fit and improved noise cancellation, which is why they lean towards AirPods Pro.

Outlines

00:00

🎧 AirPods 4 Overview and Design

The paragraph introduces the new AirPods 4, highlighting two versions available: one at $129 without noise cancellation and another at $179 with active noise cancellation. The speaker discusses the design tweaks, including a shorter stem and improved fit, but notes that they still resemble previous AirPods models. The AirPods 4 feature IP54 dust and water resistance, an upgrade from the previous IPX4 rating, and maintain in-ear detection and全方位 microphones. The speaker shares their personal struggle with fitting hard-tipped AirPods and tests whether the new model fits better, finding only a slight improvement. Both versions of AirPods 4 are said to have the same size and shape, with differences appearing in the charging case.

05:01

🔊 Noise Cancellation and Additional Features

This section delves into the noise cancellation feature of the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, comparing it to the AirPods Pro. The speaker notes that while the ANC is effective, it does not completely eliminate background noise like the AirPods Pro do, attributing this to the hard-tip design allowing slight air gaps. The noise reduction is described as useful, especially in loud environments, but less so in quiet settings. The transparency mode is praised as possibly the best among AirPods. Additional features like battery life, ultra-low latency support for Vision Pro, and precision finding with a speaker on the case are mentioned. The paragraph also touches on the removal of MagSafe charging compatibility and the more secure feeling magnets in the new case. A hidden feature of a capacitive touch area for pairing and resetting the AirPods is revealed.

10:02

🌐 AirPods Ecosystem and Accessories

The final paragraph discusses the ecosystem compatibility of AirPods, emphasizing their seamless integration with Apple devices. It mentions that while other earbuds may outperform AirPods in specific categories like fit, battery life, or sound quality, AirPods remain a strong choice for Apple users due to their balanced performance and ecosystem synergy. The speaker also mentions the Area 51 case by dbrand, which offers a unique 3D-printed texture and is available in different colorways. The case is praised for its durability and grip, and the speaker notes its availability for various devices. The paragraph concludes with a thank you note to the viewers and a teaser for the next video.

Keywords

💡AirPods

AirPods are Apple's wireless earbuds, known for their sleek design and seamless integration with Apple devices. In the video, the term refers to the new generation of AirPods being reviewed, which come in two versions: one with and one without active noise cancellation. The script discusses the design tweaks, fit, and functionality of these new models, highlighting how they compare to previous versions and their suitability for different types of users.

💡Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Active Noise Cancellation is a technology that reduces unwanted ambient sounds by the earbuds generating inverse sound waves. The video discusses the ANC feature in the new AirPods, comparing its effectiveness to that of the AirPods Pro. The reviewer notes that while the ANC in the new AirPods is impressive, it does not completely eliminate background noise as effectively as the AirPods Pro due to the hard-tipped design allowing some sound leakage.

💡Transparency Mode

Transparency Mode allows users to hear their surroundings while still listening to audio through their earbuds. The video praises the new AirPods' Transparency Mode, suggesting it might be the best among all AirPods models. This feature is particularly useful for safety and awareness of one's environment while using earbuds.

💡USB Type-C

USB Type-C is a newer, more versatile charging port standard that allows for faster charging and data transfer. The video mentions the inclusion of a USB Type-C port on the new AirPods case, which is seen as an upgrade from the previous models that used a Lightning port. This change makes the AirPods more compatible with a wider range of devices and chargers.

💡MagSafe

MagSafe is Apple's magnetic charging technology. The video discusses the removal of MagSafe support from the new AirPods case, which is a downside according to the reviewer. Previously, the AirPods case could attach magnetically to a MagSafe charger for convenient charging, but the new design does not support this feature.

💡IP54 Rating

IP54 is an Ingress Protection rating that indicates the level of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (such as dust) and water. The video notes that the new AirPods have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, which is an improvement over the previous IPX4 rating, making them more durable for everyday use.

💡In-ear Detection

In-ear Detection is a feature that allows earbuds to sense when they are in the user's ear and pause or play audio accordingly. The video mentions that the new AirPods still have in-ear detection, which is a standard feature in many high-end earbuds that enhances user experience by automatically managing media playback.

