Apple Unveils AirPods 4 With Two Models Featuring Improved Fit, USB-C, and More

Apple today introduced the AirPods 4, which will come in two models: a base model for $129 and a model with Active Noise Cancellation for $179.

airpods 4 blue
‌AirPods 4‌ feature a big improvement in sound quality with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive media experience. Both models include the H2 chip and support features like Voice Isolation and Siri Interactions, the latter of which lets users nod or shake their head to respond to ‌Siri‌ announcements.

For more controls, ‌AirPods 4‌ feature a force sensor on the stem to play or pause media and mute or end phone calls. The case for the ‌AirPods 4‌ is the smallest case yet on any AirPods model, and it features USB-C charging with up to 30 hours of total battery life.

In regards to the second ‌AirPods 4‌ model, it features Active Noise Cancellation with upgraded microphones and advanced computational audio helping to reduce environmental noise. This model also has a Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness.

Users can also use an Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger to refuel the ‌AirPods 4‌ charging case on the higher-end model, and it includes a speaker for Find My capabilities.

For both ‌AirPods 4‌ models, Apple has refined the design of the AirPods to create the most comfortable AirPods ever, resulting in a shape that "naturally fits even more users around the world."

Both ‌AirPods 4‌ models are available to pre-order now in the United States, and will be available starting September 20.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full iOS 18.5 Release Notes

Tuesday May 6, 2025 2:17 pm PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week. With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
siri glow

iPhone Users Now Able to Submit Claims in $95 Million Siri Spying Lawsuit

Wednesday May 7, 2025 11:40 am PDT by
If you owned a Siri-compatible device and had an accidental Siri activation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024, you could be eligible for a payment from Apple as part of a class action lawsuit settlement. Apple in January agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit involving Siri spying accusations, and a website to distribute the funds has now been set up and...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.5 Coming Soon, Here is What's New

Monday May 5, 2025 8:19 am PDT by
In its press release for the new Pride Band today, Apple said that iOS 18.5 is "upcoming," following more than a month of beta testing. We expect the iOS 18.5 Release Candidate to be released this week, and this should be the final beta version, barring any last-minute bugs or changes. The software update should then be released to the general public next week. iOS 18.5 is a relatively...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17: What's New With the Cameras

Friday May 2, 2025 3:52 pm PDT by
We've still got months to go before the new iPhone 17 models come out, but a combination of dummy models and leaks have given us some insight into what we can expect in terms of camera changes. Apple is adding new camera features, and changing the design of the camera bump for some models. You might be skeptical of dummy models, but over the years, they've proven to be a highly accurate...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Said to Have Two Key Advantages

Monday May 5, 2025 6:41 am PDT by
Apple plans to release its first foldable iPhone next year, according to several reporters and analysts who cover the company. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the foldable iPhone will offer two key advantages over other foldable smartphones. First, he said the foldable iPhone will have a "nearly invisible" crease when unfolded. This means the device's...
Nineth iOS 19 Feature

iOS 19 Beta is a Month Away With These New Features for Your iPhone

Thursday May 8, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it. Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Foldable iPhone Display Tech May Set New Industry Standard

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:29 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, claims a source with links to Apple's supply chain. According to the account yeux1122 on the Korean Naver blog, the foldable iPhone will use a custom display process for which Apple will hold branding trademark rights, and that meets Apple's stringent ...

Top Rated Comments

ProbablyDylan Avatar
9 months ago
Actually very excited by AirPods + ANC! Rubber tips aren't comfortable for me on any bud.

Wish the name was better though. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

edit: spelling ?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
city_17 Avatar
9 months ago
Open ear + ANC is a winning combination, but I'm going to wait for reviews to see how it really works. Hard to see it being that effective without actual physical isolation.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joshwithachance Avatar
9 months ago
Having two separate base models on top of a Pro and Max version makes the AirPods lineup VERY messy and confusing imo. Also, you can almost always secure the Pro 2s with USB-C at most retailers for $179 anyway so what's the point of the ANC model?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
carniesandrubes Avatar
9 months ago
$179 for the ANC model when AirPods Pro 2 have been on sale as low as $169 recently. Ok...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tdevilsg Avatar
9 months ago

What's the point of noise cancelling on non-sealed earbuds?

That just doesn't work no matter what Apple try to make you think.
Probably about 50 models of earbuds that have better sound with noise cancelling default and isolation for under $150 on Amazon right now.
How do you know it doesn't work? I doubt they would release this if it didn't work. Wait until the actual reviews come in.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HornOfAbraxas Avatar
9 months ago

Having two separate base models on top of a Pro and Max version makes the AirPods lineup VERY messy and confusing imo. Also, you can almost always secure the Pro 2s with USB-C at most retailers for $179 anyway so what's the point of the ANC model?
VERY messy and confusing? There's one over-the-ear, one with tips, one base with ANC and one without. That's "very confusing"?

The open-ear model is for people who don't like tips. My wife and I had Pros and sold them because of the tips. Not everyone enjoys the feeling of rubber tips sliding in and out of your ear, and not everyone's ear shape is conducive to them staying in.

I don't think having one additional model takes the lineup from acceptable to "very messy and confusing"
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)