Airpods 4 Review: Unbelievable ANC!

[@jechuwen]

I just bought this and I’m loving it. No silicone tips is a big YES for me. It fit perfectly in my ears and don’t fall even I’m jumping or nodding my head side to side. ANC works fine but i don’t used it because i feel like im going to be deaf of how silent it is.

[@robertq55403]

Mike, great information. I really enjoyed and appreciate your candor review. Your reviews don’t seem ‘rushed’ and yet aren’t very long but still contain a lot of valuable content. Love this!

[@Redeem_Honor]

Timestamps for main topics, generated using AI 0:00 - Introduction: Overview of AirPods 4 features (smaller case, ANC, audio improvements) 0:20 - Initial thoughts on ANC performance and its surprising quality 1:23 - Explanation of two AirPods 4 models (with and without ANC, price differences) 1:57 - Design and size of the AirPods 4 case (comparison with AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2) 2:25 - Charging quirks: No MagSafe, but wireless charging supported 3:08 - New pairing method for AirPods 4 (double-tap to activate pairing mode) 4:59 - Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance, comparison with AirPods Pro and others 7:06 - Transparency mode performance, praised for natural ambient sound 7:54 - Differences between AirPods 4 with ANC and without ANC 10:07 - Battery life comparison between ANC and non-ANC versions 11:00 - Audio sharing and other features (like switching between devices) 11:39 - Microphone test (indoor and outdoor scenarios) 12:51 - Sound quality analysis: Comparison with AirPods 3, overall good for open earbuds 14:06 - Final thoughts on AirPods 4 pros and cons

[@angelnimmy9491]

What AI did you use to do this ?

[@Redeem_Honor]

@@angelnimmy9491 ChatGPT! I took the auto-generated transcript, plugged it into ChatGPT, and asked it to generate timestamps based on the text. It takes only a few minutes to do. Hopefully more KZbinrs do it, but I understand why some don’t.

[@nihalbhamrah4726]

Thank you

[@nihalbhamrah4726]

@@angelnimmy9491its called hard work ai 😊

[@camila.medina]

Thank you!

[@colt5189]

One thing about buds with silicone tips is the tips easily get gunked up with ear wax. So you have to clean them a lot and your ears. And the wax makes them want to push out making you have to press them in. Whereas I never had that problem with open end designed buds. Only thing is every so often you'd have to clean the wax that gets in the speaker grill.

[@colmpatrick]

Pro 2 ALL THE WAY... these are just for those who don't know..😅

[@shalomzharnest2205]

the comparison should clearly be the Galaxy Buds 3- both are open ear tips with ANC

[@lamar310]

Airpods are #1 in sales and the most popular earbuds. Samsung copied the Airpods cuz Galaxy Buds are a flop...the sales numbers don't lie. Is it fair to compare #1 to earbuds nobody buys from Samsung?

[@shalomzharnest2205]

@@lamar310 yes when they are very similar products. That's how product comparisons work...

[@gtbigdog3507]

@@lamar310they don’t interface with the iPhone

[@axguo2k]

Exactly this... was confused as to why Mike decided to bring up the much older Buds Live instead of comparing them to the new Galaxy Buds 3s.

[@noah-j00]

@@lamar310lmao apple fanboi is on steroids

[@sharingaccount-w9r]

Hi, you’re one of the best in your domain….keep making such informative content… love from India

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Thank you for your kind words! 🙏

[@narutoninjagoandtheflashar4256]

@@MikeOBrienMedia may I ask you a question regarding the AirPods 4 case? Do you experience extreme battery drainage? As in like 10% or more WITHOUT even using the AirPods? So, like when they’re in the case. Completely full already. But the case keeps draining a good amount of battery for idk what reason. But yeah! I’m asking because I’m experiencing it. And to me, that does NOT look normal at all. So yeah! I want to know if it happens to you too. If it does, then I guess that might be normal

[@davidbell4949]

I had original AirPods Pro. Just bought the AirPods 4 with ANC. Love them. Actually prefer them. Feel better in my ears and don’t fall out.

