Apple’s latest open earbuds feature a slightly smaller design, improved sound and Apple’s powerful H2 chip features. At $129, the entry-level version costs less than its predecessor and is a worthy upgrade to both the AirPods 3 and cheaper AirPods 2. But it’s the noise canceling in the step-up AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation ($179) that makes these new AirPods special. CNET editor David Carnoy gives you the full skinny on both new AirPods 4 models.
0:12 Intro
0:55 Design Differences
1:34 Sound Quality
2:35 Key Differences
3:45 Noise Cancellation
5:24 Colleague Test
7:13 Entry Level Features
8:47 Test Call
9:15 The Bad
9:34 Conclusion
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on X:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Visit CNET.com:
#apple #airpods4 #airpods
@WeAreMovieMakers
September 16, 2024 at 9:48 am
Not interested in AirPods until they use something other than AAC for better latency and sound quality.
@Prence
September 16, 2024 at 9:55 am
I just wish I could buy the usb c case for my AirPod pros. Would be nice to only have to carry 1 charging cable instead of a usb c cable for my iPhone and iPad Pro and a lightning cable for my AirPod pro. Come on Apple, sell just the usb c charging case by itself. I don’t want to have to buy a complete replacement device when what I have works perfectly fine.
@GranzDesign
September 16, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Its a reason they force you. Like i bet you dont use the older chargingport right?
@Prence
September 16, 2024 at 6:34 pm
@@GranzDesign I used to but not since I got a usb c iPad and iPhone 15. I just have lightning cable for my AirPods. But if you need to know, I still have my iPod touch with the 30 pin connector. I don’t use it anymore, the iPod touch and the 30 pin connector is packed away in the back of my closet. I know eventually the AirPods will join them, well that is if they don’t stop working first.
@GranzDesign
September 16, 2024 at 6:47 pm
@@Prence ah, but i think the main reason they dont let you swap it out, are cause for the environment
@Prence
September 16, 2024 at 6:48 pm
@@GranzDesign I know it’s just greed, I would have to shell out more for the entire thing than just the charging case.
@rolins3279
September 16, 2024 at 10:04 am
After seeing almost a dozen reviews, what I understood, these Airpods 4/4 ANC are good Apple products, but nothing groundbreaking, revolutionary for the global market (in fact they don’t really do better than, Huawei Freebuds 5, Qcy AilyBuds Pro+, JBL Live Flex 3, Soundpeats Air 5, Galaxy Buds 3 🤷🏽♂️), but they are Apple products, intended to generate a lot of noise, hypes around them, and their prices are justified by the Apple tax, you pay for the logo 🍏.
🚶🏽♂️ 🚶🏽♂️ 🚶🏽♂️
@some_guy_2323
September 16, 2024 at 1:14 pm
But they arent that expensive and they will go on sale…
@rolins3279
September 16, 2024 at 1:24 pm
@@some_guy_2323 $200 for earbuds that don’t do more than $50 earbuds is not expensive, frankly, Apple still has a bright future ahead of it, pff 🤦🏽♂️
@rolins3279
September 16, 2024 at 1:31 pm
$200 for earbuds that don’t do more than $50 earbuds is not expensive, frankly, Apple still has a bright future ahead of it, pff 🤦🏽♂️
@HiFiInsider
September 16, 2024 at 10:06 am
I can’t wait to get mine on Friday.
@sirgigolo
September 16, 2024 at 10:13 am
Noise cancelling is new for AirPods? Wow. I thought all earbuds had ANC
@StarChaser1879
September 16, 2024 at 10:44 am
It’s not new for AirPods it’s new for BASE AirPods
@user-tx3sn8gk9j
September 16, 2024 at 10:20 am
What’s wrong up with the world? You should be highlighting how apple is once again blowing smoke giving you a crappier product and changed the port. Consumers need to stop buying Apple products so apple finally gets the point. We want intellij xcode on an iPad mini pro foldable already. Apple doesn’t care about you , wake up people! Force apple to bankruptcy so they finally do the basics
@BojanKnezevic
September 16, 2024 at 10:54 am
very good review, much better than those youtubers that repeat apples words
@NetvoTV
September 16, 2024 at 11:02 am
I want to buy ear/headphone to get good music sound quality and not cancelling interaction with people, you guys might want to reconsider getting them for noise cancelling, companies are good at making reasons you need their stuffs, remember getting know new people and improve your social skills are the beautiful field for you to discover, digital content won’t gone and can wait until you get back home and no need to stuck yourself when you are out too but people will gone and is nice to get to know people story to improve yourself too, unless you really need noise cancelling for health reasons, there is no need to get on this noise cancelling trends to spend on unnecessary things to show off to people doesn’t care for you, it seem like companies can’t differentiate themselves much in sound quality much anymore and they just make this ANC a thing to drive sale, for me a good headphone will do for music and movie, listen to nature and surrounding cars or what not when I’m outside and outdoor exsrcise
@ropulse1
September 16, 2024 at 11:08 am
What about the hearing aid feature – is the 2 only – does it require an I-phone will it work with my android – if no is there a hearing aid like device for android pods?
