Apple has officially launched the AirPods 4, introducing a new generation of its popular wireless earbuds that promise enhanced audio quality, innovative features, and a refined design. This overview goes into the details of the AirPods 4, including their specifications, design, features, pricing, and availability.
Design and Aesthetics
The AirPods 4 maintain the signature open-ear design that has characterized previous models, but they feature a more ergonomic fit, designed to accommodate a wider range of ear shapes.
This new design is informed by extensive research, utilizing advanced modeling tools to analyze over 50 million individual data points from ear shapes around the world.
The earbuds are expected to have shorter stems compared to their predecessors, giving them a sleeker profile. They will be available in a classic white finish, consistent with Apple’s aesthetic.
Importantly, the AirPods 4 will not include replaceable ear tips, which differentiates them from the AirPods Pro series.
The charging case has also been redesigned, making it over 10% smaller than the previous generation. It now features a USB-C port, aligning with Apple’s transition to USB-C across its product lineup, and supports wireless charging via Qi-certified chargers.
Apple AirPods 4 Specifications
- Chip: Powered by the H2 chip, which enhances audio processing and enables advanced features.
- Audio drivers: Custom high-excursion drivers and a high dynamic range amplifier for improved sound quality.
- Microphones: Equipped with dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, and advanced accelerometers for voice detection.
- Battery life:
- Up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge.
- Up to 4.5 hours of talk time.
- The charging case provides up to 30 hours of additional listening time.
- Water resistance: Rated IP54, making them resistant to dust, sweat, and splashes.
- Connectivity: Utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 for improved range and efficiency.
New and exciting features
The AirPods 4 come packed with several new features that enhance both audio quality and user experience.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): For the first time, AirPods feature ANC in an open-ear design, allowing users to enjoy a quieter listening experience without compromising the natural feel of open earbuds. The ANC works in conjunction with advanced microphones and computational audio to reduce environmental noise effectively.
Personalized Spatial Audio: This feature provides an immersive listening experience by adjusting audio based on the user’s head movements. It enhances the surround sound effect, making media consumption more engaging.
Voice isolation: The H2 chip enables clearer call quality by filtering out background noise, ensuring that the user’s voice is the primary focus during calls.
Adaptive audio: This intelligent feature dynamically blends ANC and Transparency mode based on the user’s environment, ensuring the best listening experience whether in a quiet room or a bustling street.
Siri interactions: Users can interact with Siri through head gestures, such as nodding to accept a call or shaking their head to decline it, adding a layer of convenience to hands-free operation.
Improved controls: The AirPods 4 include a new force sensor on the stem, allowing users to play/pause media or answer calls with simple presses.
Pricing and availability
The AirPods 4 are available in two models: the Standard Model priced at $129, featuring the core functionalities without ANC; as well as the model with Active Noise Cancellation priced at $179, offering the advanced noise-canceling features.
Pre-orders for the AirPods 4 started on September 9, 2024, and they will officially ship on September 20, 2024.
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