[@TheMensRoom2024]

As an Android User I just picked up a pair of the airpod 4 with ANC. I got to say the ANC is pretty good. You hear a little bit of noise but not much. I work in a very loud Warehouse I was on a call the other day the person could barely hear the noise in the background when I had the ANC on

[@paulwilliams8921]

But can you control the ANC mode and transparency mode from the earbud? Because I'm the same as you I want these but I'm limited because I'm an android user as well and you have no access to the settings unless you have an iOS device?

[@TheMensRoom2024]

@paulwilliams8921 i can use both modes but iam on android

[@pragunmarella06]

I was waitinggggggg, love to see this early in the day…

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed the video

[@GrindingKnives]

Overall amazing overview and review! I pre-ordered mine as soon as they were available. I have both Gen 1 standard AirPods and Gen 1 AirPod Pro and have been waiting for the perfect reason to purchase new ones. I have relatively small ears and the fact the Gen 4 have a MUCH better fit sold me. Can’t wait till Friday, super stoked! Keep up the great content 🤙🏻🙏🏻🫡

[@Kolya-chu]

Other reviews were ecstatic over the noise canceling. Good to get a range of opinions! I ordered mine yesterday but I feel like I should survey more before it’s too late 😬

[@mohitrashivlogs]

Just received mine I Pre-Ordered they are amazing ❤

[@superperformance]

The best and most intelligent review for Airpods 4.

[@Andrew-uk5qd]

Would you please try comparing them to the galaxy buds 3 and any other close buds in some video? I appreicate your insight

[@judgetk3309]

Another excellent review. Very useful information. Thank you!

[@asan1050]

Mike O'Brien, Thanks for posting this video

[@MrPantss]

As per my doctor who looked inside my ears, I have weird shaped ear canals that are shaped upwards, so these open ear are the only ones that I can use, the silicone just blocks my ear. I have just received my AirPods 4, the noise cancelling is amazing! BUT, compared to my last AirPods I find they need more treble, they sound quite muffled when watching films. The new geometry is ok, but does not fit quite as well as my old set which were more rounded and less angular. Overall I am happy with them and glad I can watch my iPad when I am in the lounge now and the TV is on.

[@craneguy6636]

In terms of passive noise isolation, the 2nd and 3rd gen AirPods have next to none. What are the 4th gen like in comparison? I think being able to hear almost all of your surroundings is really helpful and a lot safer in certain situations, and I really like that about the previous generations. Now with added ANC these 4th gen could be looking really worthwhile.

[@OddlyFamiliarStranger]

I honestly can’t wait to experience the anc A lot of reviews have said it’s incredible

[@stevey3100]

Airpods 4 with anc are great they feel good in the ears and both can be worn for a long period of time the adaptive feature especially when listen to music is nice touch or when im on a call.

[@painuchiha2694]

I’m excited to try these because I hate the tips and the 3 were slightly too big

[@TylerBR97]

I hate ear tips and I’m super sensitive to the pressure from ANC. I’d also never use over ears at the gym so this is legit perfect for me

[@CooperJackToys]

Will the ANC on these not create that inner pressure, even with the looser seal? That's my concern with these

[@TylerBR97]

@@CooperJackToys it still does, but apparently it’s not as much

[@CooperJackToys]

@@TylerBR97great thanks!

[@jeremyshearer3885]

Good video! For me I do have the 3rd generation AirPods which are okay but found they did not fit my ear very well so I went out and bought the beats studio buds and wow love the design stays in my ear perfectly and has the anc features and some other features to so I will be skipping the 4 generation as very happy with my beats!

[@PortableMediaReviews]

Thanks for the video! Hadn’t seen any of your videos prior to this one, but I like your style! Excited to get the AirPods 4 on Friday - and the new iPad mini next month! 😊

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

Thank you!

