Apple AirPods (4th Generation)

Clean, detailed, agile, powerful sound ; Impressive ANC effect for an ‘open’ design ; Compact, lightweight and comfortable design ; Extensive feature set that borrows from flagship model ; Seamless use with iOS devices

Battery life lags behind the competition ; Fit won’t suit everyone ; Needs a greater dose of dynamic subtlety, solidity and punch to be a class leader

The AirPods 4 with ANC cram in so many flagship features with effective sound-blocking and improved sound at this mid-range price – they’re a no-brainer for Apple fans

Comfortable, open-ear design ; Good microphone and call quality ; Decent ANC performance (and Spatial Audio) ; Easy-to-use gesture controls ; USB-C charging support

Average ANC compared to competitors ; Lack of manual EQ adjustment ; No customisable ear tips

The AirPods 4 deliver the classic Apple experience with a sleek design, easy gesture controls, and solid audio performance. While they lack customisable EQ and have average ANC, they're an excellent choice for iPhone users who want seamless integration...

Refined design ; Active noise cancellation in open-ear design ; Great feature set

Fit might not be for everyone ; Standard model doesn't get some features

From our initial hands-on time with the two AirPods 4 models, they appear to be a huge upgrade on their mid-range predecessors. Not only do you get active noise cancellation in an open-ear design on the pricier model, but across both the overall design...

Great-looking new design ; ANC is decent for open earbuds ; Charging case now supports Find My

Sound quality upgrade isn't huge ; Noise cancellation can be lacklustre ; Battery life remains the same

Improving on the 4th gen AirPods, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation support features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Its case has also been upgraded, with wireless charging and a built-in speaker for Find My functions.

Great look ; Easy to use ; Easy connectivity ; Compact case

No 3.5 mm jack ; Expensive ; Not the best noise canceling

Full-bodied bass and clear highs ; Impressive active noise cancellation ; Hands-free Siri with gesture-based interactions ; H2 chip enables multiple adaptive audio features

Open design can cause inconsistent ear-to-ear fit ; So-so battery life ; No user-adjustable EQ

The Apple AirPods 4 deliver strong sound quality and the best active noise cancellation we've experienced in an open-ear design.

Work flawlessly with iPhone. New charging case is sleeker and easier to throw in pockets. Comfier than AirPods 3.

Still no eartips. Below-average battery life. Significantly worse listening experience than AirPods Pro. Still uncomfortable to some (and perfect for others).

Noise cancellation can often be impressive for an open design ; Upgraded sound quality ; Wireless charging and built-in speaker on case ; Upgraded sound quality ; Voice isolation can noticeably improve call clarity ; Deep Apple ecosystem integration

No proper multipoint ; Controlling volume is less convenient than on the AirPods Pro ; ANC isn’t going to be helpful in all environments ; No wireless charging ; No built-in speaker on the case ; No proper multipoint

The standard AirPods 4 give you the same good audio performance, and they effortlessly weave into Apple’s ecosystem. They’re also a substantial upgrade over the second-gen model that they’ve replaced for the same $129, but beyond the walled garden...