AirPods 4 (Why I'm Switching)

Summary

The new AirPods 4 are smaller and lighter than the AirPods Pro 2, with a starting price of $129 for the non-active noise cancellation version and $179 for the version with active noise cancellation and wireless charging. They are the first open-ear headphones to feature active noise cancellation, which performs well on flights. The AirPods 4 lack silicone tips for comfort and do not support spatialized audio with dynamic head tracking. They offer voice isolation, head nodding controls, and a speaker for the Find My feature. Battery life is four hours with active noise cancellation and five hours without, with the case providing additional 20 to 30 hours of charge. The AirPods 4 are available for pre-order and will officially launch on September 20th.

Takeaways

• 🎧 The new AirPods 4 are significantly smaller than the AirPods Pro 2.
• 💰 AirPods 4 are priced at $129 without active noise cancellation and $179 with it, including wireless charging capabilities.
• 🛫 These are the first open-ear headphones from Apple to feature active noise cancellation, tested and found effective during a flight.
• 👂 A preference is expressed for the original AirPods' design without silicone tips, which are present in the AirPods Pro 2 for a better fit.
• 🔍 The new case's small size raises concerns about its propensity to be lost.
• 🎵 Active noise cancellation on AirPods 4 was found to be very similar to that of the AirPods Pro 2, with a slight difference in bass depth.
• 🚫 AirPods 4 do not support spatialized audio with dynamic head tracking, a feature available on the Pro 2.
• 💬 The H2 chip in AirPods 4 enables voice isolation and head-nodding features for call answering and declining.
• 🔊 A speaker is included for the 'Find My' feature to help locate the small AirPods if lost.
• ⏰ Battery life for AirPods 4 is four hours with active noise cancellation and five hours without, with the case providing additional 20 or 30 hours depending on the ANC usage.
• 🔌 While supporting wireless charging, the AirPods 4 do not support MagSafe wireless charging unlike the AirPods Pro 2.

Q & A

What are the two different prices for the new AirPods 4 mentioned in the transcript?

The new AirPods 4 are priced at $129 without active noise cancellation and $179 with active noise cancellation, which also includes wireless charging and Apple Watch wireless charging.

What is unique about the open-ear headphones with active noise cancellation mentioned in the transcript?

The new AirPods 4 are the first open-ear headphones to feature active noise cancellation, which is a notable innovation in headphone technology.

How does the reviewer feel about the size of the new AirPods 4 case?

The reviewer is concerned that the new AirPods 4 case is so small that they might lose it, indicating a potential issue with the compact design.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the silicone tips of the AirPods Pro 2 compared to the AirPods 4?

The reviewer prefers the AirPods 4 because they do not have silicone tips, which they find more comfortable, while the AirPods Pro 2 has silicone tips.

When are the AirPods 4 available for purchase according to the transcript?

The AirPods 4 are available starting Friday, September 20th, but pre-orders can be made before that date.

How does the reviewer describe the active noise cancellation performance on a flight with the AirPods 4?

The reviewer tested the active noise cancellation on a flight and found it to be pretty good, similar to the performance of the AirPods Pro 2.

What is the difference in battery life between the AirPods 4 with and without active noise cancellation?

The AirPods 4 offer four hours of battery life with active noise cancellation on and five hours without it.

What additional charging features do the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation support that the $129 version does not?

The AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation support wireless charging, including Qi wireless chargers and Apple Watch chargers, whereas the $129 version only supports USB-C charging.

Does the AirPods 4 case support MagSafe wireless charging as mentioned in the transcript?

No, the AirPods 4 case does not support MagSafe wireless charging, unlike the AirPods Pro 2.

What features are exclusive to the AirPods Pro 2 that are not available on the AirPods 4?

The AirPods Pro 2 will have exclusive hearing health features such as hearing protection, a hearing aid feature, and a hearing test, which are not available on the AirPods 4.

