86
Billy Steele
Engadget
“The $129 AirPods 4 is a big improvement over the previous version though, and they're a worthwhile update for fans of the basic, non-ANC formula.”
Critical Assessment
What Critics Praise
- USB‑C charging
- Sleeker pocket‑friendly case
- Effective low‑frequency ANC
- Find My speaker
- Slimmer, more secure fit
- H2 chip improves acoustics
Points of Contention
- No eartips
- Short battery life
- Lack of onboard volume controls
- No Active Noise Cancellation
- Limited Cross‑Platform Features
- Not Great In Noisy Locations
Professional Reviews
9 reviews from 8 critics80
Simon Cohen
Digital Trends
“Apple once again gives its faithful AirPods fans exactly what they want with the AirPods 4.”
80 Tim Gideon 2 reviews · avg PCMag “The AirPods 4 are Apple's most affordable wireless earbuds and offer exceptional audio performance for an open‑ear design.”
Tim Gideon 2 reviews · avg
PCMag
“The AirPods 4 are Apple's most affordable wireless earbuds and offer exceptional audio performance for an open‑ear design.”
All 2 Tim Gideon reviews, aggregated above
80
Apple AirPods 4
“The AirPods 4 are Apple's most affordable wireless earbuds and offer exceptional audio performance for an open‑ear design.”
80
Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation
“The Apple AirPods 4 deliver strong sound quality and the best active noise cancellation we've experienced in an open‑ear design.”
80
Jacob Krol
TechRadar
“For one, they make noise cancellation more affordable within the AirPods lineup – though $179 is still not the cheapest – and also deliver a potentially more comfortable fit for folks who don’t like ear tips.”
80
Chris Welch
The Verge
“The AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are worth springing for compared to the regular pair.”
70
Matt Bolton
TechRadar
The AirPods 4 deliver well-balanced sound and a comfortable fit without in-ear tips, making them a solid choice for Apple users. However, the lack of active noise cancellation and limited cross-platform features make them less competitive at their price point.
59
Matthew Lopes
RTINGS
The Apple AirPods 4 are lightweight, tip‑less earbuds designed for sports and everyday use; they offer solid battery life, good comfort when they fit, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration but lack noise isolation and on‑bud volume controls.
50
Parker Hall
Wired
“Apple’s basic AirPods are my least favorite tech product, and I see them everywhere.”
