Yesterday, Apple unveiled its brand-new AirPods 4 lineup, and among them is the introduction of a new version with Active Noise Cancellation. Now, if you’re considering making the switch from AirPods Pro to AirPods 4, there’s a crucial difference to keep in mind. It turns out that AirPods Pro still offer significantly superior noise cancellation capabilities.
On their website, Apple claims that AirPods Pro 2 provide “up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation compared to AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.”
The key distinction between AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 lies in the design. The AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design, while the AirPods 4 adopt an “open-ear design” that sits on the inside of your ear. Here’s how Apple explains how AirPods 4 with ANC manage to achieve noise cancellation despite this open-ear design:
For the very first time, AirPods 4 bring ANC to an open-ear design with an additional model. Thanks to upgraded microphones, the power of the H2 chip, and advanced computational audio, AirPods 4 with ANC help to effectively reduce environmental noise such as airplane engines, city traffic, and more.
Working seamlessly across hardware and software to deliver the most natural listening experience, AirPods 4 with ANC also introduce intelligent features like Transparency mode to keep users aware of their surroundings; Adaptive Audio, which dynamically blends Transparency mode and ANC based on the conditions in a user’s environment; and Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers the user’s media volume when they start speaking to someone nearby.
However, there are some people who don’t like the in-ear design of AirPods Pro but still use them anyway to take advantage of the noise cancellation. The launch of AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation gives these individuals another option, even if the ANC performance isn’t as outstanding as that of AirPods Pro.
AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation are now available for pre-order at $129 and $179 respectively, and the first orders will arrive on September 20.
Learn more about AirPods 4:
- AirPods 4 no longer come with a USB cable in the box
- This is the new AirPods lineup following the AirPods 4 announcement
- Apple announces AirPods 4 in two new models with the H2 chip, USB-C, and more
- AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro: a detailed look at all the differences
