Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation vs Apple AirPods 4
Quick take: The Apple AirPods 4 costs $20 less; the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation has active noise cancelling while the Apple AirPods 4 doesn't; the Apple AirPods 4 lasts longer per charge (5 hrs).
Which one to buy
With the same hard-shell open fit, the same 4.3g buds and the same H2 chip, whether they stay in your ears is identical, and that's still the biggest question with either. About $20 extra here buys ANC, Transparency and Adaptive Audio, wireless charging, and a Find My speaker in the case. Reviewers who measured both also report the ANC version has fuller sub-bass. The cost is battery: 4 hours per charge with ANC on and 20 total, against the base model's 5 and 30. Since ANC on an open-fit bud only reduces low rumble, owners who rarely ride planes or trains, or sit in noisy offices, don't get much from the upgrade. Almost everyone else says to pay the difference.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
If you commute, fly or charge on a pad, and the price gap is small.
Apple AirPods 4
Only if you're sure you don't want noise cancellation and would rather have the longer battery and the lower price.
| Spec | Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation | Apple AirPods 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$119 | ~$99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 4 hrs | 5 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 20 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 1 hr | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | 4.3 g | 4.3 g |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
- ✓Real ANC in an open fit — no ear tips required
- ✓Excellent H2-chip call quality
- ✓Featherweight 4.3g buds disappear in-ear
- ✓Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness at $119
- ✓ANC case adds wireless charging and Find My speaker
- ✓Takes the edge off planes despite no seal
- ✗4-hour ANC battery is bottom of the class
- ✗Fit lottery — hard plastic shape hasn't changed
- ✗Bass depends entirely on how they sit in your ears
- ✗Physics caps ANC well below the sealed Pro 3
- ✗AAC only, no EQ app — Apple as usual
Apple AirPods 4
- ✓Same H2 chip and call quality as the ANC version
- ✓Featherweight 4.3g open fit stays comfortable for hours
- ✓30-hour total battery with the case
- ✓Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking
- ✓IP54 dust and splash resistance
- ✓5-minute charge buys an hour
- ✗No ANC or Transparency — the ANC version costs little more
- ✗Case is USB-C only; no wireless charging or Find My speaker
- ✗Measurably leaner sub-bass than the ANC version
- ✗Fit lottery — hard plastic shape either fits you or it doesn't
- ✗AAC only, no EQ, feature-poor on Android
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation vs Apple AirPods 4: common questions
Does the AirPods 4 with ANC sound different from the base AirPods 4, or only cancel noise?▾
Measured comparisons show the ANC version has stronger sub-bass, and the base model sounds leaner. Neither has an EQ app to change it.
Why does the base AirPods 4 have more battery than the ANC model?▾
The base model gets 5 hours per charge and 30 total, while the ANC version is rated at 4 and 20 with ANC running. On paper, the base model's case holds noticeably more.