Apple has refreshed every model in its AirPods lineup, dropping the iconic design that launched these Bluetooth 'buds back in 2016.
First up, AirPods 2nd Generation and AirPods 3rd Generation have been ditched in favour of two variations of the all-new AirPods 4. These wireless earbuds have been redesigned from the ground-up that looks like a blend between the AirPods Pro and AirPods 3rd Generation.
You'll find the same shorter stem, which can be squeezed to pause your music or podcast, skip forward, or answer an incoming call.
There are two variants of these all-new AirPods: AirPods 4 for £129 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for £179.
The all-new design of the fourth-generation AirPods is somewhere between the AirPods Pro and AirPods 3rd Generation
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For the first time, AirPods 4 will be able to quash distracting background noise without the need for silicon tips that sit deeper inside your ear. For those who don't like the isolating feeling of these interchangeable tips, or could never find a size that suited their ears, AirPods 4 could be the solution. The Californian company says it scanned thousands of ears to create the ideal shape to sit comfortably in your ear for hours on end.
Not only that, but Apple says the new design enabled it to design an entirely new acoustic architecture — delivering a big boost to sound quality.
AirPods 4 support Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, so that sounds remain mapped-out in three-dimensional space even as you're moving your head. This clever feature is supported in a wide range of apps and streaming services, including Netflix. With the H2 chip, AirPods 4 unlock Voice Isolation, which uses AI to guarantee clear call quality even when there's a brrage of distracting background noise.
You can also nod your head to accept incoming calls, or gently shake your head to dismiss a call. Siri will announce incoming text messages, emails, and other important notifications — allowing you to dictate replies with a simple voice command, without ever needing to take your iPhone out from your pokcet.
Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers active noise-cancellation when the onboard H2 chipset detects that you're speaking to someone, was introduced with the pricier AirPods Pro, but will be coming to AirPods 4. When you've finished speaking, the noise-cancellation will return to the previous levels — cutting out distracting noise, like the rumble of train tracks or plane engines.
AirPods 4 can charge using an Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger, and at just 50mm wide, the charging case is the smallest in the industry with wireless charging capabilities.
Discussing the all-new design, Apple Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus said: "With AirPods 4, customers can enjoy Active Noise Cancellation and the most advanced audio experience ever in an open-ear design. And with a revolutionary update to the world’s best-selling headphones, AirPods Pro will deliver groundbreaking new capabilities — including Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features — to help more than a billion people affected by hearing loss."
Using the existing AirPods Pro hardware, Apple will enable wearers to use these wireless 'buds as a clinical-grade hearing aid
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AirPods Pro continue to be the best-selling earbuds on the planet, Apple revealed during the event. These current earbuds, the second-generation of AirPods Pro introduced back in September 2022, remain in the lineup. However, Apple did announce an upcoming software update that'll transform your existing AirPods into a clinical-grade hearing aid.
Apple says it will be suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. Using a personalised hearing profile built-up from a new Hearing Test functionality, this new capbility transforms AirPods Pro into a hearing aid. After a brief setup, the feature will automatically boost the sounds around them in real-time, helping people engage in conversation and keeps them connected.
The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to receive marketing authorisation from global health authorities soon, and will be available in the coming weeks across more than 100 countries and regions, including the United States, UK, Germany, and Japan.