💡H2 Chip

The H2 Chip is a new Apple-designed chip that powers the advanced features of the new AirPods, such as improved noise cancellation and audio processing. The video explains that the H2 Chip is responsible for the enhanced capabilities of the AirPods, including the ability to perform tasks like answering calls with head nods, which is a notable upgrade from previous models.

💡Precision Finding

Precision Finding is a feature that helps locate misplaced AirPods by using sound and visual cues. The video highlights the usefulness of the speaker on the case for the Precision Finding feature, which can emit a sound to help locate the AirPods if they are lost or misplaced.

💡Area 51 Case

The Area 51 Case is a product from dbrand, a sponsor mentioned in the video, which offers a unique 3D-printed texture design for the AirPods case. The video describes the case's topographical pattern and its tactile quality, suggesting it as an alternative for those who prefer a different aesthetic to the standard AirPods case.

💡EQ (Equalization)

Equalization (EQ) refers to the process of adjusting the balance of audio frequencies to achieve a desired sound. The video notes the lack of EQ customization in the new AirPods, which means users cannot tailor the sound profile to their personal preferences. This is contrasted with other earbuds that offer more audio customization options.

Highlights

Apple introduced two versions of AirPods this year: AirPods 4 at $129 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation at $179.

The new AirPods have a slightly redesigned shape with new curves and angles for better fit and sound delivery.

The stem of the AirPods is shorter, and they still maintain a familiar look.

AirPods 4 have improved IP54 dust and water resistance, up from IPX4 of the previous model.

In-ear detection and microphones are still present around the AirPods for functionality.

The new case is smaller and features USB-C charging, but lacks MagSafe compatibility.

The noise-canceling version of AirPods 4 includes a speaker on the case for charging notifications and finding the case.

The case also supports wireless charging for the noise-canceling version.

The physical pairing button from previous models is replaced with a capacitive touch area for pairing and resetting.

Active Noise Cancellation on AirPods 4 is effective but not as good as AirPods Pro due to the hard tip design.

Transparency mode on the new AirPods is praised as possibly the best among all AirPods models.

Battery life with ANC is rated at four hours, with a total of 20 hours with the case.

AirPods 4 with ANC support ultra-low latency for Vision Pro, a feature shared with AirPods Pro.

Precision finding is useful, especially with the speaker on the case to help locate the AirPods.

AirPods Max received a minor update with USB-C support and new colors but no significant feature enhancements.

The H2 chip in AirPods 4 is responsible for processing noise reduction, ANC, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio.

Sound quality on the new AirPods is solid, offering a balanced frequency response suitable for various types of audio content.

Despite some drawbacks, AirPods 4 still offer seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.

dbrand offers the Area 51 case for a unique and textured design alternative for AirPods.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

- So there's two types of people in this world:

Either AirPods fit in your ears

or AirPods don't fit in your ears.

There's two types of people in this world:

You either love silicon-tipped in-earbuds

or you hate silicon-tipped in-earbuds.

There's two types of people in this world:

people who really need noise cancellation

and people who don't really care about it.

But Apple wants both people's money.

So there's two versions of the new AirPods this year.

It was kinda confusing the way they announced it

at the keynote, but essentially,

for 129 there's the base AirPods 4,

but then for 179 there's AirPods 4 with noise cancellation.

But that is not the only difference between them.

So now that I've been testing 'em for a few days,

I can give you the verdict on them,

what the differences are, and if they're actually worth it.

So first of all,

let's just start with the AirPods themselves.

They've tweaked the shape of these buds again,

and so they've gotten some new curves and some new angles,

and the driver points a little bit more directly

into your ear with less reflections.

The stem is also a little bit shorter,

but otherwise, I mean, yeah, they still look like AirPods.

They're very familiar.

They have IP54 dust and water resistance,

up from IPX4 last year.

And they still have the in-ear detection,

there's still microphones all the way around,

but my biggest question personally,

before anything else, was actually just,

does this slightly new shape actually fit better in my ear?

Because I have not had any luck

with hard-tipped AirPods ever really,

since they first came out.

The latest version was the closest,

like I could put them in my ears,

but if I jogged for more than about 10 seconds,

they would just slowly fall out.

So are the 4s actually better for me?

Slightly, but not really.

I put 'em in my ears.

I was trying to, okay, let's see if this is actually better.

I kind of twist 'em a little bit, do the classic,

like, you know, get 'em seated in my ear,

but it's not for very long.

