Resetting Expectations

If there is a product that best exemplifies the famous ‘It just works’ catchphrase about Apple products, it’s got to be the AirPods lineup, with an excellent pairing and switching experience and strong noise cancelation (ANC) and ecosystem benefits that keeps iPhone users hooked. So, when the AirPods 4 with ANC were announced – open-style buds with a new audio architecture and noise cancellation – my interest was sufficiently piqued.

Now, I’m the sort who swears by the AirPods Pro design, with the silicone tips keeping the buds locked into my ears. The looser fit of open-ear buds? Not so much. Ergo, what surprised me the most was how much the small tweaks to the design and the improved ergonomics helped the AirPods 4 sit better and, more importantly, secure in my ear. The overall design still looks familiar, now with dust and water resistance. Elsewhere, the case has gotten a smidgen smaller (10%, to be precise), offers wireless charging on the pricier ANC model yet still charges the buds about five times – that’s about four hours of use with ANC and five without, which is about middle of the road for ANC buds. There’s a tiny speaker for locating the case when lost. 

Slip them on and the first thing you’ll notice is the extra power in the low end, making for a richer, more detailed sonic signature, and while you can’t customize the sound via EQ profiles, these are some of the best open-ear TWS buds for listening to music that I’ve tested. They’re neck-and-heck with the AirPods Pro 2, with the tighter seal helping with punchier bass, but the vocals sound slightly better on the AirPods 4. The H2 chip inside allows tracking of head movements for Spatial Audio support and head gestures as well. 

And for the first time, active noise cancellation trickles down to the base AirPods range, with the same set of noise control modes as the pricier Pros. From metro rides to flights, adaptive ANC performance is shockingly good for an open-ear design, reducing environmental noise to a very considerable degree, although it fares better with indoor situations (air conditioners, fans) than it does with louder traffic environments and crowded public places. Granted, the tight seal on the Pro 2 allows for overall better ANC, but the AirPods 4 are no pushover and allow you to listen to your music at a much lower volume. The excellent transparency mode, although less of a necessity on the open design, is a nice to have. 

Minor misses are in the form of the buds missing the Hearing Aid feature and on-ear volume control available exclusively on the Pro 2, and at their price, the AirPods 4 with ANC will appeal to iPhone users who never really warmed up to the silicone-tip design of the Pros. It really will come down to the fit you prefer. 

Rating: 9/10

Price: Rs. 12,900/Rs. 17,900 (with ANC)