We tested and fell in love: The AirPods 4 are Apple's next hit

Since 2016, me and my AirPods - it's a love story. In 2019 I upgraded to AirPods Pro, mainly because of the noise filtering that allows me to live in my own bubble. But let's go back a bit. 2016, I land in Israel with my first AirPods, straight from abroad. Suddenly, I'm the weird geek with the white stalks coming out of my ears. "Who cut off your headphones?" was a hit, and the sentence "It looks like you have a cigarette in your ear" didn't miss either opportunity.

And the truth? I wasn't really excited. I knew it was only a matter of time before the world got used to it. "Patience", I said to myself and to everyone who asked, "let's talk again in a year or two". And here we are, in 2024, and these "cigarettes" have become an integral part of the landscape. AirPods are not only synonymous with wireless headphones, they are Apple's best-selling product, a real status symbol.

But, despite the unprecedented success, there has always been a problem: There are those who want noise filtering, but don't like the design of the Pro that goes into the ear. The basic model does not include it. And there is also the matter of the price - $249 per Peru is not for everyone. The third generation was also kind of a downfall because of the large design that didn't suit everyone. So Apple decided to offer a comprehensive solution with the AirPods 4, which come in two models - with and without noise filtering. Is this a significant upgrade? We received the ANC (noise filtering) model from iDigital, Apple's official distributor in Israel, and came back with answers.

Design and comfort

Apple seems to have decided that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". After the AirPods 3 tried to revolutionize the design and came out a bit clumsy, Apple went back to the roots with the AirPods 4. It's like a grand comeback of the first hit, only with a little more style and minimalism. So what did we get? Redesigned headphones, smaller and fit more ears, but still keep the classic and beloved look. Apple even boasts that they are "the most comfortable headphones it has ever made".

The carrying and charging case has also been upgraded: It is more compact than its predecessors and includes a particularly useful addition - a built-in speaker that will help locate the headphones in case of loss, using Apple's Find My application (important to note: The speaker is only available in the ANC version, not in the basic model).

And if you are like us, you must be interested to know how they function in real world situations, and especially in training. Well, we took them for a spin at the gym and also for a run outside, and they definitely stood the test. They stayed in place impressively, although it was occasionally necessary to adjust them slightly. in the small

Sound

The AirPods 4 are equipped with Apple's new H2 chip, which offers not only improvements in noise cancellation, but also an upgraded audio experience. The new dynamic drivers combined with the power of the H2 chip provide a rich, balanced and incredibly clear sound, especially considering the open design of the headphones. The basses are deep and accurate, and the highs are sharp and clear. Although, if you are looking for the most perfect and deepest sound quality, you will still have to turn to headphones with silicone seals, but overall, the AirPods 4 set a new standard for audio quality in open headphones.

In the battery test, the AirPods 4 also do not disappoint. The regular model offers up to 5 hours of listening and up to 30 hours of use together with the charging case. The model with ANC offers up to 4 hours of listening with active noise filtering, or up to 5 hours without it, and up to 20 hours of use with the charging case.

Noise filtering

The AirPods 4 try to do something not simple: Cancel noise without closing the ear completely. We have already seen such attempts, but the results were mediocre. This time, Apple uses microphones that analyze the environment and produce a special "anti-noise" designed to neutralize the noise from outside. But generally, noise cancellation works better when there is also a physical seal, with silicone rubbers like in the Pro model, which is something that is missing here. So let's be honest - it's not magic. If you want complete silence, the AirPods Pro will do the job better.

And what is going on here? If you turn on the noise cancellation without music, you will still hear the world around you, but it will be much less annoying. The headphones are particularly successful in filtering out low noises, such as engines, traffic or air conditioning.

But the real surprise comes when you start playing music. Suddenly, the noise filtering becomes really effective. I have found that I can listen to music at a low volume and still not notice the background noise. In previous models, I had to turn up the volume to overcome the environment, which is not healthy for the ears. With the AirPods 4, there's no need for that.

Bottom line

Undoubtedly, the AirPods 4 are the most significant upgrade we've seen in Apple's basic headphones. They offer a winning combination of impressive sound quality, effective noise filtering, comfortable design and advanced functions. If you're looking for quality wireless headphones that don't go into the ear canal, the AirPods 4 are an excellent choice. However, if you already own AirPods Pro or are looking for the ultimate noise-canceling experience, you may want to wait for the next-gen Pro or consider other headphones that offer better physical isolation.

If you are debating between the two versions of the AirPods 4, our recommendation is unequivocal: Go for the model with noise filtering. The additional price is minimal compared to the value you get: Not only effective noise cancellation, but also a smart charging case with a built-in speaker for easy locating, and a series of other advanced features.