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After nearly three years of waiting, Apple has finally refreshed its entry-level earbud lineup by releasing AirPods 4. And the big talking point for these new AirPods is all focused on the introduction of Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC).
That means the AirPods Pro 2 are no longer the newest pair of AirPods you can buy or the only Apple earbuds with ANC.
So what does that mean if you’re trying to decide which AirPods to buy? Is it worth paying more for the AirPods Pro 2 or do the AirPods 4 nail value for money now they have ANC? Let’s take a look at the features and find out!
Read our full AirPods Pro 2 review here!
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2 At A glance
| Feature | AirPods 4 | AirPods 4 ANC | AirPods Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £129 | £179 | £229 |
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | No | Yes | Yes, 2x more ANC |
| Adaptive Audio & Transparency Mode | No | Yes | Yes |
| Personalised Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loud Sound Reduction & Conversation Boost | No | No | Yes |
| Chip | H2 Chip | H2 Chip | H2 Chip |
| Voice Isolation & Siri | Yes, Voice Isolation, Hey Siri and Siri Interactions | Yes, Voice Isolation, Hey Siri and Siri Interactions | Yes, Voice Isolation, Hey Siri and Siri Interactions |
| Listening Time (Single Charge) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 5 hours (4 hours with ANC enabled) | Up to 6 hours with ANC enabled |
| Listening Time (With Case) | Up to 30 hours | Up to 30 hours (20 hours with ANC enabled) | Up to 30 hours with ANC enabled |
| Charging Case | USB‑C Charging Case | Wireless Charging Case (USB‑C) with Find My speaker | MagSafe Wireless Charging Case (USB‑C), with Find My speaker |
| Water and Dust Resistance | IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistant | IP54 dust, sweat, and water-resistant | IP45 dust, sweat, and water-resistant |
Price
As earbuds go, the entry-level AirPods have always been set at a mid-range price point. And the AirPods 4 are no different.
The standard model without ANC costs $129/£129. If you choose the AirPods 4 with ANC, then you will need to cough up a bit more at $179/£179.
The AirPods Pro 2 on the other hand are priced more in the high-end earbuds range at $229/£229. That puts them on par with competitors like the Sony XM5s and Bose QuietComfort Ultras.
Non-AirPod reviews and recommendations
– Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds Review
– Bose QuietComfort Ultra Review
Sound Quality
Sound quality is a subjective measure. You and I could have completely different opinions about the same pair of earbuds. But on the simplest level, you can rest assured that both the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 sound great.
The AirPods Pro 2 sound significantly and noticeably better than AirPods 3 which isn’t the case with the new AirPods. One big similarity that raises the AirPods 4 closer to the level of the Pro 2 is the inclusion of the H2 chip.
Good To Know
The H2 Chip is responsible for a range of things, but most importantly it works with the driver and amplifier to deliver a much crisper sound. It also manages the ANC capabilities of both earbuds.
AirPods Pro 2 have a custom-built driver and amplifier to try and stamp out distortion. This gives you a much cleaner listening experience.
Apple also says that AirPods 4 have an entirely new acoustic architecture which includes a low-distortion driver, similar to that in the AirPods Pro 2. The 4s have improved treble over the 3rd generation AirPods, as well as a noticeable bass boost. As a result, you get a deeper and fuller sound.
In reality, these earbuds sound very similar. The bass on the AirPods Pro 2 is slightly more pronounced and less muddy but the sound quality of the AirPods 4 is close enough that spending an extra $100 feels almost unjustifiable.
Design and comfort
Some of the biggest differences between the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 come in the physical experience of using them. That is mainly down to the fact that the AirPods Pro come with silicon in-ear tips instead of the standard hard plastic shell of the standard models.
Whether you prefer the softer silicon is an entirely personal choice, but they do feel a lot comfier to me than the AirPods 4. They also offer a much more snug fit that helps the AirPods Pro 2 feel secure in your ear.
I’m not sure why Apple insists on still releasing flagship earbuds without silicon tips but hey, I’m not the CEO of a hyper-successful tech company. And if none of that matters to you then great! It’s one less thing to worry about.
As for the rest of the design, the AirPods Pro 2 are significantly heavier at 5.3 grams per earbud compared to 4.3 grams for the AirPods 4. The case for the AirPods Pro 2 is also slightly wider and shorter than a standard AirPods case.
ANC and Spatial Audio
The standard AirPods 4, AirPods 4 ANC and AirPods Pro 2 all have the same Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking features. These two systems work together to produce a sort of surround sound for your AirPods, meaning whatever you’re listening to sounds like it is coming from all around you.