[@Millerclips27]

How is the fit compared to the airpod 3? The 3s just fall out of my ears but the the first and 2nd gen I loved

[@gtbigdog3507]

You can still buy them

[@PortableMediaReviews]

I’m wondering this too. Wanted to like the 3s but they just didn’t fit

[@fyoutube2294]

@@gtbigdog3507you can also buy size 15 shoes, doesn’t mean they’ll fit

[@Millerclips27]

@@PortableMediaReviews same I hated the 3 but love the 2

[@susanmarks6182]

My 4’s keep falling out of my ears. They are comfortable and sound so good, but I’m afraid I’m going to lose at least one of them. I have nothing to compare these to as they are my first pair.

[@fightnight14]

I just hate how there's only one color. I got a feeling that Apple will make a colors Airpods but only for the Pros soon. It would have been fun seeing an ultramarine and teal Airpods 4.

[@PortableMediaReviews]

I actually disagree. I think Apple wants to keep their iconic look. I wish Apple offered more colors in their products though, for sure.

[@patrickrushton]

Apple nailed it with the AirPods 4 ANC. Noise cancellation is just as good if not better than my original Pros, but without the occlusion effect from footsteps, chewing, etc. What do you think about the adaptive mode? Seems like something more useful on the Pros than a semi-open earbud.

[@Kurczakizkosmosu]

Very good review, thanks.

[@itsgigarf]

How are the Airpods 4 for running? Their great transparency seems very enticing as I've got to hear for incoming bikes. I've got the Galaxy Buds 3 non pro which are great for most runs but unfortunately start to slip out during intense sessions. The Buds 3 actually have a surprisingly secure fit, but I believe their incredibly slippery texture is holding them back from being locked in place when sweat really starts flowing

[@BrianHartman]

Great review as usual, Mike. :) I don't know. I just find these really hard to justify. First of all, because of the open design, you're grading a lot of things (audio quality, noise cancellation, transparency) on a curve. These don't seem to do any of these things better than their closed counterparts. Second, these seem to be for a fairly narrow slice of the market. The only reason I could see getting these is if eartips didn't work for you. The usual market for open earbuds is people who want to hear their environment, and for those people, ANC doesn't make a lot of sense. With an open design *and* ANC, at best you're making the ANC work harder than it should have to, with suboptimal results. That's fine for people who can't use eartips, but I don't know who else would want to use them.

[@Harsh-20]

Which one is a better option for ears health and hearing ability over a longer term? 1) silicon tip, AirPods Pro like design 2) open ears, AirPods 4 with ANC like design

[@kaischmidt730]

for me, they fit perfectly and the ANC is very good indeed. also, audio quality is acceptable, microphone quality is great. BUT 4 hour battery life with ANC on is just sad. on a new device, no idea how they are gonna hold up in a year... didn't think it would be a problem, but I constantly have to pause whatever I was doing to recharge them

[@yt_ihateschool]

I just buy it and the noise cancellation is great and yea it’s just like AirPods Pro 2 but with lower price

[@austinslater4773]

Best transparency mode, usable ANC? I’m in. I’ll wear the pros more but there are times these would be preferred for sure

[@stianjarnass]

I have a feeling the anc on these are better than my Jabra Elite 10😅

[@MarcoBeSomething]

Really good year for buds so far; Pixel Buds Pro 2 are next. I’m on the original but the seal makes my ear damp after workouts so that can’t be good for me, I’m thinking no seal like the AirPods 4 will help but maybe the Pro 2’s smaller footprint might help as well.

[@Bryce-yz4fd]

these ear buds i think are best for podcast listening at home or in a library. maybe in a car

[@famoussnips1434]

I hope I don’t regret going with the pros. I’m not a big fan of rubber tips but I tried my freinds and they weren’t bad especially with the smaller tips. I just heard the anc is better on the pros idk how true it is

[@yourobson]

How would you compare the sound of AirPods 4 to Beats Solo Buds? I know they are completely different but Beats provide some passive sound isolation, have 18 hours of battery, are half the price, to me look better in the ear and possibly are better for sports? Which ones sound better? Thanks for a great review I enjoyed the shots when you had them in your ears just to see how they look on a person.

