Apple AirPods 4 wireless earbuds – Specifications and Review

38.68€ / $40.61
Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Based on thousands of orders on AliExpress

📦 Specifications & Details

AirPods 4 are Apple true wireless earbuds built for everyday listening, voice calls, and seamless integration with the company’s device ecosystem. The model combines a revised acoustic shape, the H2 chip, Personalized Spatial Audio, and improved voice processing. Its main value proposition is the blend of comfort, low latency, easy pairing, and tightly integrated software behavior across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

AirPods 4 are among the most complete premium open-fit wireless earbuds for mainstream buyers, especially within the Apple ecosystem.

AirPods 4 are the fourth generation of Apple’s standard wireless earbuds and occupy an important position between older baseline AirPods models and the more expensive AirPods Pro range. The product is available in a standard configuration and in a version with Active Noise Cancellation, a notable change in the positioning of the lineup. The hardware and signal path are centered on the Apple H2 chip, which handles audio processing, wireless communication, voice features, and power efficiency. Apple places strong emphasis on a more refined earbud shape, a smaller charging case, USB-C charging, and smarter adaptation to both the listener and the surrounding environment. In the broader market, the model competes in the premium compact TWS category, where convenience, ecosystem features, and call performance matter nearly as much as pure audio fidelity.

⚙️ Technical Specifications

Manufacturer Apple
Model AirPods 4
Product class True Wireless Stereo earbuds
Type Open-fit wireless earbuds
Generation Fourth generation AirPods
Variants AirPods 4; AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Acoustic design Open-fit without silicone ear tips
Fit style Earbud seated in the outer ear
Primary chip Apple H2
Wireless connectivity Bluetooth 5.3
Supported platforms iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Vision Pro, Bluetooth devices
Pairing Instant pairing with Apple ID linked devices
Automatic switching Yes, across Apple devices on the same account
Spatial Audio Yes
Personalized Spatial Audio Yes, with dynamic head tracking
Head tracking Yes
Adaptive EQ Yes
Active Noise Cancellation Available on the AirPods 4 with ANC variant
Transparency mode Available on the ANC variant
Adaptive Audio Available on the ANC variant
Conversation Awareness Available on the ANC variant
Voice Isolation Yes, for calls
Microphones Dual beamforming microphones plus inward facing audio sensing elements for processing
Sensors Optical in-ear sensor, motion sensor, speech detection sensor, force sensor
Controls Force sensor press controls for playback, pause, calls, and noise control on the ANC version
Voice assistant Siri with hands-free voice activation
Audio driver Apple custom high-excursion driver
Amplifier Custom high dynamic range amplifier
Frequency response Not officially disclosed in public Apple specifications
Audio codecs AAC, SBC
Lossless audio Not over standard Bluetooth playback
Low latency Yes, optimized within the Apple ecosystem
Ingress protection IP54 for earbuds and case against dust, sweat, and water splashes
Housing material Plastic with glossy finish
Color White
Charging port USB-C
Wireless charging Yes, on the ANC version
Charging via Apple Watch charger Yes, on the ANC version
Qi charging Yes, on the ANC version
Built-in speaker in case Yes, on the ANC version, for Find My and status tones
Find My Yes
Precision finding Not a primary officially emphasized feature in the same way as certain Pro configurations, though the case supports location features within Apple’s ecosystem
Earbud battery life Up to 5 hours listening; up to 4 hours with ANC on the compatible variant
Total battery life with case Up to 30 hours total; about 20 hours with ANC on the compatible variant
Talk time Around 4.5 hours on earbuds; up to 20 hours with the case, depending on mode
Fast charging About 5 minutes of charging for roughly 1 hour of listening
Case size More compact than the previous generation case
Weight per earbud Approximately 4.3 g
Case weight About 32.3 g for the standard case; varies by version
Hands-Free Siri Yes
Announce Notifications Yes
Audio Sharing Yes, with compatible Apple headphones and earbuds
Hearing health features More limited than the Pro line, but basic software integrations are present in iOS
iOS feature support Yes, including automatic recognition, battery widgets, Find My, and personalized settings
Android compatibility Yes, as standard Bluetooth earbuds, with limited smart features
Primary focus Comfort, ease of use, calls, ecosystem integration, balanced daily audio
Price segment Premium mainstream

