8.4
Review
AirPods 4 with ANC review: noise cancellation without ear tips
An open-fit design with active noise cancellation sounds like a contradiction. It works better than we expected.
Some people simply cannot wear silicone ear tips. For them, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are a revelation: the familiar open-fit shape, with enough noise reduction to take the edge off a bus or an airplane cabin.
How good is the ANC?
Without tips sealing your ear canal, it cannot match AirPods Pro, especially on voices. But low-frequency rumble — engines, air conditioning, traffic — is noticeably reduced.
Fit and sound
The new shape fits more of our team than any previous AirPods. Sound is clear and balanced, with more bass than the old open-fit models.
The case
The case is tiny and has no button; you double-tap the front to pair. It charges over USB-C or wirelessly, and has a speaker for Find My.
What we like
- Comfortable open fit
- Useful ANC
- Tiny case
What we don’t
- ANC weaker than Pro
- No volume swipe
8.4
Verdict. The best choice if ear tips bother you. Everyone else should still look at AirPods Pro.
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