Apple AirPods 4: this is what I’ve been longing for

Florian Bodoky

10.10.2024

In September, Apple unveiled its new AirPods with the classic open design. They’re now available with active noise cancellation. But does it even work? And what else is new?

Design: Apple has listened to the community

First things first: Apple has apparently sneaked into a few forums and taken some criticism of its third gen AirPods to heart. The result is a fourth generation that’s even narrower and fits smaller ears much better.

Due to the technology used in the AirPods 4, they’re not quite as slim as the second generation. But there’s a marked difference with their direct predecessors, and they’re more comfortable too. The comparatively long stems are also a thing of the past.

Case: a lot of fuss about not a lot – but still good

I had such low expectations because Apple focussed on two things when unveiling them: ANC, active noise cancellation, and the new charging case. First, let’s look at the charging case. Apple was thrilled to announce this is the smallest case ever. 10% smaller than its predecessor, in fact.

I wasn’t in the slightest bit bothered and, to be honest, I’m still not. The previous case was already petite and fit easily into small trouser pockets. The fact you can now charge the case wirelessly could be practical, but how many people really need that? However, I like that you can now locate the case via Apple’s Find My. Now that it’s smaller, this is increasingly necessary, especially with my sloppy housekeeping.

That being said, I was a bit wary of how much the brand had banged the drum about its charging case. Now that I’ve been using the AirPods 4 for a few days, I can say that I like the compactness but would hardly notice the extra 10%. The Find My feature is reliable and works with all other Apple devices.

And last but not least, wireless charging is undoubtedly practical and works well – especially if you have an Apple Watch and its own magnetic charger. But I hardly use it, as the case slips, which is why I prefer the traditional wired version. Charging is important because the battery in the AirPods is its Achilles' heel.

Battery: four hours isn’t enough

Sound: Apple, why were you so modest about it?

The manufacturer kept harping on about the case and ANC but has said suspiciously little about the sound. The only reference was to the fact that the H2 audio chip is now also included in the standard AirPod version.

However, this has really paid off. In every respect. The treble range is much more detailed compared to that of its predecessor. The comparatively sparse, at times somewhat monotonous sound of past gen AirPods has given way to a richness of detail that can more than challenge the Pro 2 version. Here’s Coldplay’s Yellow to give you an example:

The same goes for the transitions between instruments in different pitches. You notice it a bit in music that features piano or polyphonic choruses. The whole thing sounds more airy and less like it’s being squeezed into the small earpieces. The AirPods have also made progress in terms of bass, although it’s not yet reached the level of the Pros. I detect a lot more punch, without the bass dominating the whole sound (Mark by Shahamen).

However, as the AirPods 4 don’t seal the ear with silicone, the bass has more opportunity to escape and doesn’t penetrate the ear as much as with the AirPods 2 Pros.

Say hello to Pro features

You also notice the details and H2 chip when on phone calls. The AirPods 4 also support voice isolation, which makes the conversation much more pleasant for the person on the other end. Moreover, machine learning helps optimise the distinction between voices and background noise. And during FaceTime calls, head tracking kicks in, so you feel like you’re in the same room as the other person.

The H2 chip is also behind former Pro features such as the excellent transparency mode. Fortunately, I usually don’t use it – and I’ll leave it at that. But to be fair, Apple is doing better in this area than many of its competitors. With the AirPods 4’s transparency mode, you really feel like you’re not wearing headphones and sounds from outside aren’t artificially amplified by microphones.

Last but not least, the pinch gestures for music control are now also available for the standard AirPods. In other words, you squeeze the stem for certain controls, such as to pause or play the next song. The only thing you won’t find here is the swipe gesture for controlling the volume like you have on the Pros.

ANC: good start, natural limits

Florian Bodoky

Editor

Florian.Bodoky@digitecgalaxus.ch

I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue. more

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