They still slowly, even when I'm just sitting around,

slowly feel like they're coming outta my ear.

So I think if you had problems with previous AirPods,

you'll probably still have problems with these,

but if they fit in your ears,

then these will also fit in your ears.

Now, all of what I've said so far is true

about both the base AirPods

and the active noise-canceling version.

They're the same size, shame shape and everything.

Like, you can't tell the difference

from the outside of the buds.

Where the differences start, though, is this new case.

So let's look at the case. The case is a little bit smaller.

It is USB type C, thank God.

But with the base version, that's it.

It's just a case with USB-C.

With the noise-canceling headphones,

the case also gets a small speaker at the bottom

so they can chime when it's charging

and they make a noise when they're lost,

and they have wireless charging

on the back as well, (AirPods chime)

which is super convenient.

One thing I've noticed, though,

it doesn't have MagSafe anymore,

I think because this case is literally

just slightly too small now.

So the last generation of AirPods,

the case with wireless charging would actually align

and stick to the back of a MagSafe charger,

which is really convenient for just like dropping it

on the charger, not thinking about it.

But this year's case, you know, slightly smaller.

I think it's just a little bit smaller

than the magnetic ring.

So that's gone.

So it'll still charge on any cheat charger,

but it does not stick to it for any sort of alignment,

which is kind of a bummer.

So if you've got one of those upright chargers,

then you try to stick it to it, it'll just slide off now.

So USB type C, upside. MagSafe gone, downside.

I also have noticed,

and maybe it's just 'cause they're brand new,

but it feels like the magnets holding them

into the case just feels more secure.

I think that's a good thing.

And this case still works with Apple Watch puck chargers,

by the way, fun fact.

This isn't a normal cheat charger at all.

It literally only charges Apple Watches and AirPods.

But hey, they still do magnetize,

so maybe that's worth something.

And then for the hidden feature

that nobody's mentioned in any of the presentations

or keynotes or anything.

Remember the back of AirPods 3,

there was a little pairing button?

So if you were manually pairing it to a phone

or something like that, you would hit this button.

That is gone from the new AirPods 4 case.

So where did that go?

And it turns out now it's a hidden capacitive touch area,

kind of right underneath the pairing light on the front.

So you can double tap here, then it starts blinking,

and that initiates the pairing mode.

And actually, a triple tap will allow you

to start a factory reset of the buds.

So no longer a physical button, kind of a hidden trick.

The more you know.

But the biggest question

that I'm sure most people are actually wondering is,

how good is the Active Noise Cancellation

on these new AirPods?

Should you actually choose to get it

without going AirPods Pro with silicon tips?

Is it actually good?

So my point of reference is going to be AirPods Pro 2.

You know, obviously there's lots of other earbuds

that have ANC, but just sound quality,

apples for apples wise,

that's probably the most direct comparison.

And I'll say, while these are impressive,

they are definitely not as good as the Pros.

They're just not.

And this is most definitely because of physics.

So, since the hard tip doesn't absolutely perfectly fit

inside my ear one-to-one, it just means there's a little bit

of air gaps around the outside of it, just a little.

There's a little bit of sound that can make it

from the outside into my ear, literally around the earbud.

So whether it's white noise, or street sounds, or voices,

the ANC clearly works, and it does a good job

of basically lowering the background noise

so you can hear whatever you're listening to better,

but it's not quite gone.

So I feel like if AirPods Pro are like an 8 outta 10

for noise cancellation, just based on how much

of the background noise it's removing,

these hard-tipped AirPods are around like a four,

maybe four or five.

It's less noise cancellation

and more noise reduction, if that makes sense.

Like, still very useful,

but it's most useful in particularly loud environments.

Like, if you're on a train or on a plane

or with like a lot of loud voices

or street sounds around you,

that's when you'll most appreciate the reduction in noise

because you can hear what you're actually trying

to listen to better.

But if you're in a quiet room,

or a library, or something like that,

it doesn't actually make that much of a difference.

But then, probably just as important

as noise cancellation, is every pair of headphones

that has that should also have transparency mode.

And these do.

And this might be the best transparency mode I've ever heard

on any AirPods.

Sounds supernatural probably because literally some

of the outside environment noise is already getting in,

and so what it boosts in through the microphones

should sound just like it.