[@yourobson]

Despite all the doubts, I ordered the AirPods 4. 😀

[@IWinGiveaways123]

You said towards the end of the video that the AirPods 4 causes you to increase the volume which can damage your ears. Is the anc not good enough to counteract that?

[@llinushka]

Actually airpods 4 case does have a magnet, it’s just smaller. I use charger from my Apple Watch, the case sticks perfectly to it.

[@GoldenShiverr]

Hands down best value AirPods 🗣️

[@swissangpinay_cebuana]

I just bought mine i love it

[@solsang]

It sticks perfectly to the Apple Watch magnetic charger :)

[@rherteux]

An odd drawback for me...I have a heck of a time getting them out of the case for some reason. Probably a mixture of it being a smaller case with stronger magnets.

[@benjathemin]

How’s the anc like for you?

[@rherteux]

@@benjathemin I would say it's 75% of th e AirPods Pro 2. Decent for if you're at a restaurant or maybe a train/subway/airplane. But don't try mowing your yard with them and expect to hear the music well. I tried and it didn't go so well. 😁

[@benjathemin]

@@rherteux thanks for the heads up! Definitely going to get me a pair as the rubber seal hasn’t done it for me of late

[@rherteux]

@@benjathemin You won't regret it, they're very good!

[@AInternetDoBem]

The sound quality is as good as the wired earpods, worse or better? Thanks!

[@YobiSmooove]

Do they slip out of your ear when your working out?

[@박현우-o8o]

It would be better to compare the same open type Galaxy Buds 3 with anc (sound quality, anc)

[@sct4040]

I noticed a similarity in mannerisms between you and Nate immediately.

[@mma0911]

I used to listen and play moon hooch music in high school with my sax lol

[@dandansfu]

get 3 unless you truly care about ANC features as airpod 3 has magsafe charger which I think more apple users have more MagSafe charger around than watch charger comes with a cable and I believe airpod4 dont have volume control by swiping much cheaper now

[@slothu6053]

That sounds incredibly dumb imo, mainly cause MagSafe is literally just charging and ease of use as where anc is sometimes that could improve the overall experience

[@dandansfu]

@@slothu6053 everyone is different. U can disagree but to say someone or something is dumb is just sad and make ur argument weak Also it’s about reduction. Why reduce ? Plz don’t defend apple for cost cutting Also not just MagSafe missing Cable missing ( which you will say you don’t need it which is fair but price isn’t going down ) Slight less battery life MagSafe is popular so it’s not a dumb feature Also for my use case , I have a MagSafe charger at home in my car , at work I can simply put it on without worrying it may fall down And I can put it on quickly without worrying it won’t position properly And I’m sure , most Apple users , have more MagSafe charging stand compare to Apple Watch charging stand Anyway you do you but plz dont be childish and call other ppl or other ideas dumb Thank you

[@slothu6053]

@@dandansfu I’d say so but I did say in my opinion. I acknowledged yours and just stated mine

[@Harsh-20]

Good idea to use them with Pixel phone considering pixel buds don’t come such design?

[@jbar_85]

Thanks for the review but I’m halfway into this review and nothing about the audio quality. What is the audio quality like? I have the AirPods 2 and want to upgrade to non-anc model.

[@el-booboo9324]

Thats a downgrade lol

[@MaxwellDog1]

You could try listening to the rest of the video

[@adithya9791]

hi great review thanks from indian ❤

[@zhack3d]

This is the earphone I always wanted

[@AirBudProMax]

Moon Hooch is so good. Too Many Zooz as well.

