Apple launched the fourth generation AirPods (hereafter AirPods 4) in the domestic market last October. The AirPods 4, equipped with Apple's latest chip, delivers rich sound, allowing users to enjoy music and video content vibrantly. Even though they are open-ear headphones that do not completely block the ears, the noise-canceling feature was satisfying enough to block airplane noise.
Various convenient features are practical as well. The AirPods 4 have a "conversation detection feature" that automatically reduces the music volume when the user begins a conversation and an "active noise canceling" feature that combines ambient sound and noise canceling in real-time. However, despite the improved performance, it is disappointing that the battery life has decreased compared to its predecessor.
◇ Light and rich sound is satisfying
The AirPods 4 do not look significantly different from their predecessor, the third generation AirPods, but the size of the charging case has slightly decreased, improving portability. The dimensions of the AirPods 4 are 30.2mm in height, 18.3mm in width, and 18.1mm in thickness, with a weight of 4.3g. The height of the AirPods 4 charging case is 46.2mm, similar to the previous model (46.4mm), but the width has been reduced by more than 3mm to 50.1mm, and the weight has decreased by 3.2g to 34.7g.
The charging case is equipped with a speaker that emits sound to notify when charging starts or when the battery is low. This feature, previously available only in the AirPods Pro model, is now applied for the first time in the regular AirPods 4 model. The lamp on the front of the product glows green and red to indicate charging status and acts as a physical button during pairing with a smartphone. The previous AirPods 3 required pressing a physical button to pair. Once inserted into the ear, the pairing speed was nearly instantaneous at about 2 seconds.
The AirPods 4, despite being open-ear, are characterized by a high sense of stability when worn. Apple stated that it analyzed thousands of ear shapes to improve the fit of the AirPods 4. The AirPods 4 fit perfectly in the ear and did not fall out even when shaking the head vigorously. For users who prefer open-ear headphones but worried about them falling out, they could be a good choice.
One of the advantages of the AirPods 4 is the rich sound quality. The AirPods 4 feature the latest H2 chip, which produces vivid sound. They provide a comfortable listening experience with an emphasis on mid-range and bass frequencies. It is especially immersive when listening to band music, where the bass guitar is highlighted. By using the personalized spatial audio feature, users can experience a surround sound as if they are in the middle of a concert.
The microphone performance has also improved, allowing for smooth currency during calls. There were no issues with calls in noisy environments such as on the street.
◇ Automatically reduces volume during conversations for convenience
The noise-canceling function also helped enhance the music listening experience. This is the first time Apple has applied a noise-canceling feature to open-ear AirPods. When users press the stem of the AirPods 4 with their index and thumb for about one second, it immediately switches to noise-canceling mode. The noise blocking was so effective that the sound of a running airplane was not audible. While standing by the road, the sound of passing motorcycles was also blocked, allowing for undistracted enjoyment of music.
Switching to the ambient sound mode allows the surrounding sounds to mix appropriately with the music. Users can safely navigate while walking on the street by hearing the sound of approaching cars behind them without being disturbed. When using the adaptive audio feature, the AirPods appropriately mix the ambient sound allowance and noise-canceling features. In a noisy subway station, it increases the noise-canceling level, while it decreases it during quiet nighttime streets.
With the conversation detection feature, there is no need to take the earbuds out when talking to someone. When asking an employee about the price of products at the supermarket checkout, the AirPods lowered the volume of the music they were playing. Once the conversation stopped, the volume gradually increased again. Since AirPods are often at risk of being lost during the frequent process of putting them in and taking them out, utilizing the conversation detection feature can help minimize that risk.
◇ Battery life has decreased compared to its predecessor
The price range has expanded. The AirPods 4 are available in two models: a standard model and a noise-canceling model. The price of the standard model is 199,000 won, while the price of the noise-canceling model is 269,000 won. Users who found the price of the previous model, the AirPods 3 (210,000 won), burdensome can opt for the standard model, while those who want to utilize noise-canceling functionality can purchase the noise-canceling model.
Battery life has shortened. The previous model offered a continuous listening time of 6 hours, but the AirPods 4 has reduced that to 5 hours. The maximum duration when utilizing the charging case remains the same at 30 hours, but it is shorter when using the noise-canceling feature. For users who often travel long distances, the frequent need to charge may feel inconvenient.