They feature MagSafe wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, and seamless integration with iOS devices.
Enter stage - the AirPods 4, the latest shiny doodad from Cupertino.
I actually think that it makes more sense to pit them in a fight with the AirPods 3.
See who comes out on top and everything.
Did anyone ask for it?
Apple has kept that signature AirPod shape we know and love, but given the stems a little haircut.
Apple AirPods 3 offer a comfortable fit with Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio for immersive sound. They feature MagSafe wireless charging, IPX4 water resistance, and seamless integration with iOS devices.
A shorter stem means less chance of rocking that goofy electric toothbrush look.
Of course, comforts a personal thing, and whats cushy for me might be agony for you.
But from my testing, it seems like they nestle in there a little nicer than the 3s.
It is now roughly 10 percent less chunky than it was before.
One thing that hasn’t changed?
The open-ear design.Unlike the AirPods Pro, both the 3s and 4s stick with the one-size-fits-all approach.
No silicone tips here,folks.
It’s a love-it-or-hate-it feature, but personally, I dig it.
Audio
Okay, let’s get into the nitty-gritty part of things, the audio quality.
Apple spiced things up with a new custom driver and amplifier promising more dynamic sound.
But can you actually hear the difference?
The mids and highs also sound a tinch clearer, letting you pick out extra details.
But the AirPods 3 are no audio slouches either.
They still sound great, especially coming from older AirPods.
However, doing a side-by-side sound test, it’s possible for you to hear the upgrades.
It’s not a night and day difference, but noticeable for the discerning ear.
Now here’s something juicy.The AirPods 4 are sporting Apple’s new H2 chip under the hood.
One area where the AirPods 4 really shine is spatial audio.
Both models support it, but the 4s take it to another level.
If you’re big on spatial audio, this alone might be worth the upgrade.
Factoring in the case, youre still looking at 30 hours max either way.
Of course, real world mileage may vary based on usage scenarios.
From my experience though, both last admirably long whether youre taking calls, streaming tunes or watching video.
Cool tricks like these make Apples ecosystem an intuitive place to live.
The AirPods 4 also introduce a new feature called Adaptive Audio.
This automatically adjusts the volume based on your environment.
It’s like the AirPods are saying, “Oh, you’re having a conversation?
Let me help you out with that.”
But they lack some of the more advanced features of the 4s.
My Verdict
Look, it’s Apple.
Are these features something that an everyday user absolutely needs?
I don’t think so.
The AirPods 4 are just slightly better than the 3s, and still a notch below the Pro 2s.
In fact, we have some speculations about the new AirPods Pro 3 coming out in early 2025.
FAQs
Do the AirPods 4 come with different sized ear tips?
That’s something you might find on the AirPods Pro 2, though!
Are the AirPods 4 waterproof?
No Olympic swimming, though.
Sad, I was going for gold this year.
How long does it take to fully charge the AirPods 4?
Roughly speaking, they take about an hour to get a full charge.
You don’t have to be worried about these earbuds getting wet.
