Apple AirPods 4: A Comprehensive Overview
The AirPods 4 redefine Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds while bringing a fresh update to the iconic line of products that has already won millions of hearts. Apple is going to take a very bold step by introducing these earphones at a somewhat economic price and will offer the most advanced features.
It comes in two variants: AirPods 4 without ANC, priced at 474 DHS, and the others with ANC for 660 DHS. The new version is a serious upgrade, changing the traditional lighting port to USB-C, among many other new features that come loaded to further the user experience.
One of the strong points is the fact that it doesn't use silicone ears, which many users find uncomfortable, especially when worn for long spans of time. As such, this design choice makes the AirPods 4 highly appealing to those who want an open style for earbuds but still get some level of noise cancellation.
While not quite at the level of AirPods Pro 2 for full noise isolation, the ANC feature of the AirPods 4 is decent and a way some people enjoy avoiding the pressure created by silicone tips. I can attest that it is pretty good noise reduction for daily use, having used these earbuds on commutes, workouts, and flights.
Design and Features
Apple has done well to trickle down some of the more premium features down to some of its more affordably priced earbuds. For 474 DHS, you can have a pair of AirPods 4 sans ANC with redesigned acoustic architecture. The new design brings in a much better audio performance with richer bass and cleaner highs. You also get to see features such as Personalized Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness, and even Head Gestures on this, which makes it closer to the Pro series. ANC provides the above-mentioned features, along with active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and an improved charge case, at the price of 660 DHS.
Speaking of which, the AirPods 4 sans ANC houses around 5 hours of listening time, with the case pushing it to an additional 25 to give you 30 hours in total. The ANC variant provides 4 hours of playtime with ANC on and an additional 20 hours from the case. These battery numbers come in a tad lower than what you'd get with the AirPods Pro 2 or other similar-range competitors. But Apple tries to make up for this by baking in Adaptive Audio technology that automatically switches noise cancellation and transparency based on surrounding sounds. This feature provides the user with an optimized listening experience, basically without having to make many manual mode switches.
Performance and Sound Quality
On the performance front, AirPods 4 have quite a robust audio delivery.
According to Apple, the internal acoustic structure of this model was reworked to offer better immersion, deeper bass, and clearer highs than its predecessor, the AirPods 2. Music and podcasts sound just as good with clear quality. Listening to Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," for example, provided an instantly changed effect: it felt like different layers of instruments were far more distinguishable.
The vocals of the rapper were sharp, and the beats were crisp and infectious.
The earbuds fared extremely well for voice-based content, too: once, I once wore them during a NASCAR race, whereby the commentators naturally sounded over the roar of the engines-clear proof that at least the AirPods can do voice clarity.
Further, the ANC variant of the AirPods 4 features a transparency mode that allows you to hear around you while listening to your music. This feature is, of course, convenient for times when you need to stay aware of your environment-for example, crossing a busy street or at the gymnasium.
While by no means as good as on the AirPods Pro 2, ANC on the AirPods 4 surprised me in how it really punches above its class for an open-ear design. One of many pleasant surprises I had was the feature called Adaptive Audio, working rather well in adjusting dynamically the noise levels to my surroundings to deliver a comfortable listening experience.
Design, Comfort and Durability
The AirPods 4 are aesthetically similar to the other design of the AirPods 3, sans the long stems that became a signature trademark of their predecessors. This smaller design makes them unobtrusive, and the light build ensures comfort for extended wear. Weighing just 0.15 ounces for each earbud and a compact case size of 50.1 x 46.2 x 21.2mm makes them easy to carry around.
Comfort is where the AirPods 4 excel, particularly for those who do not like the silicone ear tips. Unlike the AirPods Pro 2, which uses tips to create a seal-the main effect being better noise cancellation-the AirPods 4 make use of an open-fit design meant to sit comfortably in the ear. Some users find this much more comfortable for longer listening sessions.
