Gadget Review: Apple cuts out the noise with AirPods 4

You don’t look for audiophile quality sound in any in-ear or open-ear headphone. Such a creature does not exist. As a self-confessed finicky listener, experience has taught me that to get the best sound in personal audio products, you need something that fits over the ear. And even Apple, for all its vaunted - and proven – quality, cannot produce an exception to that.

But when Apple launched the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC), I was excited. While not totally audiophile-grade, AirPods have always punched above their weight in sound reproduction. I couldn’t wait to see what the latest version of the buds might bring, especially when I read the specs sheet. Here was an open-style earbuds with noise cancelling, a new sonic architecture, and the H2 chip from the very successful AirPods Pro 2. It sure sounded worth finding out.

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And what I found out was that while these upgrades bring improvements in functionality and sound, there are some trade-offs that affect the overall experience.

With the AirPods 4 with ANC, Apple continues its tradition of sleek, minimalist design. The compact charging case is impressively small, fitting into even the tightest pockets. The earbuds are lightweight, well-crafted, and fit securely in their slots. The ANC model includes Find My support, making lost earbuds easier to track — while this feature is absent in the more affordable version of the AirPods 4 without the ANC function.

Noise cancellation is a welcome addition, though it doesn’t match the performance of the AirPods Pro 2, which benefit from a better seal due to their silicon tips. Still, the ANC does a decent job at reducing background noise. Transparency and Adaptive modes add further versatility, though switching between them using the force-touch panels isn’t an option.

The touch-sensitive controls remain a highlight, offering reliable input without accidental activations. You can play/pause music, skip tracks, and summon Siri with a squeeze, though the lack of volume and ANC toggling from the earbuds themselves is a drawback.

While the AirPods 4 offer clear and detailed sound, they aren’t the best-sounding earbuds in their price range. Mid-range frequencies are well-tuned, making vocals and guitars stand out with clarity. Bass has improved, extending into lower frequencies, but lacks depth and impact. Low-end notes, such as bass drums or deep synths, often fade behind mids.

It’s in the high frequencies that the AirPods 4 somewhat stumbles. Instruments such as cymbals, trumpets, high strings such as violins, and high pianos notes can sometimes sound harsh, with noticeable sibilance that may be fatiguing over time. This is particularly evident in jazz and orchestral recordings, where certain elements get lost in the mix, reducing the overall listening experience.

If modern Bollywood, Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift are your musical staples, however, you will not be complaining too much, as the delivery of vocals is a standout feature of the sonic performance.

The fit was less than standout for us, though. While Apple has refined the shape, the open-fit design can still feel loose, especially during quick movement or head turns. We found it necessary to make frequent readjustments – and this also affected the noise cancellation. When the earbuds shift, the ANC has to recalibrate, causing brief but noticeable disruptions.

What the ANC is great at, though, is detecting when you’re interjecting your music or whatever it is you’re listening to with outside conversation. With an unfailing regularity, whenever I uttered a word in conversation with someone while the device was playing in my ear, it automatically cut off the ANC to let me listen better to external sounds, and then went back to ANC mode a few seconds after I stopped speaking or outside auditory input ceased.

To sum up, the AirPods 4 with ANC are a strong option for those who appreciate Apple’s open-fit design. They offer effective ANC, a compact and portable case, and a familiar, user-friendly experience. However, the overall sound quality and the fit are issues that prevent it from being the best in its class.

When it comes to battery life, we found it to be adequate at best, and a little shorter than both previous AirPods models and some of the non-Apple competition. While the 4.5 hours of use with the ANC enabled was as per Apple’s claim, switching off the ANC gave us around six hours. The case holds four more charges, with each taking half-an-hour to top up the earbuds. One good feature about charging the device is that you can simply place it on your Apple Watch charger tray to charge it, eliminating the need for another USB-C cable for those who own Apple watches.   

At Dh749, the AirPods 4 with ANC is priced at the higher end of the market. For those who prioritise seamless Apple integration, a lightweight feel and active noise cancellation in an open-ear sound device, the device is worth considering. However, users seeking top-tier sound quality and a more secure fit may want to explore other leading wireless earbuds before making a final decision. As we said at the beginning, this does not replace over-the-ear devices when it comes to sound. But we’d indeed recommend it for its portability, finish, and overall features and performance.

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

Hits:

- Finish, features and dimensions

- Active noise cancellation

- Sound quality for casual listening

Misses:

- In-ear fit

- High-frequency sounds

Price: Dh749

Rating: 4 stars