AirPods 4 Review: $129 Earbuds That Punch Above Their Price

Apple finally made cheap AirPods that don’t feel cheap. The AirPods 4 at $129 deliver audio quality that would have been flagship-level three years ago, and they do it without the silicone ear tips that half the population hates. If you’ve been waiting for “good enough” AirPods at a reasonable price, your wait is over.

We’ve worn these for five weeks straight — gym sessions, commutes, work calls, late-night podcast binges. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Sound Quality: Shockingly Competent

The H2 chip inside the AirPods 4 drives a redesigned acoustic architecture that Apple claims produces richer bass and clearer highs. For once, the marketing matches reality. These earbuds produce a warm, balanced sound signature that handles everything from hip-hop to classical without embarrassing itself.

Bass is present and punchy without being muddy — a significant improvement over the AirPods 3. Mid-range vocals sound natural, and the high end has sparkle without sibilance. We threw our usual test playlist at them (everything from Kendrick Lamar to Yo-Yo Ma), and at no point did we think “these sound like $129 earbuds.”

They’re not beating the AirPods Pro 3 in raw audio quality. The Pro model’s adaptive EQ with sealed ear tips creates a more immersive soundstage. But for open-ear earbuds, the AirPods 4 are remarkably impressive. Check our AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 3 comparison if you’re debating the Pro route instead.

Fit and Comfort: The Open-Ear Advantage

Here’s the thing about silicone ear tips: some people genuinely cannot tolerate them. Whether it’s the pressure, the occlusion effect (hearing your own breathing and footsteps amplified), or simply the sensation of having something stuffed in your ear canal — it’s a dealbreaker for millions of people.

The AirPods 4 rest gently in your ear without sealing the canal. The redesigned shape is more contoured than previous generations, with a slightly angled stem that reduces the “sticking out” look. They stayed put during walks, light jogs, and even moderately intense gym sessions.

We did lose seal during aggressive head movements — headbanging is not advisable. And they won’t survive a sprint in the rain like sealed earbuds would. But for everyday movement, the fit is secure and comfortable for hours at a time.

The ANC Question

The standard AirPods 4 at $129 do not have Active Noise Cancellation. Apple sells an ANC version for $179. If you want noise cancellation without ear tips, that middle-tier model exists. But we’re reviewing the base model here, and we think the $129 version makes more sense for most buyers.

Why? Because open-ear ANC is inherently limited. Without a physical seal, the noise cancellation can only reduce — not eliminate — ambient sound. The $179 ANC model is better than nothing in noisy environments, but it’s nowhere close to what the AirPods Pro 3 achieve with their sealed design. If you truly need noise cancellation, buy the Pros. If you’re buying open-ear AirPods, lean into the open-ear experience and save $50.

Call Quality and Microphone

Voice isolation during calls is genuinely good. Apple’s beam-forming microphones combined with H2 processing filter out background noise effectively. We took calls from a busy coffee shop, a windy sidewalk, and next to a running dishwasher — callers reported clear audio in all three situations.

Not perfect. The AirPods Pro 3 still handle extreme noise better, and any sealed earbud has an inherent advantage in isolating your voice. But for the vast majority of call environments, the AirPods 4 are perfectly professional.

Battery Life and Case

Five hours of listening per charge with the case extending total battery to 30 hours. In practice, that five-hour earbuds limit meant we needed to pop them back in the case during longer workdays, but 15 minutes of case charging gives roughly an hour of playback. The workflow becomes natural quickly.

The case charges via USB-C and supports wireless charging (including MagSafe). It’s small enough to disappear in a pocket. The speaker on the case for Find My is a welcome addition — we used it twice in the first week alone.

Integration and Features

Personalized Spatial Audio works and creates a noticeably wider soundstage with supported content on Apple Music and Apple TV+. Automatic device switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac works seamlessly, which is genuinely one of AirPods’ most underrated features.

“Hey Siri” responsiveness is quick and accurate. Audio sharing (connecting two pairs to one device) works as advertised.

The Verdict

The AirPods 4 are the first “standard” AirPods we’d recommend without caveats. The sound quality is genuinely good, the fit is comfortable for all-day wear, and the Apple ecosystem integration is best-in-class for the price. At $129, they undercut most comparable true wireless earbuds while offering features that competitors charge premium prices for.

If you need noise cancellation and the best possible audio, the AirPods Pro line is still the move. But if you want comfortable earbuds that sound great and “just work” with your Apple devices, the AirPods 4 are an easy recommendation.

Rating: 8.5/10 — The sweet spot of the AirPods lineup.

AirPods 4 on Amazon (paid link) (paid link)