AirPods 4 Overview

Types of AirPods

• Two types of people:
  • Those who find AirPods fit well
  • Those who don't find them fitting
• Two types of AirPods
  • Base AirPods 4 ($129)
  • AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation ($179)

Design Changes

• New shape and angles for better fit
• Driver points more directly into the ear
• Shorter stem
• Familiar look but with tweaks
• Improved water and dust resistance: IP54 (up from IPX4)
• In-ear detection and multiple microphones are maintained

Fit and Comfort

• Personal experience with fit
  • Slight improvement but still not perfect for some users
  • People with previous AirPods fit issues may still encounter problems

Case Features

• New case design
  • Smaller and now USB-C
  • Base version has USB-C only
  • Noise-canceling version includes a speaker for alerts and wireless charging
  • MagSafe is not available due to size adjustments
  • Improved magnetic hold for securing the AirPods in the case
  • Works with Apple Watch chargers
• Hidden capacitive touch area replaces the physical pairing button
  • Double tap for pairing mode, triple tap for factory reset

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Performance

• Comparison with AirPods Pro 2
  • ANC on new AirPods is impressive but not as effective as Pro version
  • ANC rated around 4-5 out of 10, rather than 8 out of 10 for Pro
  • More noise reduction than cancellation, particularly useful in loud environments
  • Transparency mode is noted to be the best compared to previous AirPods

Battery Life

• ANC impacts battery life slightly; rated for 4 hours usage
• Total of 20 hours with the case with ANC active

Other Features

• Ultra-low latency support for Vision Pro due to H2 chip
• Precision finding feature with added case speaker

AirPods Max Refresh

• Minimal updates (only USB-C and new colors)
• No new features or sound quality changes
• H2 chip enhances processing capabilities but is absent in the Max

Sound Quality

• Actively tuned for a good all-around performance
• No EQ customization but decent across all audio types

Pricing and Recommendations

• $129 for base AirPods 4, $179 for ANC version
• Some users may prefer silicon tips for better fit and noise isolation
• Alternatives exist with better fit, battery life, and sound quality
• Seamless integration within Apple's ecosystem remains a key selling point

Accessories

• dbrand sponsor: Area 51 case available for customization
  • 3D-printed texture for added grip
  • Three color options: red, yellow, black

---

Thanks for watching!