Bluetooth: 5.3
Active noise-cancelling: Yes
Spatial Audio: Yes
Battery life: 4 hours (with ANC on), 5 hours (with ANC off), total 30 hours (with charging case)
Earbuds weight: 4.3g (per earbud)
Hats off to Apple – it has achieved decent ANC without the need for eartips. The AirPods 4 are packed with features too, and keep you aware of your surroundings even with ANC activated. But the design won't be for everyone, the battery life is comparatively poor, and the sound quality isn't quite up to the AirPods Pro 2's.
For
- Clean, detailed, agile sound
- Impressive ANC effect for an ‘open’ design
- Compact, lightweight design
- Extensive feature set that borrows from flagship model
- Seamless use with iOS devices
Against
- Battery life lags behind the competition
- Fit won’t suit everyone
- Needs a greater dose of dynamic subtlety, solidity and punch to be a class leader
Bluetooth: 5.3
Active noise-cancelling: Yes
Spatial Audio: Yes
Battery life: 6 hours (single charge in earbuds with ANC on), total 30 hours (with charging case)
Earbuds weight: 5.3g (per earbud)
The AirPods Pro 2 were a pleasant surprise when we first tested them, and they still stand up well today. Their sound quality is up there with the best at this price, their ANC is fantastic, and they're typically effortless to use. The upcoming hearing health features will be the cherry on top.
For
- Clear, detailed and powerful sound
- Excellent noise-cancelling
- Longer battery life
- Smooth, intuitive use with iOS devices
- Updated ANC features
- Good discounts available
Against
- Many features restricted to iOS devices only
Apple's new AirPods 4 have launched. Taking the place of the older AirPods 2 (2019) and AirPods 3 (2021), the AirPods 4 are now the entry-level wireless earbuds in the company's headphone range. There are actually two models under the AirPods 4 umbrella: one without noise-cancelling, and one with active noise-cancellation (ANC).
So how do they shape up against Apple's flagship ANC wireless earbuds model, the five-star AirPods Pro 2? The Pro 2 is the first Apple in-ear model to get a five-star rating from us, and we've yearned ever since for Apple's cheaper models to catch up in terms of performance, design and features.
They share much of the same DNA, of course, especially in how they interact with iOS devices, but there are plenty of key differences between the established Pro 2 and the new AirPods 4 – let's take a look.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: price
The AirPods 4 are the cheapest models in Apple's headphones range. The base AirPods 4 (without ANC) cost £129 / $129 / AU$219, while the AirPods 4 with ANC are yours for £179 / $179 / AU$299. They went on sale globally on 20th September.
The AirPods Pro 2 officially cost £229 / $249 / AU$399, although you can occasionally find some great discounts bringing that price below the £200 / $200 mark. The Pro 2 range originally launched in 2022, while in 2023 Apple swapped out the old Lightning connector charging case with a USB-C case. The buds and performance remain the same, but new health-related upgrades (including Hearing Protection, Hearing Test and a Hearing Aid feature) will appear before the end of 2024.
** Winner: Apple AirPods 4 **
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: design
The biggest differentiator between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 is regarding the use of eartips in the design. The AirPods Pro 2 feature swappable eartips as part of their now-iconic stem-and-bud design, which allows for more individual fit and comfort, as people can choose between four eartip sizes (XS, S, M, L) to find the best seal for them. Finding the best seal isn't just for sound quality – it determines the amount of bass you hear – it's also pretty crucial for effective ANC and noise isolation.
The AirPods 4, however, continue with the eartips-less design that their previous generations (and the wired EarPods before them) have been known for. Despite the claim that the lack of eartips means a more universal fit, we found this wasn't always the case, with some members of the What Hi-Fi? team finding they didn't stay put at all or weren't comfortable.
However, Apple is hoping to address that with the new AirPods 4, calling them the "most comfortable AirPods ever" in this open-ear design. Apple says it has used advanced modelling tools, 50 million data points and precisely mapped and analysed thousands of ear shapes to refine the design of these standard AirPods 4.
They are lighter and more comfortable, with their tapered shape helping them nestle nicely in our ears and stay in place. If you find eartips a bit invasive, these are a great alternative.
But that's not the case for everyone. The design remains quite divisive, with some members of our team finding a much less snug fit. A case of try before you buy.
You still use the stems to control the buds, but sadly the AirPods Pro 2's on-bud volume controls haven't migrated to the AirPods 4 – changing volume involves digging out your phone or talking to Siri.
