Although not the 3rd generation AirPods Pro as many predicted, Apple AirPods 4 still brings significant upgrades in sound quality, noise cancellation and design, especially the integrated version. active noise cancellation (ANC) feature.
1. Apple AirPods 4 design: Light and comfortable!
AirPods 4, along with the familiar appearance of the AirPods headset line, is still designed with a partially in-ear design, providing optimal comfort and ease of use. The charging case is super compact and lightweight, easy to carry with you anywhere, anytime. The biggest difference with AirPods Pro 2 is the absence of silicone earplugs. This marks a difference in the wearing method and usage experience.
AirPods 4 headphones have a more compact appearance than AirPods Pro 2 (Photo: GadgetByteNepal).
The compact and lightweight design of AirPods 4 provides comfort when worn, suitable for long-term use. The headphones weigh only 4.3 grams per ear, making it feel like there’s nothing in the ear, which is especially useful for those who aren’t used to wearing in-ear headphones.
Apple has cleverly optimized the housing of AirPods 4 so that it fits the user’s ears better. Combined with light weight, AirPods 4 creates a comfortable and pleasant feeling for users for many hours, perfect for both workout sessions and daily work.
Housing fits the user’s ears (Photo: GadgetByteNepal).
The charging case of AirPods 4 is a huge plus. It is extremely compact and lightweight, easily fits in your pocket, shirt pocket, or even a small handbag. This brings maximum convenience to users when carrying it with them anytime, anywhere, suitable for those with an active lifestyle and often on the move.
Both versions of AirPods 4 (basic and with ANC) are equipped with IP54 water and dust resistance. This means the headphones can withstand water and dust under normal use conditions, giving users more peace of mind when used in harsher environments.
AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC both have waterproof features (Photo: GadgetByteNepal).
2. Sound quality of Apple AirPods 4: Detailed, vivid and warm!
AirPods 4 is equipped with Apple’s custom drivers to provide clear, detailed sound quality, from bass to high tones are reproduced smoothly and vividly. The sound quality is warm, easy to listen to, suitable for many different music genres.
The surprising point of AirPods 4 is its ability to reproduce bass very well. With a semi-in-ear design, creating powerful and deep bass is inherently difficult, because sound easily escapes. However, Apple has cleverly adjusted the driver and amplifier to deliver full and detailed bass, bringing a powerful and vibrant feeling to the listener.
AirPoids 4 produces surprisingly good bass with its semi in-ear design (Photo: GadgetByteNepal).
The midrange of AirPods 4 is very detailed and clear. It helps you hear the singer’s voice clearly and the music more specifically, providing a clearer and more realistic music listening experience. High tones have moderate brightness, bringing balance to the overall sound quality.
In addition to the ability to reproduce detailed sound, AirPods 4 also provides a wide soundstage, helping listeners feel the separation between musical instruments. Thanks to that, the feeling of listening to music becomes deeper and more vivid, like being immersed in the music space. In short, the sound quality of AirPods 4 far exceeds expectations compared to a partial earbud.
In fact, integrating active noise cancellation (ANC) on earbuds is partly a big challenge for manufacturers. Creating a quiet environment requires a combination of active noise cancellation and physical isolation, and the AirPods 4 do this very well.
Apple AirPods 4 headphones are equipped with effective ANC technology, quickly eliminating surrounding noises such as air conditioning noise, conversation, and traffic noise. The noise cancellation capabilities of AirPods 4 are truly impressive, far exceeding many users’ expectations despite the partially in-ear design that cannot provide as good noise isolation as fully sealed in-ear headphones. Or, to put it another way, Apple has found the perfect balance between sound quality and noise isolation.
The noise cancellation performance of AirPods 4 ANC is superior to that of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 (Photo: GadgetByteNepal).
Compared with other competitors such as Galaxy Buds 3, AirPods 4 shows superior noise cancellation efficiency. Noise cancellation is not only effective with low-frequency noises but also handles different types of noise well.
4. Controls and key features of Apple AirPods 4
Apple AirPods 4 has some familiar control features but also comes with limitations compared to AirPods Pro 2.
Instead of using physical buttons, AirPods 4 uses pressure sensors to control music and other functions. You can press and hold to play/pause, skip songs, receive calls, or access Siri.
One limitation of AirPods 4 is that it does not support volume control directly on the headset. You need to adjust the volume through your phone or use voice commands with Siri. This is a significant minus point for many users, especially those who often adjust the volume while listening to music.
AirPods 4 has a built-in ear detection sensor, which automatically pauses or resumes music when you put on or remove the headphones. However, this sensor does not work perfectly and can sometimes playback music when the headphones are left on a table or in a pocket. This causes some inconvenience for users.
5. Should I buy Apple AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2 headphones?
Apple AirPods 4 is a high-quality wireless headset, with a compact design, detailed, vivid sound quality and impressive noise cancellation capabilities. However, the lack of some features like volume control and a more reliable ear detection sensor may be a turn-off for some users.
If you are looking for a wireless headset that is compact, comfortable, has good sound quality and effective noise cancellation, then AirPods 4 are a perfect choice. However, if you need more advanced features like direct volume control on the headphones, amazing sound quality and perfect noise cancellation, then Apple AirPods Pro 2 is still a better choice. . Ultimately, the decision to choose AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2 depends on each person’s needs and budget.
Reference price of Apple AirPods 4: 3,490,000 VND.
