The main feature of the AirPods 4 may be active noise cancellation (ANC), but Apple has done a good job of improving overall audio quality beyond just blocking out environmental sounds.
ANC is on the spec sheet for the first time on “regular” AirPods, at least for one model, and there are a few key components that allow the earbuds to cancel out noise so effectively. And that’s despite the fact that your ears aren’t completely enclosed by a flexible tip. The AirPods 4 also have a few key changes that improve overall sound quality, a feat that’s impressive in its own right for open design earbuds.
When it comes to the ANC setup on the AirPods 4, the combination of a refined earbud shape, the power of the H2 chip, and advanced microphones work together for useful noise cancellation.
Apple isn’t the first to offer ANC on open-type earbuds. I’ve reviewed dozens of earbuds over the past few years, and after a few minutes with the AirPods 4, I’d argue the company is the first to use noise canceling in a way that’s actually helpful without completely sealing your ears. The ANC setup here clearly blocks out noise, which isn’t always the case with these types of buds.
Apple has gathered thousands of ear scans and a database of 50 million data points, both of which contributed to the AirPods 4’s tapered design and lower ratio. Those changes mean the earbuds fit more people’s ears better. The better fit means the ANC tech is less reliant on a complete seal to do its job, but it also means the earbuds should be more comfortable to wear.
The updated microphones have both a lower noise floor and higher frequency bandwidth. That means the system can detect a wider range of sounds it might need to block out. Also, advanced computational audio powered by the H2 chip for ANC is at work here. This component enables the features of the AirPods Pro to be available on the AirPods 4, from voice isolation to Siri interaction and more.
The addition of ANC comes alongside Transparency mode on the regular AirPods for the first time. I do want to note that while I did see less than ideal performance in a brief test in a busy hands-on area after the event, the sound quality here should be just as natural as the AirPods Pro.
There could be a number of reasons why my voice didn’t come through clearly on this new model, including the fact that the demo room was crowded with journalists vying for the same limited space.
Apple also tried to significantly improve the overall sound quality on the AirPods 4, and one key way it did so is actually quite simple. Instead of pointing the driver at your ear, the company has repositioned it so that the audio is pointed directly into your ear canal.
This change also reduced the number of audio reflections inside the AirPods housing, allowing the company to boost performance at higher frequencies. The result is an increase in overall clarity. There’s also new acoustic architecture, a new low-distortion 11 millimeter driver, and a new high dynamic range amp.
The result of all those acoustic changes on the AirPods 4 is a clear increase in overall sound quality. After a brief listening session, I can vouch for the increased clarity the company described in its announcement, as well as a deeper, fuller effect on audio. You’ll notice a big difference between these and the third-generation AirPods, even if you don’t shell out the money for the ANC version.