Outlines

00:00

🎧 Overview of the New AirPods 4

The video introduces the new AirPods 4, highlighting their smaller size compared to the AirPods Pro 2. The presenter shares their personal experience with the new design, including the lack of silicone tips for a more comfortable fit. The AirPods 4 are available in two versions: one without active noise cancellation for $129 and another with active noise cancellation and wireless charging for $179. The presenter recommends the version with active noise cancellation, which is a first for open-ear headphones. They discuss the fit, which is designed to suit most ear types, and mention the availability of the product starting September 20th. The video also covers a comparison of the audio quality and noise cancellation features with the AirPods Pro 2, noting subtle differences in bass and the lack of spatialized audio with dynamic head tracking. Additional features like the H2 chip for voice isolation, head nodding for call control, and the Find My feature with a speaker are also discussed. The presenter expresses concern about the small case size and the potential for losing the AirPods, contrasting with the lanyard feature available for the Pro model. Battery life details are provided, with four hours of use with active noise cancellation and up to 20 hours of charging from the case. The video concludes with a comparison of charging options, noting that while wireless charging is supported, MagSafe wireless charging is not available for the AirPods 4.

05:00

📣 Call to Action for Future Content

The second paragraph serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to subscribe and turn on notifications for upcoming content. The presenter teases future videos featuring the Apple Watch and invites viewers to stay tuned for more. The brief segment ends with a casual sign-off, indicating the end of the video and a promise to see the audience in the next video.

Keywords

💡AirPods 4

AirPods 4 refers to the fourth generation of Apple's wireless earbuds, which are a significant upgrade from previous models. In the video, the reviewer highlights the smaller size of these earbuds compared to the AirPods Pro 2, indicating a design change that makes them more compact and potentially more portable. The script mentions that these new AirPods come with or without active noise cancellation, suggesting a choice for consumers based on their preference for noise-cancellation features.

💡Active Noise Cancellation

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a technology that reduces unwanted ambient sounds by the earbuds generating inverse sound waves. The video script emphasizes the ANC feature in the AirPods 4, noting that it's available in a version that also supports wireless charging. The reviewer tests this feature on a flight and compares it to the AirPods Pro 2, indicating that ANC is a key selling point for these new earbuds and an important aspect of the user experience.

💡Silicone Tips

Silicone tips are the soft, often customizable parts of earbuds that fit into the ear canal to provide a secure fit and better sound isolation. The script contrasts the AirPods Pro 2, which have silicone tips, with the AirPods 4, which do not. This difference is highlighted as a comfort factor, with the reviewer expressing a preference for the open-ear feel of the AirPods 4 without silicone tips, which may affect how the earbuds stay in place and the user's comfort during extended use.

💡Wireless Charging

Wireless charging is a feature that allows devices to be charged without the need for a physical connection, typically using inductive charging pads. The video script mentions that the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation also support wireless charging, which is a convenience feature for users who want a cable-free charging experience. The reviewer also notes that the case for these earbuds can provide extended battery life, which is an important consideration for portable devices.

💡H2 Chip

The H2 chip is a component mentioned in the script that likely refers to the internal processor in the AirPods, which handles various functions such as sound processing and power management. The script indicates that the H2 chip enables voice isolation features, suggesting that it plays a crucial role in the audio performance and通话质量 of the AirPods 4.

💡Spatialized Audio

Spatialized audio, also known as spatial sound, is a technology that creates a three-dimensional sound experience, making it seem as if audio is coming from different directions. The video script notes that the AirPods 4 do not support spatialized audio with dynamic head tracking, which is a feature that adjusts the audio based on the movement of the user's head. This is a point of differentiation between the AirPods 4 and other models like the AirPods Pro 2.

💡Transparency Mode

Transparency mode is a feature in earbuds that allows external sounds to be heard while music or other audio is playing. This is useful for safety or situational awareness. The script describes how the reviewer uses transparency mode in different scenarios, such as being at the gym or walking down the street, to be aware of their surroundings while still enjoying audio from the AirPods 4.

💡Battery Life

Battery life refers to the duration that a device can operate before needing to be recharged. The video script provides specific details about the battery life of the AirPods 4, with four hours of use when ANC is on and five hours when it's off. It also mentions the case's ability to provide additional battery life, which is a critical factor for users considering the portability and usability of the earbuds.

