The Apple AirPods 4 are the fourth-generation open-ear wireless earbuds from Apple, released in September 2024 as the direct replacement for the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3. The H2 chip inside the earbuds is the same processor used in the AirPods Pro 2, bringing improved audio quality, Personalized Spatial Audio, and Adaptive EQ to the base AirPods line. The USB-C charging case is over 10 percent smaller than the previous generation, and battery life runs up to 5 hours per charge on the earbuds plus another 25 hours in the case.
The Apple AirPods 4 are currently $99 on Amazon, down from their $129 list price for a 23% discount.
High-quality audio in an affordable package you’ll love to listen to
The stem is shorter than on the AirPods 3, and the earbud itself has a slightly different shape that Apple redesigned around the average ear canal. The result is a more secure fit for more people, especially during runs, workouts, and commutes. Force sensors on the stems handle playback, calls, and Siri with a squeeze rather than a tap, which cuts down on false triggers from adjusting the buds in your ears.
Apple moved the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2 into the AirPods 4, bringing the same processing power that runs Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, and Voice Isolation for phone calls. Personalized Spatial Audio uses the camera on your iPhone to scan your ear shape and adjust the audio positioning for immersive 3D sound in music, movies, and games. Adaptive EQ also tunes the frequency response in real time based on fit.
Battery life on the AirPods 4 comes in at 5 hours per charge on the earbuds themselves, with the charging case adding up to 25 hours of additional standby. A 5-minute charge in the case also delivers about 1 hour of listening time if you’re low on battery. USB-C on the case replaces the Lightning port used on the AirPods 3 case, matching the port on current iPhones, iPads, and Mac laptops.
Every device signed into the same Apple ID gets access to the AirPods 4 automatically. Answering a call on your iPhone routes the audio to the buds. Starting a movie on your iPad picks up where the phone left off. Tapping play on your Mac pauses the iPhone. Siri also runs through the earbuds for voice commands, message dictation, and calendar checks. Live Translation on iOS 18 or later turns the buds into a real-time translator during in-person conversations across several supported languages.
AirPods have been Apple’s default listening accessory since 2016, and the AirPods 4 slot in as the entry point in the current generation. At $99, down from $129, the price drops into gift-purchase range for a first pair of AirPods, an upgrade from wired iPhone earbuds, or a replacement for an aging 2nd or 3rd generation set that has lost battery life over the years.
