Apple has updated the AirPods, removing the 3rd and 2nd generation AirPods from the lineup and introducing the AirPods 4 in two form factors: with and without ANC (active noise cancellation).
The 2024 AirPods feature a new design meant to make them more comfortable to wear, a new acoustic architecture with a low-distortion driver and high-dynamic-range amplifier, custom Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, an H2 chip, and more. If you own AirPods or any generation, should you upgrade? And if you’ve never owned AirPods before, is it time to invest?
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: Specs
| AirPods 4 | AirPods 4 ANC | AirPods 3 | AirPods 2 | |
| Price | $129/£129 | $179/£179 | Were $179/£179 with Magsafe ($169/£169 with Lightning) | Were $129 / £129 |
| Weight (headphones) | 4.3 g / 0.15 oz | 4.3 g / 0.15 oz | 4.28 g / 0.15 oz | 4.0 g / 0.14 oz) |
| Weight (case) | 32.3 g / 1.14 oz | 34.7 g / 1.22 oz | 37.91 g / 1.34 oz | 38.2 g / 1.35 oz |
| Battery life | 5 hours + 25 hours from charging case | 5 hours (4 hours with ANC) + 25 hours from the charging case | 6 hours + 30 hours from charging case | 5 hours + 24 hours from charging case |
| Loading | USB-C | USB-C / Wireless | MagSafe or Lightning | Lightning |
| Processor | H2 | H2 | H1 | H1 |
| Noise Cancellation | No | Yes | No | No |
| Conversational awareness | No | Yes | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | Yes | No | No |
| Spatial audio | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Interactions with Siri | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Custom volume | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Controls | New force sensor on the rod | New force sensor on the rod | Force sensor on the rod | Double tap |
| Water/dust resistance | IP54 | IP54 | IPX4 | No |
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: Design and Build
Over time, the look of the AirPods has evolved, from the long stems of the original AirPods introduced in 2016 to the 3rd-generation AirPods in 2021, which had shorter stems and redesigned earcups. Over the years, the white colorway hasn’t changed, harking back to the golden age of the iPod and those classic silhouette ads.
The AirPods 4 haven’t changed much from the 3rd-gen models. But if you look closely, you’ll notice a few notable differences on the 4th-gen models. Apple tweaked the design to give the new models a slightly shorter stem and a thinner body, which it says will provide a secure fit for “more people than ever.” So if AirPods have fallen out of your ears in the past, maybe these will finally stay put.
The speaker grille on the side of the earbuds that faces your ears has also been changed. On the older variant, it’s a single, long horizontal opening, while the AirPods 4 have a smaller one that’s accompanied by a vertical grille on the top of the earbud. This presumably improves the sound, as the new earbuds have what Apple describes as a “pressure equalization vent system.”
This could also contribute to the addition of dust protection, which gives the new models an IP54 rating, where the older ones have an IPX4. Another reason could be to accommodate the new sensors, with the skin-detecting ones from the previous generation being replaced by optical in-ear sensors for the 4th Gen. Models
Here’s how the dimensions compare:
- AirPods 4 – 30.2 mm (1.19 in) x 18.3 mm (0.72 in) x 18.1 mm (0.71 in); 4.3 grams (0.15 ounces)
- AirPods (3rd generation) – 30.79 mm (1.21 in) x 18.26 mm (0.72 in) x 19.21 mm (0.76 in); 4.28 grams (0.15 ounces)
- AirPods (2nd generation) – 40.5 mm (1.59 in) x 16.5 mm (0.65 in) x 18.0 mm (0.71 in); 4.0 grams (0.14 ounces)
You still get the same controls on the stems that you can use to play, pause, skip tracks, answer or end calls, and ask for help from Siri. The latter also gets Siri interactions on the AirPods 2024, which lets you nod or shake your head in response to notifications, which can be really useful if you’re wearing them to class or a meeting and don’t want people to know.
The charging cases have also been changed somewhat, with the MagSafe version of the 3rd-gen AirPods being replaced by a USB-C charging case on the standard AirPods 4 earbuds and a USB-C/wireless version on the AirPods 4 with ANC, the latter of which can use your Apple Watch charger and Qi-certified chargers. The ANC model also gets the case now able to use the Find My service, allowing you to quickly locate it by looking at your iPhone and making the case make a loud noise. The size has also been reduced, as you can see from these dimensions:
- AirPods 4 Charging Case – 46.2 mm (1.82 in) x 50.1 mm (1.97 in) x 21.2 mm (0.83 in); USB-C – 32.3 grams (1.14 ounces), USB-C/Wireless 34.7 grams (1.22 ounces).
