Quick verdict
For years you had to choose: the airy, no-seal comfort of classic AirPods or the noise cancelling of the Pro line. AirPods 4 with ANC collapses that trade-off. Active noise cancelling in an open-fit earbud cannot match a sealed in-ear tip, but it meaningfully cuts bus, office and plane drone while keeping the classic AirPods feel. If in-ear tips have always hurt your ears, this is the most interesting AirPods yet.
Key specs
| Fit | Open-fit (no silicone tips), IP54 dust/sweat resistance |
| Noise | Active Noise Cancellation + Transparency + Adaptive Audio |
| Chip | H2 |
| Case | USB-C, speaker for Find My, wireless charging |
| Price | $179 with ANC ($129 without) |
What we like
- The ANC-on effect on constant low-frequency noise – bus engines, HVAC hum, cabin drone – is real and useful, not a gimmick.
- Open fit means no ear canal pressure, no tip sizing lottery, and you can still hear a kettle or a colleague.
- Case improvements (smaller, USB-C, Find My speaker) fix the classic AirPods annoyances.
- Seamless Apple-device switching remains the best multipoint experience in the industry.
What could be better
- Noise cancelling cannot stop mid-frequency chatter – an open seal lets voices through by design.
- Some owners report ear-pressure sensations with ANC in open-fit designs; fit sensitivity varies.
- At $179 you are $70 under AirPods Pro 2, which still cancel dramatically more if tips fit you.
Who it is for – and who should skip it
Buy them if you love the classic AirPods fit, want some quiet on a commute, and live in the Apple ecosystem. Skip them if maximum silence is the goal (get Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5), or if you are outside the Apple world and would pay an ecosystem tax for no benefit.
How it compares
- AirPods Pro 2 – sealed fit, class-leading ANC, hearing-aid features; the better buy if tips are comfortable.
- Beats Fit Pro – wing-tip security for workouts, in-ear seal, USB-C.
- Sony WF-1000XM5 – excellent ANC and sound for Android and iPhone, weaker seamless switching.
Price and where to buy
$179 with ANC, $129 without; sales are rare outside Apple’s own event promotions. Check the current price on Amazon (affiliate link – see our affiliate disclosure).
Update log
October 17, 2026 – guide published with specifications and owner-feedback analysis; hands-on testing underway.
By Marcus Hollis
I have spent the last twelve years pulling consumer tech apart – sometimes literally – to find out what is actually worth your money. Before starting Freakin Review, I ran product QA and return-rate analysis for a Dallas-based electronics retailer, where thousands of returned devices a month taught me one lesson: spec sheets lie more often than reviewers do. I lead our testing bench in Austin, where every power bank, pair of earbuds, and computer peripheral goes through a standardized 10-point routine – real measurements, weeks of daily use, and no free sample we are afraid to criticize. When a product fails, I say so, even when the affiliate link pays less.