📝 Apple AirPods 4 wireless earbuds Review

From a professional standpoint, I see AirPods 4 as a carefully calibrated product rather than a radical experiment. What stands out to me most is how effectively Apple has optimized comfort, connection speed, and call quality in such a compact form factor. The ANC version is the more interesting one in my view because it brings higher level features into a lighter and more accessible open-fit design. I would not describe them as the universally best TWS earbuds for every listener because the open construction imposes acoustic limits. For an iPhone user who wants frictionless everyday use, they are one of the strongest options currently available.

📚 Technical Glossary

Personalized Spatial Audio: A virtual audio rendering technology that places sound around the listener by using an individualized profile and head position data to create a more realistic three-dimensional sound field.
Adaptive Audio: A listening mode that dynamically blends noise reduction and environmental passthrough based on surrounding conditions to balance focus with awareness.
Beamforming microphones: A microphone arrangement that prioritizes the user’s voice and suppresses off-axis noise through spatial signal processing techniques.
H2 chip: Apple’s dedicated audio and communications processor that manages Bluetooth behavior, sound processing, ANC algorithms, voice isolation, and power efficiency.

🆚 Comparison & Competition

AirPods 4 sit closest to premium compact open-fit or semi-open TWS models that prioritize light weight, call quality, and ecosystem convenience. Against direct rivals, Apple offers exceptionally strong iOS integration and class-leading ease when switching between devices, but not always the strongest passive isolation or the longest battery endurance. The ANC version is especially notable because it introduces noise cancellation into an open-fit form factor, something still relatively uncommon in this segment.

Rival 1: Samsung Galaxy Buds3: a similarly premium earbud with a modern open-type design, but with a different ecosystem focus, different tuning, and stronger integration with Android and Galaxy devices.
Rival 2: Huawei FreeBuds 5: a close class competitor with an open-fit form factor and strong comfort emphasis, but with a different ANC implementation, different companion software, and weaker integration with Apple’s ecosystem.

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ QUESTION: Do AirPods 4 have active noise cancellation?

✅ ANSWER: Yes, but not in every version. The standard AirPods 4 model does not include ANC, while AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation adds noise cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness. This is one of the most important structural differences in the lineup and directly affects both price and feature set.

❓ QUESTION: Are AirPods 4 good for Android phones?

✅ ANSWER: Yes, they work as standard Bluetooth earbuds on Android for music playback and calls. Many of Apple’s signature features are reduced or unavailable, including automatic device switching, deep settings integration in iOS, the full Personalized Spatial Audio experience, and parts of the Find My ecosystem behavior.

❓ QUESTION: What is the difference between AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2?

✅ ANSWER: irPods 4 use an open-fit design without silicone ear tips, while AirPods Pro 2 are a sealed in-ear model with stronger passive and active isolation. Pro 2 generally provide higher tier ANC, better acoustic sealing, more adaptable fit options for different ears, and a richer set of advanced audio features. AirPods 4 instead emphasize lightness, comfort, and fast daily convenience.

❓ QUESTION: How long does the AirPods 4 battery last?

✅ ANSWER: pple rates the earbuds for up to 5 hours of listening in standard use and up to 30 hours total with the charging case. On the ANC version, earbud endurance is lower at about 4 hours with noise cancellation active, while total runtime with the case is around 20 hours depending on usage mode. Real world longevity varies with listening volume, connection quality, and the smart features in use.

❓ QUESTION: Are AirPods 4 suitable for workouts and exercise?

✅ ANSWER: Yes, they are suitable for light to moderate workouts, walking, and general daily movement thanks to IP54 resistance against dust, sweat, and water splashes. The open-fit design, however, does not lock into the ear as firmly as silicone tip models or sports-oriented designs with stabilizing hooks. During more intense activity, fit stability depends heavily on the user’s ear shape.

Current Price:

38.68€ / $40.61

* Prices and availability are subject to change.

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