💡MagSafe Wireless Charging

MagSafe is a magnetic charging technology developed by Apple that ensures a secure connection between the charger and the device. The script points out that while the AirPods Pro 2 support MagSafe wireless charging, the AirPods 4 do not, which is a limitation for users who value the convenience of magnetic charging solutions.

💡Find My

Find My is an Apple service that helps locate lost devices, and in the context of the video, it refers to a feature of the AirPods 4 that allows them to emit a sound when misplaced, aiding in their recovery. The script highlights this as a useful feature given the small size of the AirPods 4, which could be easily lost.

💡Hearing Health Features

Hearing health features refer to a set of functionalities designed to protect and enhance hearing, such as hearing protection, hearing aid compatibility, and hearing tests. The video script mentions that these features are not available on the AirPods 4 but are coming to the AirPods Pro 2, indicating a difference in the advanced capabilities of the two models.

Highlights

Introduction of the new AirPods 4 with a smaller size compared to AirPods Pro 2.

Personalization option with engraving available for the new AirPods.

Two pricing options: $129 for the non-active noise cancellation version and $179 for the version with active noise cancellation and wireless charging.

Recommendation to get the active noise cancellation feature for the first open-ear headphones with this capability.

Testing of active noise cancellation on a flight and its effectiveness.

Comparison of the AirPods 4 to the original AirPods, highlighting the absence of silicone tips for comfort.

Concerns about the small case size leading to a potential risk of losing the AirPods.

Fit testing on a variety of ear types to ensure the AirPods 4 fit most people comfortably.

Availability of the AirPods 4 for pre-order before the official release date of September 20th.

Comparison of audio quality and active noise cancellation between AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.

Lack of spatialized audio with dynamic head tracking in the AirPods 4.

Introduction of the H2 chip and voice isolation features in the AirPods 4.

Head nodding feature to answer or decline calls without pressing any buttons.

Use of transparency mode and active noise cancellation mode depending on the environment.

Inclusion of a speaker in the AirPods 4 for the Find My feature to help locate lost AirPods.

Comparison of battery life between the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.

Downside of the AirPods 4 lacking the new hearing health features available on the AirPods Pro 2.

Charging options for the AirPods 4, including wireless charging but not MagSafe wireless charging.

Transcripts

- These are the brand new AirPods 4.

Look how much smaller they are

compared to the AirPods Pro 2.

They're fricking tiny,

and I just got them, and they're engraved.

Would you look at that. I like to engrave my AirPods.

These are $129 without active noise cancellation

and they're $179 with active noise cancellation

as well as wireless charging

and Apple Watch wireless charging.

So if you do plan to get these,

I do recommend getting the active noise cancellation.

These are the first open-ear headphones

where you have active noise cancellation,

and I tested them on a flight.

They are pretty good.

I used to love the original AirPods

where they did not have the silicone tips,

like these have the silicone tips right there.

That's the AirPods Pro 2.

Great set of headphones, but the new ones,

the case is so small, which I'm scared that I might lose.

The tips themselves, there's no silicone tip,

so I do like that because it just feels more comfortable

in my ears.

I used to be in love with the classic Air.

So they just like slide into your ears better.

Yeah, I do, I have the fear now that these might fall out,

but it just depends on your ear type.

They have used tons of people's ears to kind of match these

and make sure that they fit most people's ears.

For me, they work well. I love them.

They just slide in and out easier without the silicone tips,

so I prefer having that.

These are available Friday, September 20th,

but you can pre-order them right now.

And I did test the active noise cancellation

on a plane last night, and it was very similar.

Like in terms of how the audio sounded

from my AirPods Pro 2

versus how the audio sounded on the AirPods 4,

it was quite similar.

I would say the base

might have been slightly deeper on these ones,

and I don't know if that was some EQ settings

or if I was like,

I kept switching the headphones back and forth.

It was like so subtle, I could barely tell.