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

It's been a while since I saw them in concert. Their live performances are so fun

[@Sauxeaholic]

I hate silicone tips for the main reason, that whenever I try to go for a run or just having them in they start to fall out and they fucking suck

[@ameerlicious]

looking forward as i don't prefer the rubber tips

[@SthairyaGowda]

would the sound quality remain the same and would the noise cancellation be better if i bought 3rd party silicone tip add-ons

[@Davidmedinaofficial]

ANC and sound quality are great but they keep falling out of my ear which is unfortunate

[@anandc5593]

Which one you suggest ,AirPods pro 2 or 4?

[@HeftyChunk69]

The pros are better, but only it depends on which ones fit your ears better

[@orehov2957]

pro

[@gregorgovekar3674]

Do the 4s have a lot of sound overspill and do they stay in your ears?

[@efacker795]

is the anc in the airpods 4 better than the one in beats studio buds +

[@PrestoMoto02]

ESR has a case that works with magsafe

[@pancakes3]

How do they compare to the galaxy buds 3

[@susanmarks6182]

These AP4s are my very first pair. I primarily use them for jogging. I have the noise canceling. They sound great, omg! Unfortunately, they keep popping out of my ears!! Arghhh. I’m trying every position and they seem to stay in for awhile, but eventually fall out. So frustrating! I’m a newbie. Any tips.

[@sct4040]

Head band over the ear.

[@livesh684]

does the nodding function work with the pro version too

[@captainsparkle-fingers2744]

EL PASO!! Is Apple still stuck using AAC bluetooth codecs in their pods🤔🙄

[@azizs2769]

i like 2nd gen now its $69-89. i don't think there is any headphone you can sleep with like this model. btw mic on airpods 4 is like 2 and 3 "CRAB"

[@moviemyles]

love the video man, thats a follow from me :)

[@moviemyles]

love from the UK

[@steve-ey4ol]

picked a pair of apple airbuds today for £17 and they play lossless music they are the ones with the wire attached and plug into the usb c sound better than the AirPods 3 oh and I can take calls with them on

[@alter112]

How did you get a sticker with your name?

[@RaphahShophar]

So which is better, AirPod pro 2 or AirPod 4

[@BananAs375]

If you don’t like the silicone ear tips or if you have a tight budget I’d go for the 4. But if you don’t have those two problems I’d go for the pro 2. The noise canceling is just too good

[@etnevel.naitzsirk]

So let me get this straight... you can tap the case, but they downgraded controlling the buds from tapping to pinching? I want to switch from my AirPods 2, but this is one of my concern, because tapping the buds is a huge convenience, especially when it's a colder/rainy weather and you wear a beanie. Not to mention that pinching screws up the positioning, which to me is a big deal as it's a sensory annoyance.

[@yuze1050]

I had the same concern. I prefer te tapping over pinching, but other than that it’s a huge upgrade. Sound quality is so much better than the AirPods 2 and the ANC is surprisingly good!

[@etnevel.naitzsirk]

That's good to know. Now I just have to do more research about how well it behaves with Android phones. I can tweak settings on my Mac if necessary, but afterwards it's going to be used with a Pixel, so... 🤷‍♂ I mostly care about controlling Play/Pause and switching between ANC and Transparency mode for commuting.

[@Rahenne]

@@yuze1050do they fit like the AirPods 2?

[@yuze1050]

@@Rahenne for me they fit better than the AirPods 2. They also don’t fall out when moving or anything

[@Babak_PN]

It would be great if you put separated time line to jump into

[@max_mwangi]

Yeah, I believe that the problem with this channel. Mike talks too much such that one may get lost in what he is presenting

[@tunde37]

Did apple send those engraved pods? Find it hard to believe all the content creators chose to engrave their names

[@json23uml]

Lack of volume controls on the Airpods 4 - deal breaker for me.

