Apple's AirPods 4 bring a big innovation in the test, but I was really impressed in other areas

The AirPods 4 with ANC have been my companions for over four weeks. In the test I draw a conclusion.

With the new AirPods 4 (ANC), Apple is doing right by many. Anyone who is bothered by the silicone earplugs of the Pro models will like the fourth generation of headphones. The new in-ears also offer active noise cancellation through counter-sound.

I'll explain to you in the test how this works in practice and what the new headphones sound like.

Transparency notice: Apple provided me with the AirPods 4 with ANC free of charge for the test. The manufacturer had no influence on the article content and was not given access to it before the test was published. There was no obligation to provide a test report.

AirPods 4 with ANC: The new case brings some advantages

The headphone housing is small and has three practical advantages:

• If you search in vain for the headphones, the “Where is?” function can help, provided the two earbuds are in the case. Alternatively, an easily audible sound can also be played.
• Apple has integrated a USB-C port on the bottom.
• The new case supports wireless charging and the Qi standard.

If you remove the two earplugs, there are hardly any differences to the third generation. The AirPods 4 are slightly smaller and, as is standard, come without silicone attachments for the ears.

While some people have them falling out of their ears, others are happy that they don't have a foreign body in their ear canal. In this regard, everyone has their own preferences.

There are hardly any design changes with the new AirPods 4.

In my case, the AirPods 4 sit very comfortably in my ear.Even when I'm jogging, I never have the feeling that they're going to hit the ground at any moment and the headphones don't bother me even after several hours in my ears.

However, more than four hours with ANC are not possible in the test. Then they have to go back into the case to provide me with sound for a maximum of 30 hours.

If I switch off ANC, up to five hours of media playback is possible. Compared to the competition, this is an average value and anything but outstanding.

AirPods 4 with ANC: This is what the Apple earphones sound like

The AirPods 4 sound good overall. The bass hammers pleasantly gently into the ear without seeming dominant. However, you shouldn't expect bombast in this area like with the AirPods Pro 2. The bass in the Pro headphones is stronger, richer and consistently precise.

The AirPods 4 don't make any slip-ups in the mids and highs either, they are differentiated, very clear and only become shrill at maximum volume, although this is less important depending on the song title.

While in "Addicted To You" by Avicii the voice hardly loses any clarity even at maximum volume and instruments and sound effects are easy to locate, the sound of the guitars and samples in "Heavy is the Crown" by Linkin Park loses much more of its beauty .

Link toSpotify Content

Link toSpotify Content

If you turn the AirPods 4 all the way up, the headphones are way too loud anyway. At moderate volume, I like the headphones for almost all genres, even outside of rock and pop.

This is particularly noticeable in “Africa” by Toto, whose work combines various elements from different genres. The bass, voice and complex sound effects sound good with the AirPods 4 and are really fun.

Link toSpotify Content

Spatial Audio

AirPods 4's spatial audio creates a potentially immersive audio experience that feels like sound is coming from all sides. This is achieved by using 5.1 and 7.1 channel signals as well as Dolby Atmos.

• 3D-Ton: The sound is processed so that it is in a three-dimensional space.
• Headtracking: The AirPods 4 track the movements of the head, so the sound remains stable even when you turn your head.
• personalization: Since iOS 16, the system can adapt the sound to the individual ear shape.

For my taste, the sound seems more voluminous and clearer without head tracking and 3D audio. But this is primarily a question of personal taste.

AirPods 4: Active noise cancellation is solid

Apple has prepared anti-noise technology for the AirPods 4 in order to make the popular active noise cancellation also available for its silicone-free headphones.

For me, the ANC mode works surprisingly well, although as expected not as excellent as other headphones.

While fan noise from the PC or Steam Deck, driving noise from outside and muffled noises such as humming are successfully filtered out, the AirPods 4 with ANC especially fail with high-pitched sounds such as voices, printer noises or music.

Anyone looking for in-ears with an excellent ANC mode so that they can be alone on the bus and train will not be happy with the AirPods 4 with ANC. There are significantly better alternatives for less money.

There is also an unusual pressure on the ears when ANC mode is activated, which is even more noticeable when the music is turned off. The feeling is difficult to describe. For me it's a bit like "water in the ears". But that is subjective. While it doesn't bother me much, it can be more serious for other people.

The AirPods 4 shine again with ANC in transparency mode. In this mode, you can hear everything around you without having to take out your earbuds.

Overall, it is commendable that Apple also offers ANC for its headphones that come onto the market without silicone attachments. So if you accept the disadvantages mentioned above, you have a choice.

The microphone is very good

The microphone performance of the AirPods 4 is very satisfactory. The quality does not come close to that of the wired EarPods, but the conversation partners always hear the voice clearly and differentiated.

Even in strong winds, the voice is hardly disturbed by scratching noises. Other external noises are also largely blocked out. The AirPods 4 do an excellent job here.

Overall, the built-in microphone makes the fourth generation of Apple in-ears a strong all-rounder for listening to music, meetings and phone calls outdoors.

Speaking of which: With iOS 18, the headphones support head movements. If you shake your head when someone calls you, you will decline. A short nod accepts the call.

Who should buy the AirPods 4 with ANC?

The AirPods 4 with ANC are worth it for you if you...

• … avoid silicone attachments.
• ...are deeply rooted in the Apple ecosystem.
• ... looking for good all-rounders for music, meetings and other telephone calls.
• ...at least you want to shield part of the environment with ANC.

Possible alternatives to the AirPods 4 with ANC

• AirPods 4 ohne ANC: If you can do without ANC, you can save a good 50 euros with the AirPods 4 without active noise cancellation. Apart from the active noise cancellation and the various modes, such as transparency mode, there are few differences.
• Nothing Ear 2: If you don't have any problems with silicone earplugs, the Nothing Ear 2 is a clearly better value for money package. The ANC mode blocks out external noise much better than the AirPods 4. The headphones also impress in terms of sound in the test.
• WF-1000XM5: The Sony in-ears are only slightly more expensive, but impress with their phenomenal sound and ANC mode. We only had to look for a needle in a haystack in the transparency mode in the test.

The AirPods 4 with ANC are aimed at a specific group: people who prefer in-ear headphones without silicone and still want to benefit from ANC.

The fourth generation of Apple headphones succeeds in this to some extent, but due to their design they are not nearly as good as many other headphones on the market. Nevertheless, the option makes the AirPods 4 with ANC a very strong all-rounder.