@davidcarnoy961
September 16, 2024 at 8:10 pm
Only coming to AirPods Pro 2.
@yungajahbenz2726
September 16, 2024 at 11:30 am
Because it apple they making fake predictions..🎵
@ladlem3
September 16, 2024 at 11:31 am
How would they (ANC ones) match up vs B&W Pi7 S2?
@Kinadnuf
September 16, 2024 at 11:40 am
I wish we could cancel out your horrendous unnecessary background music. In the couple of areas that you turned it off, it was so much better to concentrate.
@davidcarnoy961
September 16, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Good feedback. Thanks.
@coltonpiper6156
September 16, 2024 at 11:59 am
So just to be clear both models of AirPods 4 are the same exact size right?
@unorthodoxbox
September 16, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Both are the same. The only difference is the ANC model has find my support and wireless charging. The cheaper model only has a case that charges via USB C.
@stephensung9317
September 16, 2024 at 12:34 pm
ANC with silicone tips always made me nauseous and gave me a headache with a pressure sensation in my head. I wonder if the open design airpods 4 gets rid of this.
@kamangeer100
September 16, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Should we buy the 2 Pro or the 4 ANC? Almost the same price 🤔🤔
@Youtubeuseritis
September 16, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Will airpods pro 2 (lightning port) also get the updates that the USB c model will get?
@davidcarnoy961
September 16, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Yes. It should. Has H2 chip.
@Youtubeuseritis
September 16, 2024 at 6:35 pm
@@davidcarnoy961 Then what exactly is new in this year’s model. It looks like a software update only 🙂.
@davidcarnoy961
September 16, 2024 at 6:40 pm
@@Youtubeuseritis They updated AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and 5Ghz radios for lossless audio with Vision Pro. AirPods 4 have the same 5Ghz (instead of 2.4 GHz).
@Youtubeuseritis
September 16, 2024 at 6:45 pm
@@davidcarnoy961 I am not sure if it has any affect on microphone quality (assuming more bandwidth for voice data maybe)? Are micro phones on AirPod 4 and updated AirPods 2 significantly better than respective previous models?
@thomaswall4699
September 16, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Totally confusing!
@RajMohhammed
September 16, 2024 at 1:52 pm
The whole review “a little bit more”
@einsam514
September 16, 2024 at 1:52 pm
So which airpods is the best for bassheads?
@dandansfu
September 16, 2024 at 2:58 pm
get airpod 3 unless you truly care about the anc and some of the features but airpod 3 has
slightly more battery
comes with a cable
magsafe
much cheaper now
or just get pro 2 as you get
magsafe
volume control
not much more expensive especially during the holidays
and all the new feature
its like apple nowadays, have to remove something whether be accessories , features or hardware
@jp93309
September 16, 2024 at 3:39 pm
Might finally pull the trigger on airpods as I’ve only owned cheap knockoffs or stuck with wired buds. I hate silicone tips for day to day use but I do have silicone tipped wired iems for pure music listening.
@paulchiu
September 16, 2024 at 4:37 pm
love the honesty. this appears to be for many who dislike the rubber tips
@BenoitPerreaultXC
September 16, 2024 at 5:05 pm
Always like your reviews, they are clear and professional. Many thanks. Ben
@davidcarnoy961
September 16, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for watching!
@___ll
September 16, 2024 at 7:52 pm
It seems dangerous to have a lithium battery placed right next to your ear, and it’s scary that Apple has not said anything about its safety.
This issue is a common concern for companies that make wireless earphones and headphones.
@DeathFlame500
September 16, 2024 at 7:55 pm
What
@___ll
September 16, 2024 at 8:09 pm
@@DeathFlame500 A3HOC Li-ion 3.7V Germany for Air Pods Pro.
No one has taken apart the AirPods 4 yet, so I don’t know, but has the battery safety improved somewhat compared to the previous generation?
@learbaniqued
September 16, 2024 at 8:41 pm
You worry so much with something that shouldn’t be.
@___ll
September 16, 2024 at 8:56 pm
@@learbaniqued Isn’t it weird to be so worried without knowing what’s inside? I’ve never heard of anyone exploding around me, and I use AirPods occasionally. But how long can I use them safely?
@aamir1387
September 16, 2024 at 9:21 pm
3:35 its more like triple tap, not double tap three times 😀