However, I did find that the AirPods would sometimes readily shift in my ears with longer use-in a cross-country flight, for example-but a quick adjustment was all it took to keep them in securely. Durability has been further enhanced, as the AirPods 4 now boast an IP54 rating against both sweat and water. That easily makes them fit for workouts and outdoor activities. Apple heard the plea for better moisture protection, and the AirPods 4 are more resilient during everyday use.
Special Features and Integration with Siri
Apple has added a number of formerly Pro-line-exclusive features to the AirPods 4. This list includes personalized spatial audio, which tunes the sound to the shape of your ears, and Conversation Awareness, which turns the volume down as soon as you start talking so that you'll be able to hear conversations without needing to take your earbuds out of your ears. It also features head gestures, which will let you accept or decline calls with suitable movements-hence furthering the ease factor.
Siri also deeply integrates into AirPods 4 for hands-free control over various tasks, such as sending texts, controlling music playback, or announcing notifications. Apple will further refine Siri's conversational prowess through future updates to iOS, giving the assistant a greater degree of context in interactions-especially with AirPods.
Battery Life and Charging
Where the AirPods 4 start to fall behind the competition is in battery life. You get up to 5 hours of listen time on the standard model sans ANC, extending to 30 hours when paired with the charging case. With the model featuring ANC on, you are looking at up to 4 hours of listening time, while the case will give you an additional 20. That's OK for daily use, but not that good for the long haul flights or very long travels. Now, the case has a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. This is due to Apple's general trend of starting to use USB-C in its newer devices. The case will also have wireless charging, but only for the model with ANC.
Conclusion
The Apple AirPods 4 strike a fine midpoint between affordability and true premium functionality. They show their promise for end-users who want something more but not overkill from their wireless earbuds. In that aspect, it is Adaptive Audio and ANC that headlines the key features that make them stand out.
This would make the AirPods 4 a strong challenger in the sub-660 DHS price bracket because it carried professional-level features to a more economically conservative audience. Although its battery life is not the longest compared to other options, it is still enough to back up most of the daily uses, quick charging is able to compensate for such disaccommodations.
Another strong point of the AirPods 4 is comfort, especially for prospective customers who don't like the silicone eartip design and would prefer an open-ear device. That in itself would make it a really great option, as comfort would meet functionality. The new AirPods 4 sound great with Apple's in-house tuning, meaning clear mids, crispy highs, and decent bass, which fits casual listeners and audiophiles alike.
Regarding value, AirPods 4 strikes a perfect balance between performance and price. This update is considerable for those looking to upgrade from previous iterations of AirPods. Whether you're invested in better sound quality, smarter features, or just a fit that's more comfortable, AirPods 4 delivers on all fronts. This makes it an immediate pick for anyone needing reliable feature-rich wireless earbuds at a reasonable price.
FAQs
1. How much are the AirPods 4 in the UAE?
Both configurations of the AirPods 4 are available but at different pricing in the UAE. The basic version, one of the two, is available without ANC for 474 DHS. This is ideal for users that do not need ANC tongue and want it cheaper while still enjoying the enriched sound and functionalities of AirPods 4. For those on a better immersive audio experience, there's the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation at 660 DHS. This will be most ideal for those who have to walk around in noisy places and want to block off surrounding sounds.
For sure, the inclusion of premium features like ANC accounted for the differences in their prices. Both models are competitive in the wireless earbuds market, allowing users more chances to afford one between them-a matter of specific audio needs and budget appropriation. Whether it is purchasing in the UAE, users may find regional offers or promotions that also influence the overall cost.
2. Do the AirPods 4 sound better compared to their predecessors?
AirPods 4 sound way better as compared to their predecessors and most especially from AirPods 2. Apple redesigned the acoustic architecture for a more dynamic and immersive listening experience. Improvements in the bass department are much more noticeable.
