Better Sound! 😯 AirPods 4 Review vs AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods 3
The AirPods 4 have been brought up to the level of the AirPods Pro 2 in terms of features, the H2 chip, USB-C and wireless charging, and it also includes the new features like Head Tracking with Siri Interactions, which allows you to nod and shake your head in order to answer or reject phone calls respectively.
There’s really nothing here that’s new per se as far as features is concerned. In many ways, this is just an open fit alternative to the Pro model. It is also sold with and without ANC, with a $50 difference between them.
That being said, compared to the Pros, there are several features missing like the lanyard loop, the physical pairing button - instead you double tap to enter pairing mode or volume controls, which I think is a pity. Although you can control the volume with Siri or Apple Watch, but having direct discreet access is still more convenient.
Nonetheless, since it’s the first time they’ve put noise cancelling in open fit AirPods, we’re going to compare them to the AirPods Pro 2, see if its noise cancelling is similar. I doubt it, but we’re going to find out if that’s the case. We’re also going to benchmark their microphone and sound quality to both the Pro model, and the older Gen 3 in case you’re thinking of upgrading.
Apart from upgrading the tech, one of the improvements they’ve actually made over the 3rd Gen is making the case 10% smaller, and the buds themselves are smaller too, which makes Gen 4 the smallest AirPods in this current lineup.
However, smaller isn’t always better. Although the case has the same 30 hour battery, the buds hold a bit less charge, up to 4 hours with noise cancelling or 5 hours without, compared to the 6 hours of Gen 3.
Despite the reduced battery life, this is also way more advanced than Gen 3, there’s more processing involved here so 4 hours max is still okay.
The smaller size also affects the fit. The Gen 3s felt full and snug in the ears, while Gen 4 felt a bit more loose, come to think of it, it fits kind of like the 2016 AirPods.
Interestingly, the Gen 3 sounded really good. Quite comparable to the Pro model. But will Gen 4 sound better than that?
ANC Comparison
First, we’ll listen to some samples of their noise cancelling tested under really loud simluated cafe background noise. The AirPods 3 doesn’t have noise cancelling, so it won’t be part of this comparison.
👉 Have a listen to the ANC samples.
Clearly, the AirPods Pro 2’s noise cancelling cuts more across the spectrum. But I was initially surprised by how much noise the AirPods 4 cancelled, much better than I expected from something that doesn’t have silicone sealing. It can deal with the sound of my air conditioning, making the lower frequencies fade away, enough that I don’t have to raise the volume of my music too much.
But it doesn’t do as well with human chatter. For that you’ll need a noise isolating seal from silicone eartips like what the Pro 2 has.
AirPods Pro 2
Microphone Comparison
This assessment is based on a direct voice recording, so it’s a good indicator of what it’s going to be like regardless of iOS, Android or PC.
The AirPods 4 has the best microphone pickup among them. In noisy conditions, my voice was fading out a little at the end, but in much of the recording it sounded very crisp and loud. The Pro 2 was very aggressive at cutting noise, but it also cuts too much into my own voice causing it to fade in and out intermittently.
This only started happening on this latest firmware 7A302 because on the last firmware, there wasn’t as much noise gating but you could still hear my voice. The AirPods 3, on the other hand, sounded very radio-like, and it wasn’t amplifying my voice as clearly as the AirPods 4.
👉 Have a listen to the mic pickup samples.
(Tested under both quiet and noisy conditions using the same loud noise as before and wind noise from a fan.)
Transparency Mode
The AirPods 4’s transparency mode is the best, because it’s open fit to begin with whereas the Pro has to overcome the occlusion from its eartips. Nonetheless, the Pro model still has the clearest transparency among earplug style buds, and they are almost indistinguishable from not wearing any earbuds.
Sound Quality Comparison
AirPods 4 (Teal), AirPods Pro 2 (Pink), AirPods 3 (Yellow).
In terms of sound quality, frequency sweeps show that the AirPods 4 has much more emphasise in the upper mids and treble, while it doesn’t have as much boosting in the sub bass. But compared to the rest, these sound noticeably smoother with laid back yet clear and clean vocals. In contrast, the AirPods Pro 2 and especially the Gen 3 has a radio-like texture to the mids. For me, I actually do prefer the signature of the AirPods 4 for its smoother vocals. But on the same token, details don’t seem to shimmer as much in the background.
👉 Have a listen to the sound quality samples.
As for which is better for Spatial Audio, the AirPods Pro 2 or the AirPods 4, I think the AirPods 4 is more enjoyable for spatial, because it already has that open feeling to the sound, so it doesn’t have to recreate that. However, it’s not significantly better per se. They are quite similar to the Pros in terms of localising discrete channels, and creating that cinematic sense of space.
Personally, I still prefer the earplug style AirPods Pro 2 for its better noise isolation and its fit, at least to me, is already quite loose. The tips are so shallow and they don’t push into the ear canal like earplugs. Instead, they hang loosely. But for some people, even that is too plugged in, they want totally open fit. This is where the AirPods 4 fits the bill. Plus they do have some noise cancelling, not to the level of the Pro model, but good enough not to have to boost the volume of your music to try and beat the noise around you. In terms of sound quality, as I said, in some ways these are the best sounding AirPods.
If that’s what you prioritise, you’ll like the AirPods 4. For me, the Pro model fits my needs better, especially with the on board volume controls, which allow me to adjust volume discreetly if I don’t have my watch or the iPhone nearby. Compared to the AirPods Gen 3, definitely upgrade to the 4. It’s just a more updated product in terms of features, performance, and it’s case is smaller. Whether you go with ANC or not, it’s still an upgrade.
What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments if you like the 4. You can also check the latest prices on Amazon with the links below.
Check latest prices:
AirPods 4 - Link
TBA AirPods Pro 2 USB-C - https://amzn.to/3UoeJG8
AirPods 3rd Gen - https://amzn.to/3DKY6du
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