AirPods 4 With ANC vs. AirPods Pro 2

[kamyk35]

I’m doubting between the two AirPods 4 models, and I don’t think I’m the only one. Those of us who hate or are uncomfortable with the rubber tips inside our ear canals, are probably wondering if the ANC variant is worth the extra 50€.

Personally, I think the best route is to try them out, and decide. But it’s a bit of a hassle buying and returning.

The noise cancellation doesn’t seem too powerful, however, the feature that lowers the volume when someone is talking to you (or is it you talking?) seem quite useful. I’d like to know for how long does it lower the volume before rising it again, maybe 5 seconds after your last word? 10 seconds?

Oh, and the speaker in the case to let you know where they are seems like a very handy addition.

It's not when someone talks to you, it's when you talk and in real world it's unworkable, I've tried.

 

[kamyk35]

So which one of you two should we believe?
just tells that it is very subjective…

antiprotest posts the same thing after every upgrade going back a few years to the originals

 

[01241984]

I just purchased AirPods Pro 2. Upgrading from AirPods 3. I paid $190.00 US. Delivered.
The only thing that bothers me so far is I have difficulty taking the AirPods out of the case. Nicely smooth and curvy... but no place to grip them... Any anyone else? Any fancy technique?

 

[jeffjank33]

I just purchased AirPods Pro 2. Upgrading from AirPods 3. I paid $190.00 US. Delivered.
The only thing that bothers me so far is I have difficulty taking the AirPods out of the case. Nicely smooth and curvy... but no place to grip them... Any anyone else? Any fancy technique?

Key is open the case, use your pointer finger and thumb, forcing from the back of the case to the front when you pull out... they will slide out essesntially.

Needed to learn this when I got the first APP. if you just try to "grab" them with finger and thumb, yeah, doesn't come out easily.

try opening case, put pointer finger against the back of the airpod and thumb towards the front and almost pull/slide out putting some pressure back to front... game changer once you do that😛

 

[jeffjank33]

Ive had every version of the Airpods and Pros. I bought the 4s with ANC. their Noise cancelling is decent. Does a good job with lower tone sounds, higher pitch, sudden and even voices, its not as good as APP.

That said, they do a pretty good job with steady, lower tones... I always like to have two pairs of Airpods because I take a lot of long flights and between airports, connections and flights, Ill run out of battery so like to have a second set avaialble.

I'm not bothered by the tips in the APP2 but do appreciate not having to have the tips with the 4s. I believe the noise isolation you get with the tips will make it so the APP always have slightly better overall sound quality.

If I could only have one pair, Id get the APP2 every day of the week. If I'm going to have two pairs, id split as I did, one set of APP2 and another 4 ANC.

 

[Quackington]

Whether using pros or the new airpods with anc, transparency mode gives you that awareness of your surroundings. It does an amazing job of passing through the external sounds even though the plugs fill your ears.

Yes but does it come with the annoying, ongoing hiss sound?

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

I just realised I can take the ear tips off (or use the small ones) from APP2... and I get.... the AP4...
Living in a busy city I do prefer the proper ANC but idd feels nicer when sitting in my sofa to use them without

I’d advise against that as you’re inevitably going to get earwax into the small crevices of the pro 2s..if you’re ballin like that, go ahead and get pod 4s and have those just for bummin around your place

I don’t think battery fade is much of an issue anymore. I’ve had my AirPods 3 since launch and the battery life is nigh on identical to when they were new. The first gen AirPods were genuinely terrible for battery fade and would be approaching useless after 6 months, but for me the AP3s have been excellent even though they were be used all day every day. I’m still using them now as my backup set when the AP4s need charging. I think Apple must be quietly doing something like the 80% charge limit the recent iPhones have to make the batteries last so well.

Hmmm yeah you say “Apple must be quietly doing something like 80% charge limit”…fascinating, it’d be rather interesting to see what sort of coding apples got going on for what features and stuff…ugh Apple is too awesome…

I purchased them and I noted that if I wear them with foam tips then the noise cancelling stops working. It is just a pity that sensors and firmware are implemented and designed to make the earphones stop working when with foam tips, which offer further isolation, comfort and improve the audio quality too. Saying that, they are great and very impressed 😊
P.S.: I wish there were foam tips specifically designed for AirPods 4 (which holes where the sensors are)

I’m sorry but this is hilarious. No, no foam tips for open ear devices lol

If anything make one AirPod to rule them all, the Ultra?…

My experience was both, first I thought that it got weakened a bit, then my next music session had a better noise cancellation than before. Now I'm happy with it.