Some other small tidbits about these:

Battery life does technically get slightly worse

with ANC on.

So it's rated for four hours, still respectable,

but a total of 20 hours with the case

with noise cancellation.

These also now join AirPods Pro with USB-C

as the only other headphones

to have the ultra-low latency support for Vision Pro.

So thanks, H2 chip.

And then precision finding is useful,

but that speaker does really help

if they're kind of underneath something,

or inside a bag,

or you need to find it but don't really have a visual on it.

Love having the speaker on the case.

And then if you were paying really close attention

in the last Apple keynote, you might have caught

that there was actually also an AirPods Max refresh

alongside these.

But I use the word refresh like very lightly

just because all they really did was make it USB type C

and some new colors, and that's it.

Literally, that's it.

They didn't do any other, no mesh updates,

no case updates, no on/off switch,

no material updates, no driver updates,

no sound quality changes, no new features,

no H2 chip, just USB-C.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

And I will not be reviewing those headphones,

but what I did see is some comments of people asking,

like, "Wait, what is the H2 chip even all about?

Like, does it matter

that the new ones didn't get the H2 chip?"

So let me just break down what that's for.

The H2 chip inside these AirPods is basically doing all

of the processing, especially from these microphones.

So all of the improved background noise reduction

for phone calls, all of the Active Noise Cancellation,

Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio.

And it also now lets you nod

or shake your head to answer Siri questions.

So if there's like an incoming call

and it announces a new call, you can literally nod your head

to answer it instead of talking out loud.

Or if you get a text and Siri asks, "Do you wanna respond,"

but you don't want to, you literally just shake your head.

It actually works super well.

But then it's also just a matter of principle.

Like, there's no way your brand-new, flagship,

$550 over-ear noise-canceling headphones

shouldn't have all the latest

and greatest parts internally and externally,

but here we are.

But anyway, the sound quality

of these new AirPods is perfectly solid.

Some people were surprised at my opinion

about this last time,

but the AirPods 3 did take a pretty respectable step up.

And while there still is no EQ anywhere

and there's not a whole lot of customization to the sound,

they do a good job of sort of being decent at everything.

'Cause these have to do phone calls and podcasts,

which have a lot of vocal frequencies,

but they also have to do movies,

and they also have to do music,

and they're kind of just tuned to be solid at everything.

So overall, 129 for the base AirPods,

179 for the AirPods with Active Noise Cancellation.

Now you know all the differences.

Now you know what they do and how good they are at it,

and you can choose which one you want for yourself.

Me personally,

I'm still a silicon ear tips person just for my own EarPods.

Like, they fit in my ears so much better,

the seal is so much better,

it makes the noise cancellation dramatically better.

So I'm still leaning AirPods Pro for myself.

Matter of fact, you can get AirPods Pro on Amazon

for like 199 right now,

so it's only 20 bucks more than these.

But I still think people will happily save the 20 bucks

and get the hard-tipped ones.

They still get beat in individual categories

by others in the wide world

of other earbuds available out there.

Like, some will have a better fit in the ear,

which will be better for working out and running and stuff.

Some others will have better battery life,

and even some others will have better sound quality,

especially for music.

But these are still AirPods, which means they work best

with the ecosystem, with the seamless switching

between all of the Apple devices in your life.

And they still have that sort of generic

useful frequency response across the range for everything.

That's what they're good at.

Now, if you're thinking of picking up a new pair of AirPods

but you don't love the dental floss look,

well then channel sponsor dbrand has you covered

with their new Area 51 case.

And this isn't just some regular printed design.

This topographical pattern has a crazy like 3D-printed

texture that you can actually feel.

I honestly, I'm not sure how they did this,

but the 3D ink, it's super durable.

It adds this extra layer of grippiness

that's hard to describe.

And this isn't just some random pattern.

Apparently, dbrand put an actual topographical map

of Area 51 on here, because of course they would.

So there are three different colorways of it.

There's red, yellow, and black.

And I'm usually all in on matte black,

but this is a nice yellow, it looks pretty sick.

And these new Area 51 skins are available

for a ton of different devices.

So I'll leave a link below in the description

if you wanna pick one up for yourself.

But that's basically it.

Thanks for watching,

and I'll catch you very soon in the next one.

Peace. (bright upbeat music)