Apple AirPods 4 launch with active noise cancellation at a great price

Apple's bog-standard earbuds with nary an ANC feature in sight were getting quite long in the tooth, so, three years after their release, Apple finally announced their AirPods 4 successor at the iPhone 16 "Glowtime" event.

While lacking ANC, the non-Pro AirPods still offer Apple's excellent Personalized Spatial Audio technology, along with a comfortable design and long battery life, not to mention the street cred brought about by the world's most popular earbuds. What's new with the AirPods 4 then?

AirPods 4 (ANC): Pre-order at Amazon

Experience next-gen audio with Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC. The earbuds feature an H2 chip and superior active noise cancellation. Pre-order a pair at Amazon today. The earbuds will be available starting September 20, 2024.

Pre-order at Amazon

AirPods Pro 2: Save 24% at Amazon

The AirPods Pro 2 are set to get a new all-in-one health experience this Fall with features like Hearing Test and Hearing Aid. While you wait for these fancy new features to arrive, go ahead and get the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon for 24% off.

$59 off (24%)

Buy at Amazon

New Apple AirPods 4 design and features

• Better ear fit and new cases
• Active Noise Cancellation
• New USB-C case offers 30 hours of battery life
• Bass and highs improvements
• Adaptive audio that evens loud noise or lowers volume during conversations
• Nod to say no or year when responding to Siri
• $129 price ($179 with ANC)

Well, the big new AirPods 4 features are that same ANC option for one of the models, an H2 audio chip, fresher design of the case, and wireless charging!

The two 4th-gen AirPods earbuds look like a design mashup of the regular AirPods and the AirPods Pro 2, coming with shortened stems and USB-C case charging port at long last. The case for the more expensive AirPods 4 version with ANC, however, also comes with wireless charging and a tiny speaker for buzzing you via the Find My alerts feature when you lose the case, just like on the AirPods Pro charging case.

Sorry, no replaceable tips on the AirPods 4 again, but Apple does promise a better, more secure fit for both models, and improved audio with deeper bass and clearer highs.

Under the proverbial hood, Apple has upgraded the AirPods 4 specs with the H2 audio chip from the Pro model, ringing in enhancements to the Personalized Spatial Audio feature, and much faster pairing or device changes. It also allows Apple to introduce quality active noise cancellation for a truly well-rounded earbuds experience.

Apple AirPods 4 pricing and release date

Since one of the 4th-generation AirPods comes with noise cancellation, it is, naturally, the more expensive model. Apple sells it at $179, just like the AirPods 3 predecessor. The basic AirPods 4 model is priced $50 lower, at $129, so Apple keeps the pricing largely intact, just adds more features and a new design.