[@edonkrasniqi9577]

Why is it that others can hear my music soo much with this pair

[@kushj9568]

14:04 Who doesnt like damaging their ears 😂

[@BrianHartman]

That's what stuck out to me, too. :D

[@workhardplayhar]

Sorry mine are not ANC but still sound great compared to any brand I have had

[@workhardplayhar]

Not to mention I just got mine at Verizon yesterday for $160 stop lying about price mine are 4th generation brand new out of the box

[@JackTheBlack1585]

Can’t you just take the silicone tips off of the AirPod pro3 and it become AirPod 4 ?

[@iOSuptodate]

im watching this with airpods 4 ANC ☠️🔥👍🏻

[@abbos_axiy]

Did you have Airpods 3 before ? I mean tell me if your new ones are better in terms of sound quality🙏🏻

[@tarunchauhan9670]

Does it connect with S21FE..pls reply

[@danielgabriel370]

Just bought these can’t connect to find my

[@jaykritsingh9751]

I bought sony linkbuds S. which one is better Airpods 4 or sony linkbuds s

[@Babak_PN]

I think the Sony one. Usually apple products are overrated with propaganda

[@AsifZed69]

Didn't mention Samsung once as a direct alternative. Odd..

[@VarunDevJamwal]

First view...maybe a giveaway 😅

[@Artemis-v8i]

Nope

[@fhmanna007]

Maybe find some work. This gadget aint that expensive to buy.

[@mr.potatohead3870]

Hahs you tried it

[@VarunDevJamwal]

@@fhmanna007 Finding work, saying the guy who is reading other's comments and advising...You find some work dude, rather than advising here.

[@BojanKnezevic]

youtubers have forgotten what word review means, and they are just repeating stuff from keynote

[@little.prince]

Didn’t the AirPods 3 have skin detection? Am I blanking?

[@Ryan.Baumgartner]

moon hooch mention

[@ryanlai7234]

curious airpods 4 can fit better in the gym?

[@aaronaustrie]

Probably not the best for ANC

[@盾神京矢]

The in-ear sensor of AirPods 4 is horrible and a step-back from any AirPods (including the very first generation from 2016). The AirPods 3 from 2021 actually had a skin sensor, and it was the first AirPods products to feature a skin sensor. Later in 2022, the AirPods Pro 2 also feature that sensor. So, the skin sensor was never a pro-exclusive feature. AirPods 4 goes back to the optical sensor solution and it has the “put it on a table and music starts playing problem”. Actually, Apple already has a solution for that back in 2016 with the very first AirPods. That was the dual optical sensor. Even if the pod is placed on a table, one of the two optical sensors still faces the air, and music will not start playing. I own a pair of AirPods 2 and the optical sensors work just fine. The problem for AirPods 4 is having just one sensor on each pod, not the optical nature of the sensor. AirPods 4 is just the most horrible implementation of in-ear detection ever.

[@BrettHoTep]

Silicone tips are gross and bad and cause ear infections. So glad they didn’t make these things with silicon tips.

[@Pocketsuptospace]

Just take the silicone tips off

[@AdityaBandaru13]

can I charge 129USD airpods on apple watch charger ?

[@diegoirizarry2333]

No only the anc version has wireless charging

[@jbar_85]

No

[@ManjunathLaksh]

Give us some colors Apple... White airpods only since forever? 😢

[@workhardplayhar]

I appreciate letting me know how to pause to pinch not tap or slide

[@jovanyzamudio8759]

How do u get them so early? Lol.

[@fhmanna007]

Why i shouldn't buy airpods pro 2?

[@dariofaletar3675]

Maybe find some work. The airpods 4 arent that expensive to buy.

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

I never said you shouldn't. I still prefer the pros. These are best for those who dislike silicone tip earbuds :)

[@ThenewtejasO8]

​@@dariofaletar3675 I hope you know the airpods pro 2 are more expensive

[@dariofaletar3675]

and now without quoting your replies, pro 2 are perfectly fine.

[@alter112]

@@ThenewtejasO8 They are barely more expensive. The ANC airpod 4s on amazon are $180 and the airpod pro 2s are on sale for $190