The bass in the AirPods 4 is deeper and even more pronounced, giving a richer base to the music or any media as a whole. High and midrange frequencies have also been fine-tuned; hence, one can expect sound that is clear and detailed, really coming into its own at the most intricate points of an audio track, podcast, or movie. In actual sense, this is attributed to the better drivers and custom-designed components, which allow the AirPods 4 to reproduce a wider range of frequencies.
Finally, with ANC on this model, the sound quality is even more immersive since external noise gets greatly reduced, allowing you to focus only on your audio. Linked with Personalised Spatial Audio available on Apple devices, such a feature hugely enhances the sound experience through more three-dimensional detail in the soundstage-really making the AirPods 4 a much more perceivable upgrade in terms of audio performance.
3. What is the AirPods 4's battery life?
Battery life is, of course, a key factor in regards to wireless earbuds, and the AirPods 4 have some good performances in store.
The standard model, sans ANC, boasts 5 continuous hours of listening time on one charge. Perfect, then, for your daily commute, workout, or casual listening throughout the day if you will. Adding to this are the earbuds themselves, while the charging case provides an extra 25 hours of battery life for an addition to 30 hours in total.
The implied meaning of this is that with such extended battery life, the user is guaranteed not to recharge the case for days. Thus it makes the AirPods 4 perfect for people with extremely busy schedules or core travelers. The listening time is a little shorter on the ANC model, which consumes more power because of the noise-cancelling technology integrated into it.
You can listen to this earbud with ANC on for up to 4 consecutive hours and get an extra 16 hours with its charging case, giving you 20 hours of listening time. Even being toned down, this is still a high output for what is expected from ANC models, which obviously take a lot of juice. Generally, AirPods 4 have very exemplary battery life in both of its variants, which may allow one to enjoy his or her music or calls without many interruptions.
4. Can the AirPods 4 be worn comfortably for more extended times?
Because for any wireless earbuds, comfort will be part of the key consideration, and thus AirPods 4 excel in design for comfortability during extended wear. Instead, unlike the models with silicone ear tips, the AirPods 4 retain an open-ear design that many consumers prefer because of comfort over time.
This will make the attribute of fit less intrusive, thus making the AirPods 4 feel more natural in the ear, especially in long listening sessions or calls. Where the silicone tips are missing, there is less pressure put on the ear canal; this reduces the discomfort that many people may consider characteristic of in-ear designs. The light construction is one more reason why AirPods 4 are comfortable to wear.
At only a few grams, these can be easily worn for hours without causing any fatigue or soreness. Again, considering that, the open-ear design won't suit everyone's taste, particularly those into high-intensity outdoor workouts, as it does need the occasional readjusting to keep the AirPods in place. However, the balance is well-struck in everyday use with the AirPods 4 in challenges of comfort and stability, making them perfect for extended use-listening to music, calls, or even media.
5. Is it possible to use the AirPods 4 with non-Apple devices?
Yes, AirPods 4 will be fully compatible with non-Apple devices through Bluetooth pairing. Be it an Android smartphone, a Windows PC, or anything that comes with Bluetooth pairing, you will enjoy high-quality audio with your AirPods 4. How to pair them up with non-Apple devices involves switching on the Bluetooth functionality and selecting AirPods 4 from the list of available devices.
However, it also has to be said that while the AirPods 4 will work seamlessly as simple wireless earbuds on any non-Apple devices, a great deal of features would be limited inside the Apple ecosystem. For example, Personalized Spatial Audio and Head Gestures, enhancing sound immersions and enabling intuitive control, are only given if connected to an Apple device.
This also means seamless device switching-a convenient feature for users across the Apple ecosystem-will not be enabled. While these capabilities are severed, the devices will still allow users to receive calls, listen to music, and utilize built-in microphones with respect to voice commands or conversations, among other things. That in-between flexibility with Apple and other brands makes the AirPods 4 highly flexible and a valued addition to many who already have a set of these AirPods.
