Apple AirPods 4 hands-on: It's hard to beat good active noise cancellation under $180

AirPods 4 reimagine Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds in an ambitious way. Not only do they bring an overdue update to the very product line that put AirPods on the map, but they introduce an ilk of sub-$180 active noise canceling buds that ditch those pesky silicone ear tips.

Now, you'd think without a true seal, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation wouldn't be effective. But having had the chance to try them out, I'll vouch that the ambient sound reduction actually works. As someone who can't deal with the pressure caused by rubber tips for man hours at a time, I can already see this version of the AirPods 4 becoming very popular.

Otherwise, the $129 version without ANC gets you redesigned acoustic architecture with the addition of modern AirPods features like Personalized Spatial Audio, Voice Isolation, and Head Gestures.

With two options to choose from, here's what you need to know about the AirPods 4 based on my hands-on impressions.

Apple AirPods 4: Price and availability

The AirPods 4 price starts at $129 for the non-Active Noise Cancellation model, which is the same cost as the AirPods 2 that have stuck around since 2019 (although you could often find them for much less thanks to cheap AirPods deals .)

For $179, the same price as AirPods 3 , you can get the AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation. That's $70 less than the cost of AirPods Pro 2 .

Both versions of AirPods 4 are available as of September 20 and can be pre-ordered now.

Apple AirPods 4: Specs

Apple AirPods 4: Design

The AirPods 4 mark the official end of earbuds with long, extended stems on Apple Store shelves. Instead, these buds look more akin to the AirPods 3, or perhaps more like a pair of AirPods Pro without the rubber ear tips. Each bud measures a mere 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.1mm and weighs just 0.15 ounces.

For both styles, the included charging case measures 50.1 x 46.2 x 21.2mm. Without ANC the case weighs 1.14 ounces, but with ANC it weighs 1.22. That added (albeit, minor) heft accommodates a wireless charging coil and a speaker for use with Find My.

Apple AirPods 4: Features

Apple redesigned the acoustic architecture of AirPods for the 4th-gen model, prioritizing richer bass and crisper highs. It also carried down a number of Pro-level features to the AirPods 4 including Personalized Spatial Audio , Conversation Awareness , Voice Isolation, and even Head Gestures .

When it comes to the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the earbuds support options to quiet the world around you or tune in with transparency mode. You could use Adaptive Audio, which blends both settings based on noise in your environment, too.

I demoed the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and was surprised that they offered effective ANC in a noisy hands-on area at the Apple event. It's not as impactful as with AirPods Pro 2 or many other of the best noise-cancelling earbuds , but it's impressive for an "open-ear" style bud.

Another neat upgrade is that the AirPods 4 are rated IP54 for sweat resistance, meaning they're more than suited as workout headphones . The AirPods 2 did not have this rating, meaning that damage caused by moisture wouldn't make users eligible for a replacement.

Apple AirPods 4: Battery life

The Apple AirPods 4 battery life is one of the only areas of disappointment based on first impressions. For the standard AirPods 4, you'll get 5 hours of listening and 30 hours with the wireless charging case. For the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (enabled,) you'll get 4 hours of listening time and 20 hours with the wireless charging case. With AirPods Pro 2, you get up to 6 hours of active listening with ANC, so that's a significant 2-hour difference.

Otherwise, 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time, so you should be able to juice them up quickly in a pinch. And it should go without saying, but the case replaces the lightning port with USB-C.

Apple AirPods 4: Outlook

The AirPods 4 help usher the entire AirPods lineup into the present day. With USB-C charging, plenty of smart features, and more packed into a portable design, these buds are a strong entry-level sell starting at $129.

That said, I can probably justify paying the premium for the model with ANC, because you get the Find My wireless charging case and an adaptive listening experience. As far as my battery life concerns go, I'll have to see how they perform when I conduct a full AirPods 4 review.

More from Tom's Guide

• AirPods 4 unveiled at Apple event — two new models, prices and more
• AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: Biggest upgrades to expect
• I've been using my AirPods Pro to watch TV — and it's a game changer