The AirPods 4's charging case is a little smaller than the Pro 2's, and the ANC model's supports USB-C and wireless charging. It also has a speaker built-in to beep and help you find it when it goes walkabouts. The non-ANC AirPods 4's case doesn't have wireless charging or the built-in speaker.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: features
The AirPods Pro 2 were the first model to come with Apple's latest H2 chip – which brought with it significant improvements to sound, noise-cancelling, longer battery life and many additional features. In general, the Pro 2 offered more powerful and seamless operation with iOS devices.
The AirPods 4 are also now powered by the same H2 chip. This means they now also have more of the same features enjoyed by the flagship model, including Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic headtracking for both variants.
In the Pro 2, the ANC quality is two times more effective than the first-gen Pro model, though the AirPods 4 with ANC make no such claim. The Pro 2 deliver Apple's best in-ear ANC experience, dimming surrounding noise, deep rumbles and office chatter to a minimum. They're very effective at damping down sudden, loud, harsh noises, too. We find it to be a comfortable, airy experience too, thanks to repositioned acoustic vents that promote better airflow.
The AirPods 4 with ANC have a few features that were previously exclusive to the Pro 2: Transparency mode alongside full ANC, Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Adaptive Audio dynamically adjusts the level of noise-cancelling depending on the noise around you, while the clever Conversation Awareness feature reduces the volume of the music when it recognises you're speaking to have a chat or order a latte. In our extensive time with the Pro 2, we find both of these features work well, so their addition to the AirPods 4 line is welcome.
For an open design, the AirPods 4 with ANC are surprisingly effective at cancelling out background sounds. Low-level sounds melt away instantly, although noises higher up the frequency range do creep in more easily. It’s a nice halfway point between being able to hear your surroundings while not being overwhelmed by those environmental noises that stop you from hearing voices on podcasts or lyrics clearly – just note that you're not ensconced in a bubble of silence as with the AirPods Pro 2.
Call quality is decent – helped by the voice isolation tech – but not as clear as the AirPods Pro 2's. Traffic noise is still audible, and there's a slight background hiss. But it is an improvement on the AirPods 3.
You can also use gesture controls to respond to Siri's voice announcements – shake your head for 'no' or nod your head for 'yes' – to accept or reject a call. These features should be activated in both AirPods 4 and Pro 2 lines after an iOS 18 software update.
Battery life remains 30 hours in total with the charging case for both AirPods models, but the AirPods Pro 2 still have the edge with six hours of listening time on a single charge, while the AirPods 4 can only manage five hours. It's worse news for the AirPods 4 with ANC, which only manage four hours with noise-cancelling turned on.
The Pro 2 and new AirPods 4 (both versions) all run on Bluetooth 5.3.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: sound
The AirPods Pro 2 were the first in-ear AirPods model that really wowed us with their sound. Apple has always delivered a fairly balanced, neutral-toned sound with a clear, natural way with voices and rhythmically capable performance, but the AirPods Pro 2 pushed the boat even further. New high-excursion low-distortion drivers, powered custom amplifiers and the new H2 chip, alongside those repositioned vents, delivered a more powerful, punchy, dynamic and subtle performance than before.
They sound wonderfully open and clear, deliver bags of nuanced detail, timing is snappy and the dynamics are engaging and fluid. Voices are warm and natural, bass is taut and weighty, and the tonal balance is impressively even. Overall, it's an exciting, involving listen.
The AirPods 4 feature "new internal acoustic architecture" – which includes a new low-distortion driver and high dynamic amplifier for improved performance. Coupled with the powerful H2 chip, Apple aims to deliver the "best sounding AirPods ever in this open-ear design”.
One listen, and you can see they are cut from the same cloth as the Pro 2. This means clarity and detail, agility and balance, along with a focus on voices that make them immediately appealing to listen to.
They're more detailed and entertaining than their predecessors, with more weight and texture, while bass notes have greater import. Voices have more warmth, and their overall presentation is bigger and more open.
Dynamically, they’re engaging enough, although we could do with even greater punch, intensity and subtlety to the ebbs and flows. They exert good control over the high notes, allowing them to soar without ever getting carried away and introducing brightness or harshness. Turn ANC on and you do lose a smidgen of detail, but that's the same with all headphones.
It's an impressive performance, but the AirPods Pro 2 are that bit more capable. Their low end has more heft and punch, and they're also superior for dynamic subtlety and nuance.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: verdict
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are our go-to recommendation for those after the best-performing AirPods in-ears, for sound, noise-cancelling, design and ease of use, provided you can afford the flagship price.
The new AirPods 4 are the cheaper options, but there's a wrinkle thrown in with the AirPods 4 with ANC offering a halfway point between the base AirPods 4 and the flagship sibling. They are a definite step down from the flagship Pro 2, but still very good performers. If you're after a taste of Apple's flagship pair without the price tag, they're definitely worth considering.
MORE:
Read our full AirPods Pro 2 review
And our Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review
Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: what's new?
