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Apple AirPods 4 Review: Comfort and Apple Integration Over Isolation

The Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds offer comfortable everyday earbuds for iPhone owners, best for iPhone owners. The main drawback: bass is lighter than on earbuds with silicone tips. We scored it 5.0 out of 5.

By ZappyZep, Tech Editor Published September 26, 2026 Updated September 27, 2026
5.0Our score
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years) Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years), view 2 Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years), view 3 Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years), view 4 Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years), view 5 Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip, Up to 30 Hours of Battery Life with AppleCare+ (2 Years), view 6
Product gallery, 6 images
$123.00 Check price on Amazon

Prices shown were correct on September 27, 2026 and change frequently.

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds Worth It?

AirPods 4 give up the sealed fit of silicone ear tips in exchange for all-day comfort, and that one choice shapes everything else: they sit lightly and pair instantly with an iPhone, but they let the outside world in. This bundle adds two years of AppleCare+, which matters more than usual for earbuds that are easy to drop or lose.

NoFussDeal rates the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds 5.0 out of 5 at $123.00. Last updated September 27, 2026.

Key Facts

Material
‎Metal, Plastic
Battery Life
‎30 Hours
Water Resistance Level
‎Water Resistant
Control Method
‎App, Touch
Compatible Devices
‎Tablets,Cellphones,Desktops,Laptops
Specific Uses For Product
‎School,Business,Entertainment,Gaming,Travel

What Stands Out

  1. Apple-designed H2 chip with Voice Isolation to cut background noise on calls
  2. Up to 5 hours of listening per charge and up to 30 hours in total with the case
  3. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
  4. Earbuds and case rated IP54 for dust, sweat and water
  5. USB-C charging case more than 10 percent smaller by volume than the previous generation
  6. AppleCare+ for two years, covering accidental damage and the battery

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

  • Tipless redesigned shape is comfortable for long listening sessions
  • Instant pairing and hands-free Siri with Siri Interactions on Apple devices
  • Voice Isolation keeps calls clear in loud places
  • Up to 5 hours per charge and up to 30 hours with the smaller USB-C case
  • IP54 dust, sweat and water resistance for earbuds and case
  • Two years of AppleCare+ covers accidental damage and the battery

What does not

  • Unsealed fit lets in outside noise on loud commutes
  • Bass is lighter than on earbuds with silicone tips
  • Fit depends on ear shape with no tip sizes to adjust
  • Most smart features need an Apple device

Features in Depth

01

H2 Chip and Voice Isolation

Chip Apple H2 Bluetooth 5.3 Controls App, touch (quick-press on the stem)

The Apple-designed H2 chip runs the computational audio behind Voice Isolation, which reduces background noise on calls while keeping your voice clear for the listener. It also handles Siri, Siri Interactions and the automatic features that make AirPods feel effortless with an iPhone.

$123.00 5.0/5 Check price
02

Personalized Spatial Audio

Head tracking Dynamic Compatible devices Tablets, phones, desktops, laptops

Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound around you, so films, shows, games and supported music feel more like a room than a pair of earbuds. The effect depends on content mixed for it and on an Apple device doing the tracking.

$123.00 5.0/5 Check price
03

Battery Life and USB-C Case

Listening per charge Up to 5 hours Total with case Up to 30 hours Case charging USB-C

The earbuds run for up to 5 hours of listening on a charge, and the case brings the total to up to 30 hours. The redesigned case charges over USB-C and is more than 10 percent smaller by volume than the previous generation.

$123.00 5.0/5 Check price
04

Redesigned Fit and IP54 Protection

Protection rating IP54 (earbuds and case) Material Metal, plastic

AirPods 4 have a refined contour and shorter stem for all-day comfort and more stability, with quick-press controls for music and calls. The earbuds and case are rated IP54 for dust, sweat and water, enough for rain and heavy workouts.