Hmmm sounds like it’s calibrating or something like that…

Same speaker, same chip, probably same microphones, probably hardware-wise they are the same devices, but it is cheaper to produce the same devices limited by software. Tim knows better 😉

That would be insane, never thought of this…

Key is open the case, use your pointer finger and thumb, forcing from the back of the case to the front when you pull out... they will slide out essesntially.

Needed to learn this when I got the first APP. if you just try to "grab" them with finger and thumb, yeah, doesn't come out easily.

try opening case, put pointer finger against the back of the airpod and thumb towards the front and almost pull/slide out putting some pressure back to front... game changer once you do that😛

I recommend pointing finger on back of the pod and thumb on front of case…trying to grip the pod from opposite sides is tough because they’re so small. Maybe this is what you meant?

Ive had every version of the Airpods and Pros. I bought the 4s with ANC. their Noise cancelling is decent. Does a good job with lower tone sounds, higher pitch, sudden and even voices, its not as good as APP.

That said, they do a pretty good job with steady, lower tones... I always like to have two pairs of Airpods because I take a lot of long flights and between airports, connections and flights, Ill run out of battery so like to have a second set avaialble.

I'm not bothered by the tips in the APP2 but do appreciate not having to have the tips with the 4s. I believe the noise isolation you get with the tips will make it so the APP always have slightly better overall sound quality.

If I could only have one pair, Id get the APP2 every day of the week. If I'm going to have two pairs, id split as I did, one set of APP2 and another 4 ANC.

Interesting you say this. Hmmm so I’ve had pro 2s since January I think and aside from the case looking like I’ve had them since the prototype phase, yes they’ve held up very well. However, out of curiosity and not desperation, did I check out the pod 3s not long before discontinuation. With that particular model I felt like I was continually in transparency mode and not in a good way. I feel for those unable to withstand the presence of in ear headphones…

Pro series or bust ova heah baby!

 

[jeffjank33]

I’d advise against that as you’re inevitably going to get earwax into the small crevices of the pro 2s..if you’re ballin like that, go ahead and get pod 4s a

I’d advise against that as you’re inevitably going to get earwax into the small crevices of the pro 2s..if you’re ballin like that, go ahead and get pod 4s and have those just for bummin around your place



Hmmm yeah you say “Apple must be quietly doing something like 80% charge limit”…fascinating, it’d be rather interesting to see what sort of coding apples got going on for what features and stuff…ugh Apple is too awesome…



I’m sorry but this is hilarious. No, no foam tips for open ear devices lol

If anything make one AirPod to rule them all, the Ultra?…



Hmmm sounds like it’s calibrating or something like that…



That would be insane, never thought of this…




I recommend pointing finger on back of the pod and thumb on front of case…trying to grip the pod from opposite sides is tough because they’re so small. Maybe this is what you meant?




Interesting you say this. Hmmm so I’ve had pro 2s since January I think and aside from the case looking like I’ve had them since the prototype phase, yes they’ve held up very well. However, out of curiosity and not desperation, did I check out the pod 3s not long before discontinuation. With that particular model I felt like I was continually in transparency mode and not in a good way. I feel for those unable to withstand the presence of in ear headphones…

Pro series or bust ova heah baby!

Yeah, thumb on front of case and as you apply pressure with your pointer finger, you grab the front side of the airpod with your thumb.

Agree with your point, pointer finger on back side of airpod (nearest case hinge), apply forward pressure, as the airpod lifts, apply thumb and squeeze/pick up with pointer + thumb..

bottomline, with the initial airpods had to learn this, APP with the ear tips, don't sit as deeply. With the 3s and 4s, need to do this motion again to get out easily.

 

[aberrero]

With AirPods Pro 2 frequently discounted to under $200, why is this even a conversation? They are clearly superior to AP4.

 

[Isamilis]

My experience was both, first I thought that it got weakened a bit, then my next music session had a better noise cancellation than before. Now I'm happy with it.

I have similar experience. New firmware makes the ANC better. Especially for limiting people voice.

 

[Tagbert]

Yes but does it come with the annoying, ongoing hiss sound?

Not in the slightest

 

[Tagbert]

I just purchased AirPods Pro 2. Upgrading from AirPods 3. I paid $190.00 US. Delivered.
The only thing that bothers me so far is I have difficulty taking the AirPods out of the case. Nicely smooth and curvy... but no place to grip them... Any anyone else? Any fancy technique?

Put a finger behind a pod and push forward toward you. That should pop it up and forward so you can grab it.

