The newest model of AirPods bring some massive changes to the Apple ear bud formula, with Spatial Audio and ANC for a much lower price. How do they fare against Apple's number one buds, however, the AirPods Pro 2?
The AirPods Pro 2 are the top of the line AirPods, filled with all the features you could ever want. There's some of the best ANC around on board, combined with a comfortable fit and solid Spatial Audio — but do you really need to spend the extra?
The AirPods Pro 2 are, without question, some of the best noise-canceling earbuds around. They're filled with some great features, they're very comfortable, and they sound magnificent, but they do come at a cost: $249 isn't the most you can spend on a pair of earbuds, but it's still a lot of money to spend on a pocket-bound pair of imminently losable audio deliverers.
Enter, then, the Airpods 4, the newest AirPods on the block. They also pack in some great features, and if you compare their $179 model to the AirPods Pro 2, there are some reasons that you may want to buy them instead.
But how do the two models stack up, and do the AirPods 4 really make the AirPods Pro 2 seem like a waste of an extra $70? Let's find out.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Price and availability
Getting your hands on a pair of AirPods Pro 2 is dead simple — you can get them from almost everywhere, including the Apple Store and 3rd party retailers like Amazon or Best Buy. Full price they'll set you back $249, although you can often find them with some pretty great AirPods deals.
We've seen them as low as $169 in the past, although that was during the Prime Day sales event. Generally, you can nab a pair at a very reasonable $189 — and at that price, they are a great buy.
The AirPods 4 are yet to be released, but you can preorder a pair from the Apple Store where you'll find two price points. There's the base model, equipped with Spatial Audio, for $129. Then, there's the $179 version, which include ANC and a wireless charging case.
Given they've not yet been released, we've not seen any deals or reductions on the price — although it usually doesn't take long for 3rd party to drop the prices in events like Black Friday.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Comfort and fit
The AirPods 2 are likely to win out for most people here, thanks to their included silicon ear tips. There are several different size options in the box to really dial in the comfort of the buds, and you'll quickly work out that you might even need a different size for each ear. Those tips also make the noise canceling better, sealing the earbuds and making sure that noise from the buds is blocked out passively in addition to the digital algorithm.
They're small, and shaped well to fit in most ears — in fact, I'd go so far as to say they're some of the most comfortable pairs of buds I've ever worn.
As for the AirPods 4, we won't know for sure until we get them in our ears. For now, however, we know that they're missing the silicon tips of the AirPods Pro 2, so the seal isn't going to be as good. Apple has, apparently, used 50 million different data points to dial in the comfort of the AirPods 4, so they're likely going to be more comfortable than the likes of the AirPods 3 and the AirPods 3.
That lack of silicon tips could also make them less secure — so if you want to make sure they don't fly out of your ears while headbanging, then the AirPods Pro 2 are going to be the way to go.
Winner: AirPods Pro 2
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Features
This is where things get a bit murkier, although you'll find that in the end, the AirPods Pro 2 do still come out on top. For one, there's the noise canceling, which remains some of the best around. It doesn't struggle with even some of the loudest sounds that you might encounter, and they are sublime for office work. There are several modes to that noise canceling as well, including transparency mode (which allows the noise of the outside in, boosting the bits you need to hear the most) and adaptive (which blocks out all the unwanted noise, and then lets the sound like voices and other noises you might actually want to hear through).
Then there's the Spatial Audio, which is also excellent. It makes the music you're listening to sound like it's coming from all around you — it is, in effect (and technically in name) a kind of virtual surround sound. It's fun for music, but it's really good when you connect them to your Apple TV, and watch your favorite movies and TV shows. It's now available on games on your Apple devices, thanks to a recent update.
Also new to the AirPods Pro 2 are the new hearing aid functions. There are three different parts — the first tests your hearing so that you get a picture of your hearing health, the next uses that test to make sure that you can hear every bit of the music you're listening to, and the last actually turns the AirPods Pro 2 into a pair of medical grade hearing aids. These features are only available on the AirPods Pro 2, making for a great reason to choose them over the AirPods 4.
The new model of AirPods also has some great features — we'll focus on the more expensive ANC model, as they're more comparable to the AirPods Pro 2. That ANC is fully featured, including all the same modes as the AirPods Pro 2. There's the transparency mode and adaptive mode on board, so you won't be missing anything in the noise canceling features. Bare in mind that it won't be as good as the ANC on the AirPods Pro 2, however. Apple itself says that the AirPods Pro 2 block as much as twice as much noise as the AirPods 4 — there's got to be some reason to choose the AirPods Pro 2, after all.
The AirPods 4 also feature Spatial Audio, although we won't know how it compares to the AirPods Pro 2 until we get them in our ears.
There's the same USB-C charging as the AirPods Pro 2 this time around as well, and the $179 version comes with a wireless charing coil in the redesigned charging case.
It seems like AirPods Pro 2 owners shouldn't be too worried about the AirPods 4 feature set, then — although it is nice to have a lower cost ANC option in the AirPods lineup.
Winner: AirPods Pro 2
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Design
The AirPods Pro 2 are the quintessential AirPods design. They've got the slick white plastic look that's now inseperable from the line, and the sturdy case is rounded perfectly to fit in even the tightest pants pockets. The buds themselves are small, with short stems and those comfortable silicon eartips.
The AirPods 4 bring the same white plastic design, and an even smaller and more compact charging case. They are a similar shape to the AirPods Pro 2, although the buds themselves lack the tips of the more expensive model. There's a couple of extras here as well — the pairing button on the back of the case has been replaced with a capacitive touch panel on the front. The status LED has also been updated, now only coming on when the case is open.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Battery life
There isn't an AirPods model available that you might call "excellent", with most rounding out at a few hours less than you might like. The AirPods Pro 2 do come out on top here, however, with 6 hours from the buds extended to 30 hours by the charging case. The case is equipped with a wireless charging coil to make it more convenient as well, although it will take longer to juice up that with the USB-C port.
The AirPods 4 will get you 5 hours of listening, and the case extends it to 30 hours. There's the same wireless charging coil in the AirPods 4 case as well, although you only get it with the ANC equipped model. Either way, if you're looking for loads of battery life, you're better off choosing something other than AirPods.d
Winner: Tie
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: Should you upgrade?
While the AirPods 4 bring a range of new features to the budget table, there's really no reason for AirPods Pro 2 users to upgrade. You've still got the better buds with the more expensive pair, and one that will be more comfortable to wear.
If you're looking to buy a new pair, on the other hand, you might think it's the other way around. "Save money and buy the AirPods 4 — all the features, at a lower cost."
The truth, however, is different.
Given that the AirPods Pro 2 are generally found for a price that only makes them $10 more than the AirPods 4 with ANC, they are still a better bet if you want a pair of noise canceling buds. If the AirPods Pro 2 where always at full price, the recommendation would be different, but we'd say that for the price you'll generally find them at, the are a much better buy.