The biggest noticeable difference was the silicone tips,

like feeling them in my ear and not feeling them in my ear.

The active noise cancellation was pretty spot on.

I was surprised at how close it felt with both headphones.

These do not support spatialized audio

with dynamic head tracking.

So there's a feature where you can hear the audio.

Like if I turn my head it feels like

the audio's coming from my device,

whether it's my iPad, my iPhone, whatever it is.

I typically turn that off 'cause I'm always turning my head

and then I'm like, "What's going on?"

Or I'm not looking at the screen.

So if I'm playing something on YouTube

and not looking at the screen and I'm moving my head,

it gets confusing.

But if I'm sitting down and watching the TV,

that's where the experience is amazing.

These also have the H2 chip,

so they support the voice isolation features.

These do support head nodding so I can nod yes or no.

If you've seen the videos,

if someone's calling you and you want to answer it,

you can like nod yes or nod no if you're like

I wanna decline the call without pressing anything.

They have the four sensors,

so I can go ahead and press this to start playing.

I can press it.

But I can press and hold to activate transparency mode

and then switch to noise cancellation mode.

As someone who lives in New York City

and there's a lot of loud noises,

sometimes I like to turn on active noise cancellation

just to block out all of the loud noises going on.

Or if I'm in an airplane, that's where I use it.

And then if I'm at the gym or something,

I'll use transparency mode

just 'cause I want to hear the people around me,

just in case.

Or if I'm walking down the street

and I feel like the outside noises aren't too loud,

I'll use transparency.

The new AirPods 4 also have a speaker,

so you can use Find My to play sounds if you lose them

because they are small and you're very likely to lose them,

at least I am.

I love that the Pros had this lanyard feature.

I bought this Belkin lanyard,

and now I can like put this on my hand and stuff,

and it's just the easy way to carry the AirPods.

The new AirPods 4 do not support that.

And that's just 'cause they're so small.

I think they took everything out

that was kind of not necessary.

In terms of battery life, you're going to get four hours

with active noise cancellation on these, five hours without,

and then five hours with active noise cancellation on these.

And then the case will get you 20 hours

active noise cancellation

and 30 hours with active noise cancellation.

So there are some slight battery differences.

They're not gonna last the full like 8 to 10-hour flight,

but it's probably good to take these out,

put them in the case, let them charge for 15 minutes,

and then you can put them back in your ears again.

I've noticed myself not traveling

with my AirPods Pro Max anymore.

I just take the Pros

'cause the noise cancellation is good enough, they're small.

And if I like to travel with just a carry on,

it just makes it that much easier.

One downside of the 4

is you're not gonna get the new hearing health features

that you'll get on the Pro 2.

So there's like hearing protection, the hearing aid feature,

and the hearing test as well.

That's only available on the AirPods Pro 2

coming out later this fall in a software update.

I will be testing those as well.

Has whole bunch of other noise features.

So subscribe and turn your notifications to see that video.

And the last thing I wanna talk about is charging.

They do support wireless charging.

Watch, the AirPods Pro 2,

I can slide this on a MagSafe and it stays magnetized

and won't fall off.

If I want to use an Apple Watch charger, I can also do that.

It charges, it stays on, or I can charge via USB- C,

which has the same exact features of the AirPods 4

with active noise cancellation.

If you get the 129 version,

you will not get wireless charging on the case.

It will get USB-C charging only. There is one downside.

It does not support MagSafe wireless charging.

So Apple Watch charger,

it's small enough and it will stay, right?

Boom, it won't fall off.

MagSafe wireless charging? No, it won't stay.

So you have to make sure you have a flat area,

but it still charges if you have a Qi wireless charger.

It just doesn't support MagSafe.

So if it has something where it like hangs,

this won't stay on.

But the Apple Watch charger, because it's so small,

I think you can't have MagSafe support.

It's just too tiny. This was all filmed on an iPhone.

I wanna try filming more of my content with an iPhone.

If you enjoyed this video, subscribe, turn on notifications.

We have future content coming with the Apple Watch later.

Stay tuned, baby.

We'll see you in the next one. Peace.