AirPods 4 Review Videos Show Hidden Pairing Button, Lack of MagSafe

The first AirPods 4 reviews surfaced today, providing us with a closer look at Apple's latest earbuds before they launch on Friday.

AirPods 4 Hidden Button
There are two types of AirPods 4, including ones with active noise cancellation for $179 and those without active noise cancellation for $129. As discovered last week, the pairing button and charging status light are now hidden on both AirPods 4 charging cases, and some of the review videos offer a quick demonstration of these changes.

Marques Brownlee showed the new capacitive button starting at the 3:48 mark of his video:

Dave Lee touched on the button starting at the 3:20 mark of his video:

As noted in both reviews, both AirPods 4 charging cases no longer support MagSafe. This means that while the cases can be wirelessly charged, they lack magnets for a precise locked-in position or use with upright charging stands. There is one exception: the cases can still be magnetically attached to the Apple Watch's charging puck.

Read our full AirPods 4 review roundup to learn more about the earbuds.

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
Netflix Smaller 4

Netflix Kills Casting From Its Mobile App to Most Modern TVs

Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer. The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
Cyber Week Deals 2025

Best Cyber Week Apple Deals Include Big Discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:33 am PST by
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
studio display purple february

M5 iPad Pro Could Hint at New Studio Display Feature

Sunday November 30, 2025 10:30 am PST by
The updated specs of the M5 iPad Pro may point toward a major new feature for Apple's next-generation Studio Display expected in early 2026. Apple's latest iPad Pro debuted last month and contains one display-related change that stands out: it can now drive external monitors at up to 120Hz with Adaptive Sync. The feature should deliver lower latency, smoother motion, and fewer visual...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...

Top Rated Comments

Radin.Y Avatar
16 months ago

Not sure why you would get these over the pro 2. If you can't afford the $20 difference you shouldn't be spending that much on headphones.
Many people don’t like the silicon seal on headphones
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StoneJack Avatar
16 months ago
Pairing is one of most crucial points of using wireless headphones. The pairing button is also needed for resets.
Who was dumb enough at Apple to make the pairing button invisible?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dz5b609 Avatar
16 months ago
Did not like MKBHD's review at all (which rarely happens), like sure he's one of a percentage of people who don't fit Airpods but at that point why review it yourself and not have one of his numerous staff members do the testing. Yes ANC is going to be bad if the airpods don't fit you at all and have a bad seal. But that's not very interesting for the people watching the review whose ears are fitting for the airpods since those are the people who're interested in them.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
16 months ago

Not sure why you would get these over the pro 2. If you can't afford the $20 difference you shouldn't be spending that much on headphones.
in-ear earphones don't work for everyone. They don't work for me. I tried them and whenever I move around, I get a "thump thump thump" sound ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hearing-the-thump-of-my-own-walking-while-wearing-new-airpods-pro.2208595/'). I looked it up and it's being referred to as "bone conduction." It's annoying AF.

https://service.shure.com/s/article/thumping-noise-when-walking-and-using-the-e3c-earphones?language=en_US

For those who cannot deal with the "thumping" and want earphones with ANC, the AirPods 4 are it. Sometimes it's not about the price.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newJeans Avatar
16 months ago

Not sure why you would get these over the pro 2. If you can't afford the $20 difference you shouldn't be spending that much on headphones.
i don't like the sensation of the ear plugs / tips on the airpods pro. i went from airpods 1 > airpods pro > airpods 3 because of this. quite interested to see if the ANC of airpods 4 is actually good, but will wait for rtings to comment. :)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xade Avatar
16 months ago

Because one doesn't like rubber tips in the ear canals?

I have AirPods Pros and the regular original style (with the long stems) and will often pick the old ones when running because I don't like tips on the Pros when working out. They fit fine, but itch when I get sweaty and amplify internal body sounds too much.
I prefer the original style for working out as I can change songs by just tapping them instead of squeezing them like the pros which then fall out!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)