After all is said and done, Apple finally lets the cat out of the bag. On September 9, 2024, Apple officially announced the release of the AirPods 4 alongside others at its annual Apple Event. The brand-new AirPods 4 are the company’s entry-level wireless earbuds, stealing the spotlight away from the AirPods 3 (2021) and the AirPods 2 (2019). Interestingly, the AirPods 4 comes in two models: one with active noise cancellation (ANC) and one without. With this notable change in view, what can we think of the AirPods Pro 2? Since its release, the five-star Apple AirPods Pro 2 has been the company’s premier ANC wireless earbud model. But, how do they compare? Which AirPods is right for you, AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4?
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1. AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Design
It goes with saying that the tiny white case continues to be Apple’s iconic signatory external case design. In addition, the case is also designed to feature an LED light which is visible for pairing or battery indication. Furthermore, the AirPods 4 feature ear tips that have visible speaker and microphone grills perfectly crafted around the head and at the base of the stem. The shiny metallic portion at the base of the stem is for charging.
On the other hand the AirPods Pro 2 also shares all of these design elements except that it features a connector for ear tips which is one of the biggest differences between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 2 boasts super-cool swappable ear tips which allows for more individual fit and comfort, as it allows users to be able to choose between four ear tip sizes (XS, S, M, L). Apart from sound quality, finding the best ear tip is also important because it provides a good fit, determines the amount of bass you hear, and is also important for effective ANC and noise isolation.
The newly released AirPods 4, however, continues with the no-ear rip-design that their previous generations have been known for. Nonetheless, Apple has called the new AirPods 4 the “most comfortable AirPods ever” in this open-ear design. Apple claims that it has used advanced modeling tools, 50 million data points and precisely mapped and analyzed thousands of ear shapes to refine the design of the newly released AirPods 4. This means that the new AirPods 4 would have a better universally-friendly fit. Both models still feature lightweight designs and are only available in white finish.
2. AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Chip and Other Features
Talking about the H2 chip, it is an improvement designed by Apple and is responsible for the AirPods Pro 2’s advanced audio performance. It works with the amplifier and driver to provide the users with immersive sound, lower distortion, lossless audio, and better noise cancellation. Now that Apple has introduced the H2 chip to the AirPods 4, the AirPods 4 now have many similar features to AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC both have ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness. However, the low-end AirPods 4 have none of those features.
In addition, one of the biggest distinguishing features between the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 is the newly announced hearing test, hearing aid, and protection update on AirPods Pro 2. This advancement means that users will be able to turn their AirPods Pro 2 into clinical-grade hearing aids without having to buy a new product. Unfortunately, AirPods 4 hearing aids are not supported.
3. AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Active Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has always been a part of the AirPods Pro 2. In fact, it has always been one of the game changers for the Apple AirPods Pro because Apple AirPods never had ANC. As such, one thing that makes the AirPods 4 special is the fact that no AirPods model was able to offer Apple users ANC without ear tips until now. If you’re looking at buying the AirPods 4, you should know that the AirPods 4 comes in two versions: the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods 4 without ANC. Even though Apple is not ready to introduce eartips to the AirPods 4, they have provided users with the luxury of ANC. However, the ANC version comes at a higher price compared to the version without ANC.
4. AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Charging Case
Talking about the charging case, the charging case for both models (AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2) now features a USB-C connector replacing the older Lightning connector. The charging case for the AirPods Pro 2 has a built-in speaker to emit tones when charging and when locating it using Find My and has a lanyard loop. Similarly, the charging case of the AirPods 4 with ANC model has built-in speakers and is compatible with Qi-certified and Apple Watch wireless chargers. And the Cyber FlickLock Snap-and-Charge Bundle is the best choice. However, it has no lanyard loop. On the farther end, the charging case of the AirPods 4 base model only features USB-C charging and doesn’t include extra fancy features like the ANC model.
If we talk about the cases without mentioning their charging options, then this article wouldn’t be complete. Each charging case offers different charging methods. The AirPods Pro 2 are made to be compatible with MagSafe, while the AirPods 4 model with ANC features a wireless charging case and is compatible with wireless charging. On the farther end, the lower-end AirPods 4 only features the normal USB-C charging. In terms of size, the charging case of AirPods 4 is 10 percent smaller than its predecessor, making it the “smallest charging case” yet. This undoubtedly means that it is even smaller than the charging case of the AirPods Pro 2.
5. AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Price
One of the factors that helps you determine which product to buy is the price. The official price of the AirPods Pro 2 is around $249. However, you could be occasionally lucky to come across some great discounts that could bring the price as low as $200 or less. On the other hand, the AirPods 4 without ANC costs $129, while the high-end AirPods 4 with ANC costs $179.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Which AirPods is Right for You?
AirPods Pro 2 was released in 2022 and it came with 2x improved ANC and Adaptive Transparency feature. This means that although both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 have the same H2 chipset, they do not have the same level of ANC. Before now, Transparency mode, Active Noise Cancellation, and Adaptive Audio have been pro-only features on AirPods. However, with the upgrades in the high-end AirPods 4 with ANC, many users would find the AirPods 4 very appealing.
Conclusively, the choice depends on individual needs and preference. If you are low on budget and don’t mind using AirPods without ear tips, then you should go for the AirPods 4 (ANC model) because it comes with notable upgrades and is less expensive compared to AirPods Pro 2. On the other hand, if you love to use AirPods with ear tips and also want to enjoy the premium features of the AirPods Pro, then you should go for the AirPods Pro 2.
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