Apple AirPods 4

Redesigned "open-style" AirPods with noise cancellation

The Apple AirPods 4 are the first traditional-styled AirPods to include noise cancellation. (There's also a lower-priced version without noise cancellation.) This is a potential game-changer for people who prefer the more open fit to wearing the AirPods Pro 2 with ear tips — including my wife, these are her new "day-to-day" earbuds. And like the AirPods Pro, these earbuds feature Apple's H2 processing chip for snappier iPhone control, along with improved call clarity, and refined, well-balanced sound.

They also sport a streamlined, more contoured design to better fit more ear sizes than previous-gen AirPods. Apple says the redesign is informed by thousands of ear scans and millions of data points they've accumulated over the years.

Smart, real-time noise canceling technology (and awareness)

While you shouldn't expect noise cancellation as strong as the Air Pod Pro 2, I'm surprised at how well these cancel noise. These AirPods wouldn't be my first choice for the plane, but the knock out everyday noises effectively. Apple uses an array of built-in mics, advanced algorithms, and the H2 chip's faster processing to react and adjust to noise in real time. You can also activate "Transparency mode" to stay aware of your surroundings without removing the AirPods.

Steady, high-quality connection to your Apple gear

While the AirPods will play music and podcasts wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled phone or music source, the H2 chip makes pairing up with Apple devices even more special. A one-tap connection syncs up the earbuds to your iPhone®, and then you're automatically paired to other devices on your iCloud® account (like your Apple Watch®, iMac®, or iPad®).

Clear phone calls and FaceTime conversations

Of course, AirPods are as ubiquitous with phone calls and video chats as they are with music listening. For many, that's why they are considered "everyday essentials" — that are worn everywhere. Apple updated their Voice Isolation technology and microphones to better filter out external sounds for clearer conversations in noisier environments.

3D sound for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

These headphones also use head-tracking technology to serve up "spatial audio" for certain shows, movies, and music. It's designed to emulate the sound of a Dolby Atmos home theater speaker setup in a room. And as you nod or turn your head, the sound field stays fixed and centered.

To make things even more immersive, Apple can tailor the spatial audio experience to your ears. The sound adjusts itself based on the shape and geometry of your ears and head. If you have an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera, you can snap a photo of the side of your head to create your personal profile.

That profile will sync up and follow you to your iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV 4K. It's great for shows and movies, plus it adds an extra dimension to your tunes when listening to spatial audio music tracks on Apple Music. That streaming service has thousands of songs mixed in Dolby Atmos, and the Atmos version plays automatically when you're wearing AirPods.

Apple's most compact charging case

On a full charge, these AirPods offer four hours of music listening with noise cancellation and five hours without. When you need to refuel, just click the AirPods into their included wireless charging case — the smallest AirPods case yet. It can bank 25 hours of power to recharge your AirPods. You can charge the case via USB-C or by placing it on a compatible Qi charger (not included) to refresh the charge wirelessly. (Apple does not include a USB-C charging cable.)

The case also works with the "Find My" feature on iPhone. It has a built-in speaker that can play an audible tone to help you locate it.