Written by Maurits
Edited on
13 October 2025
·
14:34
Expert review of the Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation
I spent the past period testing the Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation. These are the first Apple earbuds with an earbud design and noise canceling. I wanted to know how good this noise canceling is. I was also curious about the sound quality of these Apple earbuds. You can read my experience with these earbuds here.
Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation
- Thanks to the H2 chip, you enjoy balanced sound.
- You hear less of your surroundings thanks to noise canceling.
- With the Find My function, you can find a lost charging case with a sound.
- The noise canceling of earbuds isn't as strong as that of in-ear earbuds, such as the AirPods Pro 2.
149,-
Temporarily sold out
First impression of the Apple AirPods 4 ANC
The Apple AirPods come in a small box. In addition to the earbuds, I also find a warranty card in the box. Apple doesn't include a USB-C charging cable with the AirPods 4. This cable allows me to charge the earbuds. If I want to do that, I have to buy the cable separately.
Decent noise canceling
It's always a challenge to design strong noise canceling for earbuds with an earbud design. These AirPods still reduce the noise pretty well. The AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation dampen monotone sounds like talking in the distance, so I don't hear that as loudly. If I type a message on my laptop or if there are talking colleagues nearby, the noise canceling isn't good enough. I can still hear these sounds through my music. The noise canceling of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is better, for example.
Balanced sound
With the AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation, the audio sounds balanced. The treble, mids, and bass all sound good. That way, music styles like pop music sound clear. I do miss the intensity of the bass reproduction that I want to hear when I listen to rock or electronic music. The bass and treble aren't strong enough for those types of music. Unfortunately, I can't adjust these settings in an app. I have to settle for Apple's sound settings.
Decent wearing comfort
The AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation are more comfortable in my ears than their predecessor, the AirPods 3. They don't fall out of my ears, for example. Personally, I think that in-ear earbuds have a higher wearing comfort thanks to the ear tips. They sit more firmly in my ears, so they don't fall out as easily. That's why the AirPods 4 with an earbud design are less comfortable in my ears.
'Find My' function works well
If I lose my AirPods, I can easily find them via the 'Find My' function. With this function, the AirPods charging case makes a sound. That way, I can hear where they are.
Conclusion
If you like the airy design of earbuds with noise canceling, the Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation are a good choice. With these earbuds, pop music also sounds balanced and clear. Do you want to be fully immersed in the music with stronger noise canceling and extra immersive bass and treble? These earbuds are less suitable. The AirPods Pro 2 are a better choice.
149,-
Temporarily sold out
Article by Maurits
Audio Expert.