$123.00 5.0/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on
The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating
5.0 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 27, 2026
How we score
Each criterion is an editorial rating out of 100, judged from the product's published specifications, its documented features and what verified owners report. It is a judgement, not a lab measurement - this review is not based on our own testing. Read our editorial standards

Specifications

Materials and warranty

Material
‎Metal, Plastic

Power

Battery Life
‎30 Hours

Other specifications

Water Resistance Level
‎Water Resistant
Control Method
‎App, Touch
Compatible Devices
‎Tablets,Cellphones,Desktops,Laptops
Specific Uses For Product
‎School,Business,Entertainment,Gaming,Travel

What Buyers Say

5 stars 0%
4 stars 0%
3 stars 0%
2 stars 0%
1 stars 0%

Setting It Up

  1. Pair with an iPhone

    Unlock your iPhone, open the charging case next to it and tap Connect when the setup card appears. The pairing then carries over to other Apple devices signed into the same Apple Account.

  2. Seat the earbuds

    Place each earbud in the outer ear with the stem pointing down, then turn it slightly until it feels settled. There are no tips to change, so if the fit feels loose try a small change of angle rather than pushing it deeper.

  3. Set up Personalized Spatial Audio

    Follow the prompt on the iPhone to personalise spatial audio for your ears. You can turn spatial audio and head tracking on or off later from Control Center.

  4. Choose your controls

    In the AirPods settings on your iPhone, review what the quick-press controls on the stem do for playback, calls and Siri, and switch Siri Interactions on if you want to answer by nodding or shaking your head.

  5. Turn on Find My

    Check that Find My is enabled so you can locate the earbuds and the charging case from the Find My app if they go missing.

  6. Register AppleCare+

    Confirm that the two-year AppleCare+ coverage shows against your AirPods in your Apple Account so you can arrange a repair or Express Replacement if you need one.

Common Questions

Are the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds worth it?

Yes: we score it 5.0 out of 5. Battery life of up to 5 hours per charge and 30 hours with the USB-C case suits daily use.

What are the downsides of the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds?

Unsealed fit lets in outside noise on loud commutes. Bass is lighter than on earbuds with silicone tips.

How do you clean the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds?

Wipe the earbuds and case with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth after workouts.

How do voice isolation on calls work on the Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds?

Voice Isolation uses the H2 chip to reduce background noise on phone calls while keeping your voice clear, which helps most in loud places such as busy streets or cafés.

On Video

6 videos

AirPods 4 (ANC) vs. AirPods Pro 2 - Which Should You Buy?

6 Months Later
All videos
  1. AirPods 4 (ANC) vs. AirPods Pro 2 - Which Should You Buy? 6 Months Later
  2. AirPods 4 Review: Which Ones To Get? Marques Brownlee
  3. AUDIO ENGINEER Reviews the APPLE AIRPODS 4 This is Tech Today
  4. AirPods 4 ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING - Unboxing and Setup Karl Conrad
  5. AirPods 4 Tips, Tricks & Hidden Features | YOU MUST KNOW! Hayls World
  6. Apple AirPods 4 Unboxing - Baseline Model ThisIsE

The Verdict

5.0Out of 5

AirPods 4 choose comfort and convenience over isolation. The redesigned tipless shape is easy to wear for hours, the H2 chip brings Voice Isolation and Personalized Spatial Audio, and the IP54 rating covers sweat and rain. Battery life of up to 5 hours per charge and 30 hours with the USB-C case suits daily use. The unsealed fit is the trade-off: outside noise gets in and bass is lighter than with tipped earbuds. The two years of AppleCare+ in this bundle makes it a sensible way to buy earbuds that are easy to drop or wear out.

Who should buy it

  • iPhone owners wanting comfortable daily earbuds
  • People who take many calls and value clear voice pickup in noisy places
  • Listeners who dislike the pressure of silicone ear tips
  • Buyers who want accidental-damage and battery cover included

Buy AirPods 4 with AppleCare+ if you live in the Apple ecosystem and value comfort, call quality and effortless pairing. If you mainly listen on loud trains or want strong bass, a sealed design with tips will serve you better.

Check price on Amazon

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