It "only" took four generations: Apple finally gave the AirPods ANC in 2024—and promptly charged an extra $50 for it. However, the AirPods 4 should also sound better thanks to the H2 chip, and can recognize gestures based on head movements. Will they leave the competition behind?

While they may look much the same, I feel like anybody opting for the cheaper, non-ANC AirPods 4 is succumbing to a false economy. The noise cancellation isn't just impressive, but has a noticeable impact on music playback quality: you no longer have to contest a looser fit in the ear with more...

“The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC offer the best ANC on the market for folks who hate eartips.”

The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are good for commute and travel use. Their one-size-fits-all design will be comfortable for most people, although those with particularly large or small ears will have no way of adjusting the fit and will find they fall out of your ear all too...

With the noise-canceling AirPods 4, Apple has bridged the gap between the entry level model and the AirPods Pro. The ANC version gets nearly all of what makes the AirPods Pro 2 so good, except for the most powerful noise cancellation, the upcoming hearing health features and a few other items.

The AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are worth springing for compared to the regular pair. Both sound good, but the ANC works surprisingly well — most of the time.

The AirPods 4 offer a more comfortable fit, more portable build, and better audio quality -- all for a relatively low price.

The best AirPods for those who don't like ear tips.

When Apple launches new products, one thing is inevitable: discussions about missing features, overpricing and competition. Let’s take a look at how Apple’s AirPods 4 compare to their predecessors and the Pro range.

“Apple once again gives its faithful AirPods fans exactly what they want with the AirPods 4.”