If you pay the extra, then you can get ANC on AirPods 4. Apple says the AirPods Pro 2’s ANC is 2x more effective than that found on the 4th generation AirPods, but the ANC is excellent on both. Any difference is minimal.
Opting for ANC on the AirPods 4 also gives you the same Adaptive Audio and Transparency Mode as the Pro 2. For the uninitiated, Transparency Mode allows you to let sound in from the outside environment whilst listening to audio, blending the two so you can hear someone talking for example.
Apple’s Transparency Mode is the best on the market and therefore adds another very valuable string to the competitively priced AirPods 4 bow.
Battery life and charging
In one of the most puzzling aspects of the new AirPods release, the battery life for the 4th generation hasn’t improved at all. In fact, it has actually reduced by an hour compared to the AirPods 3, likely due to the H2 chip’s power demands.
The AirPods 4 battery lasts for five hours on a single charge. This falls to four hours if you have ANC turned on. The AirPods Pro 2 have a stated six hour battery life with ANC turned on.
Inside the case of the AirPods 4, you get 30 hours of extra battery and 20 hours if you have ANC turned on. The AirPods Pro 2 have 30 hours of battery in the case with ANC turned on.
Good To Know
All three AirPod variants come with USB-C charging after Apple phased out Lightning. Find out more about the difference between USB-C and Lightning!
The AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2 also both have wireless charging. For some reason, Apple hasn’t given the standard AirPods 4 case wireless charging when they very easily could have. It’s another one of those mysteries unique to Apple but there you are.
The same goes for the Find My feature. The AirPods 4 ANC and AirPods Pro 2 have Find My capability in the charging case. The standard 4th generation model doesn’t. Very strange and very Apple.
Water Protection
Here’s an easy one. The AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 are both IP54-rated.
That means they are sweat and water-resistant, not entirely waterproof. That means you are safe to use them in light rain and exercise but not in heavy rain or, God forbid, the shower.
Microphones
Both AirPods types have the same dual beamforming microphones to pick up your voice during calls or recordings.
The AirPods Pro 2 have a notoriously patchy microphone which sometimes works fine and sometimes sounds muffled. When working properly, the microphones on both sets of AirPods sound fine. They certainly aren’t anywhere near the best on the market and are distinctly average.
That being said, the AirPods 4 microphone is a clear improvement on those I was critical of in my AirPods 3 vs AirPods Pro 2 comparison.
Health Features
The AirPods Pro 2 boast a set of hearing health-related features that you can’t find on standard AirPods or for that matter most other earbuds.
Apple has a vision to transform AirPods into more advanced and dynamic forms of hearing aids. Because of that, AirPods Pro 2 have features like Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost and Background Sounds.
Loud Sound Reduction does what it says on the tin; it reduces the impact of harsh noises on your ears and listening experience. Conversation Boost automatically increases the volume of a person talking in front of you over any other exterior noises.
Background Sounds, a feature which allows you to play sounds like the ocean as if they are in the background, may not directly aid hearing health but it can help you focus.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Which Should You Buy?
The pair of AirPods you should buy depends on two things; the first of these is money, the second is your commitment to the Apple brand.
If you don’t want to spend more than $200/£200 on some earbuds, then the AirPods 4 are a good option. If you’re willing to go beyond Apple and try another brand then there are better earbuds out there for the price.
If you want ANC, and are therefore willing to pay the extra $50/£50, then the AirPods 4 ANC are also a fine pick. Apple’s ANC is excellent and therefore worth paying for if you really want it.
Again though, it’s about balancing your budget against desired features. For example, the JBL Tour Pro 2 offers superior audio quality but slightly worse ANC for the same price.
As for the AirPods Pro 2, well, the release of the AirPods 4 has made it more difficult to recommend buying them. Much of that is down to their respective prices.
Read about some excellent over-ear headphones in my Sonos Ace review
AirPods 4 is a dramatic improvement over AirPods 3, and the addition of the H2 chip and noise cancelling brings them very near to AirPods Pro 2 quality.
The only drawback is the lack of silicon ear tips. The classic AirPods design does not fit everyone’s ears perfectly and, in my opinion, is much less comfortable than the softer AirPods Pro 2. It also helps reduce sound leakage.
As such, the verdict is as simple as this; if you want Apple AirPods with noise cancelling, then you can safely buy AirPods 4 without missing out too much on sound quality. If you value having those silicon tips, then the AirPods Pro 2 are there, but for the money, you can get a better pair of earbuds elsewhere.