- AirPods (3rd Generation) Charging Case – 46.40 mm (1.83 in) x 54.40 mm (2.14 in) x 21.38 mm (0.84 in); 37.91 grams (1.34 ounces)
- AirPods (2nd Generation) Charging Case – 53.5 mm (2.11 in) x 44.3 mm (1.74 in) x 21.3 mm (0.84 in); 38.2 grams (1.35 ounces)
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: Sound and Audio
Apple has upgraded the processor in the new AirPods to the H2, replacing the older H1 found in the 3rd and 2nd generation offerings (the original AirPods feature a W1 chip). The acoustic architecture has also been redesigned, with new low-distortion drivers and high-dynamic-range amplifiers. You get head tracking on all models, as well as spatial audio for an immersive sound experience.
The AirPods 4 get a few extra features over the AirPods Pro, with the introduction of voice isolation to make it easier to listen to during FaceTime calls, as well as custom volume, with the earbuds (and your iPhone) monitoring the volumes at which you usually like to listen to content as well as where it’s located, and automatically adjusting it based on your perceived preferences.
The big difference, of course, is active noise cancellation. This is the first time Apple has offered this feature on its open-ear model, as the Pro models have in-ear earbuds that create a closed chamber in your ear canal. Apple refers to the noise cancellation in the 2nd-generation AirPods Pro as pro-level active noise cancellation, compared to the active noise cancellation in the AirPods 4 with ANC and the original AirPods Pro. Pro-level seems to indicate that it’s double the noise cancellation.
In addition to reducing the sounds of your immediate environment, so you don’t have to blast your music (and your eardrums) to be able to hear anything, the AirPods 4 with ANC also get Transparency mode (also on the AirPods Pro) which uses both microphones to mix in the sounds of your environment. Add to that the Conversation Awareness feature, which lowers the volume when you start talking to someone, and you’ve got a pretty decent range of advanced features for not much more than a price.
Apple is moving from Bluetooth 5.0 on the 3rd generation AirPods to 5.3 on the AirPods 4, which should provide a stronger connection to the devices.
The AirPods (3rd generation) have always sounded great, but (on paper at least) the updated models will bring superior quality, especially if you opt for the noise-canceling option.
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: Battery Life
In a strange precedent, battery life is actually worse on the newer models. This could be due to the H2 processor being a power-hungry beast, or it could be due to Spacial Audio, active noise cancellation, and other features.
The 3rd generation AirPods offer up to 6 hours of battery life, while if you choose the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation and do not turn off this feature, the battery life is only 4 hours.
It does seem like these extra features are having an impact on battery life: on the 3rd generation AirPods, with spatial audio enabled, battery life was reduced from 6 to 5 hours. Similarly, the AirPods Pro 2 see a half-hour loss, going from 6 hours to 5.5 hours with custom spatial audio and head tracking enabled. If you enable active noise cancellation with the AirPods 4, listening time is reduced from 5 hours to 4 hours. Even the version without ANC sees some impact compared to the previous generation: 5 hours of listening time versus 6 hours previously.
That doesn’t seem like enough battery life if you’re about to embark on a long trip, but thankfully the charging case adds 30 hours of listening time (and that figure also applies to the AirPods 3rd generation and AirPods Pro).
Apple
Apple
Apple
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: Price and Availability
You can order the AirPods 4 for $129/£129 from the Apple Store or other retailers. They replace the AirPods 2, which cost $129/£129 until they were discontinued.
$129
$129.99
The AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179/£179. They replace the 3rd-gen AirPods with Magsafe case.
$179
$179.99
With the introduction of the new AirPods, Apple has now retired the AirPods 3rd generation, though you should still be able to pick them up from third-party retailers. At the time of writing, they were still available on Amazon as well as several other vendors. Prices will obviously fluctuate based on supply and demand.
The 3rd-gen AirPods with Magsafe were $179/£179. For deals on all older AirPods, check out our roundup of the best AirPods deals.
$179.99
$199.99
Apple AirPods 3rd Generation (2021) – MagSafe Charging Case
$104
New AirPods 4 vs Old AirPods: How Much Better Are the New AirPods 4?
There’s no doubt that the real star of the show is the AirPods 4 with ANC. Not only do you get the oh-so-useful noise-canceling features, but you also get an improved audio design, a new fit, and wireless charging for the ANC case. That said, losing an hour of battery life (or two with ANC enabled) isn’t great, especially if you’re used to listening to content for long sessions. With that in mind, it’s worth considering what’s more important to you: how your music sounds or how long you can hear it.
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