 

[Majkelek96]

Love the AirPods 4 ANC but anytime ANC is on the device is hissing or has a static noise. It’s kinda worrisome and i don’t know if I want to replace them with Apple or just go with it ..? Other than that the sound quality is superb

 

[tomtad]

With AirPods Pro 2 frequently discounted to under $200, why is this even a conversation? They are clearly superior to AP4.

But they have suction cup seals which some people don't like. They're a different product.

 

[Tagbert]

Love the AirPods 4 ANC but anytime ANC is on the device is hissing or has a static noise. It’s kinda worrisome and i don’t know if I want to replace them with Apple or just go with it ..? Other than that the sound quality is superb

That sounds like something wrong. I have AirPods Pro 2, so not the same, but I never hear a hiss or other unexpected noise and I can’t imagine that Apple would expect that to be normal. I’d take them back for replacements.

 

[Majkelek96]

That sounds like something wrong. I have AirPods Pro 2, so not the same, but I never hear a hiss or other unexpected noise and I can’t imagine that Apple would expect that to be normal. I’d take them back for replacements.

Waiting for replacement. If they also hiss I’ll keep them and wait for software update

 

[un_homme]

So you’d rather Apple provide fewer options?

I really don’t get it. …

FWIW, I walk to work, and I only wear my AirPods when walking to work, or my dogs. I WANT to hear external noises, especially traffic noises, and so I’m planning to buy the cheaper AirPod 4. I don’t want to buy ANC AirPods and keep the ANC off, and also pay more money for the privilege.

The “Adaptive Audio” mode in AirPods 4 with ANC is ideal for dog-walking and city-walking. It takes the edge off outside noise so you can hear clearly your music or podcast at a lower volume. You still hear everything around you, from footfalls to approaching vehicles, even electric cars.

The “Adaptive Audio” mode works amazingly well. I’ve not seen any explanation, but I suspect Apple’s software is cancelling out the exact frequencies of noise that match the frequencies of your music/podcast. So your music/podcast is blended into the noise rather than layered on top. So you can listen clearly at lower volumes.

In iOS 18, “Adaptive Audio” is now adjustable, with a 3-way switch. You can switch from the default of medium noise to now passing in more noise or less noise. I find the medium default best for outdoor walking, as I share your concerns about awareness and safety.

Conveniently, you can tell Siri to switch between “Transparency” (having all noise piped through), “Adaptive Audio” (some degree of noise partially cancelled), and “Noise Cancellation” (maximum noise cancellation). And you can do so with a long-press squeeze of either AirPod stem.

The AirPods Pro 2 work in this very same way as the AirPods 4 with ANC. The AirPods Pro 2 fall out of my ears with any size of the silicone flanges, so I much prefer the AirPods 4 for my dog walks. 🐕 🚶‍♂️ 👂

 

[Abstract]

The “Adaptive Audio” mode in AirPods 4 with ANC is ideal for dog-walking and city-walking. It takes the edge off outside noise so you can hear clearly your music or podcast at a lower volume. You still hear everything around you, from footfalls to approaching vehicles, even electric cars.

The “Adaptive Audio” mode works amazingly well. I’ve not seen any explanation, but I suspect Apple’s software is cancelling out the exact frequencies of noise that match the frequencies of your music/podcast. So your music/podcast is blended into the noise rather than layered on top. So you can listen clearly at lower volumes.

In iOS 18, “Adaptive Audio” is now adjustable, with a 3-way switch. You can switch from the default of medium noise to now passing in more noise or less noise. I find the medium default best for outdoor walking, as I share your concerns about awareness and safety.

Conveniently, you can tell Siri to switch between “Transparency” (having all noise piped through), “Adaptive Audio” (some degree of noise partially cancelled), and “Noise Cancellation” (maximum noise cancellation). And you can do so with a long-press squeeze of either AirPod stem.

The AirPods Pro 2 work in this very same way as the AirPods 4 with ANC. The AirPods Pro 2 fall out of my ears with any size of the silicone flanges, so I much prefer the AirPods 4 for my dog walks. 🐕 🚶‍♂️ 👂

That’s cool. I just have a problem with the general narrative within fanboi websites like this one that choice = bad. People have different needs and budgets.

I hear what you’re saying, as I don’t expect open earphones to offer excellent ANC. I figured it would just take the edge off some of the environmental noises.

I just don’t care that there’s external noise, so I’d likely still buy the version with no ANC.

I have Sony WH-1000 XM4 if I want great noise-cancelling.