Apple AirPods AirPods 4

The AirPods 4 are a comfort king, ranking in the 93rd percentile, with a 4.7-star rating from over 20,000 reviews. The H2 chip delivers seamless connectivity and immersive spatial audio, but the open design means no noise cancellation and the mic quality is a disappointing 34th percentile. For iPhone users who hate silicone tips, these are a fantastic, if pricey, choice.

The H2 chip is the star of the show. It powers the personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, which is genuinely immersive for movies and Apple Music tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos. The sound profile is clean and balanced, with Apple's new acoustic architecture pushing more air than the previous generation. It's a strong performer for an open earbud, but don't expect the thumping low-end you'd get from a sealed design like the Sony WF-1000XM5. For calls, the voice isolation feature does its best, but the mic quality itself is a weak spot, ranking in the 34th percentile. In a quiet room, you'll sound fine, but in a noisy environment, the mics struggle to pick you up clearly.

Battery life is about average for this class, sitting in the 73rd percentile. You get 5 hours from the buds and 30 hours total with the USB-C case. That 5-minute quick charge for an hour of listening is a lifesaver when you're running out the door. Connectivity is best-in-class, landing in the 96th percentile. Pairing with an iPhone is instantaneous, and multipoint switching between your Mac, iPad, and Watch is so smooth you'll forget it's a feature.

Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM5, the AirPods 4 lose on pure audio fidelity and noise cancellation, but they win hands-down on comfort and connectivity for Apple users. The Sony buds are the pick for audiophiles, but the AirPods are the pair you can wear for hours without fatigue. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are a closer fight, offering a similar feature set with a stem design, but they can't touch the AirPods' seamless device switching. If you want to save some cash, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ gives you ANC and solid sound for less, but you'll miss out on the H2 chip's spatial audio tricks and that effortless setup.

Pricing is all over the place, ranging from $61 for a renewed pair to $149 brand new. At the full retail price, you're paying a hefty Apple tax for that ecosystem magic and comfort. The value proposition gets a lot more interesting if you can snag them on sale or go the renewed route. For $61, you're getting the H2 chip and spatial audio in a package that's hard to beat for an iPhone user. Just don't expect the premium build or sound isolation of something like the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro at this price.

The AirPods 4 sit in a weird but wonderful spot in Apple's lineup. They borrow the H2 chip and much of the acoustic architecture from the Pro model, but ditch the silicone tips for an open design. The result is a pair of earbuds that are incredibly comfortable, landing in the 93rd percentile for comfort in our database, and dead simple to use. The social proof is off the charts too, with a 4.7-star average across over 20,000 reviews, putting them in the 99th percentile for buyer satisfaction. For the right person, these are a no-brainer.

But that open design comes with a clear trade-off. There's no active noise cancellation here, just a transparency mode, which means you're always hearing the world around you. That's a feature for some and a dealbreaker for others. Sound quality is a solid step up from the AirPods 3, ranking in the 82nd percentile, but it's not going to dethrone a good pair of sealed earbuds for pure bass response. The real story is the ecosystem integration. If you live in Apple's world, the seamless switching and personalized spatial audio make these feel like magic.

If you take calls in anything but a silent room, look elsewhere. The mic quality is a real weak spot, ranking in the 34th percentile, and that's a dealbreaker for anyone who lives on Zoom. You should also skip these if you crave thumping bass or need to block out the world. The open design provides zero isolation, so the sound profile, while clear, lacks the low-end punch of sealed competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5. Commuters and gym rats will be much happier with a pair of earbuds that have silicone tips and active noise cancellation.

The AirPods 4 are the ultimate open earbuds for Apple devotees. They're not trying to be the best-sounding or the most feature-packed. Instead, they nail the basics of comfort, connectivity, and ease of use so well that it's easy to forgive their shortcomings. If you hate the plugged-up feeling of silicone tips and want a pair of earbuds that just work with your iPhone, these are the ones to get. The mic quality is the only real pain point that might make you think twice if you're on calls all day.