Apple AirPods 4 Review: The Earbuds That Made Me Forget I Was Wearing Them

Let’s be real—Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) earbuds have always been a trade-off. Sure, they’ll drown out jet engines or your coworker’s endless Zoom rants, but after an hour, your ears feel like they’ve been stuffed with silicone marshmallows. Enter the Apple AirPods 4. These little white magic beans deliver solid ANC without making your ears stage a mutiny. I’ve worn them everywhere: crammed in the backseat of a highway-bound SUV, mid-FaceTime with my mom (who still thinks “Wi-Fi” is a weather term), at a deafening ‘80s cover band concert, and even while writing this review to a playlist titled “Dance Like Your WiFi’s Watching.”

Here’s the deal: Do they block all noise? Nah. But are they the most versatile, “I’ll-just-leave-them-in-forever” earbuds I’ve tested? Absolutely.

4Perfect for normies

Apple Airpods 4

$95.99

4 out of 5

The Apple AirPods 4 strike the perfect balance between comfort, performance, and everyday usability. With solid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), impressive battery life (up to 5 hours per charge, 30 hours with the case), and a lightweight, silicone-tip-free design, these earbuds are built for all-day wear. The sound quality shines across music genres and podcasts, delivering crisp highs, balanced mids, and satisfying bass. While the ANC struggles with extreme noise (like live concerts), it handles daily distractions like traffic and chatter with ease. Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, intuitive controls, and wireless charging make these a no-brainer for Apple fans. If you want earbuds that disappear in your ears but deliver big on performance, the AirPods 4 are your go-to.

The Good Stuff Comfort Level: 10/10 I’ve worn these for 8-hour stretches, and my ears didn’t revolt. Unlike their Pro siblings with silicone tips, the AirPods 4 slide in like they were molded for your ears. It’s like Apple finally cracked the code for “second-skin” tech. Battery Life That Outlasts My Attention Span With ANC on: 4 hours. ANC off: 5 hours. Toss them in the case for a quick 5-minute charge, and boom—you get an extra hour of jams. The case itself packs 20-30 hours total, which means I forgot what “low battery anxiety” feels like. Sound Quality: Bass Drops & Podcast Clarity Whether I’m vibing to Dua Lipa’s basslines or dissecting true crime podcasts, the audio is crisp. Highs don’t shriek, mids don’t muddle, and the bass? Let’s just say my inner basshead nodded approvingly. ANC: Good Enough for Real Life Unless you’re front-row at a Metallica concert (more on that later), the ANC handles daily chaos—traffic, chatty cafes, my neighbor’s obsession with leaf blowers—like a pro.

The “Meh” Moments ANC vs. Extreme Noise At that ‘80s cover band gig, the drummer’s solo overwhelmed the ANC, creating weird audio pops. For heavy noise environments, stick with AirPods Pro. Transparency Mode? MIA. Unlike the Pros, there’s no official Transparency Mode here. But honestly? The lack of silicone tips means I still hear my surroundings naturally—no tech required.

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Geeky Details You’ll Love

• Controls: So Simple, Even Your Grandma Could Use Them
  Tap once to play/pause, twice to skip, thrice to backtrack. Hold for Siri (who, let’s be honest, you’ll only use to set timers). Bonus: Nod “yes” to answer calls hands-free. Futuristic.
• Find My AirPods: No More Couch Cushion Digging
  The case pings with a sound louder than my regret after buying NFTs. Lifesaver.
• Seamless Apple Ecosystem Voodoo
  Open the case near your iPhone/iPad/Mac, and they pair faster than you can say, “Wait, did I pay for AppleCare?”
• Wireless Charging + USB-C = No Cord Drama
  I charged these on my Apple Watch puck, a random Qi pad, and even my Steam Deck dock. They’re not picky.

Call Quality: “Mom, Can You Hear Me Now?”

During a FaceTime call with my mom (who still shouts into her iPad), she asked if I’d “moved closer.” Spatial audio made her voice feel like she was sitting beside me, and ANC muted the city chaos around me. Regular calls? Crystal clear. Even my “I’m-running-late” lies sounded believable.

Who Should Buy These?

• Apple Fanatics who want earbuds that feel like an extension of their iPhone.
• Comfort Snobs tired of silicone-tip tyranny.
• Everyday Users who need “good enough” ANC without Pro prices.

Skip the $30 savings and spring for the ANC version. Trust me, the tech FOMO is real.

Final Verdict

The AirPods 4 aren’t the best at anything—except being the earbuds you’ll actually want to wear all day. They’re the Goldilocks of Apple’s lineup: just the right mix of comfort, sound, and ANC for 90% of life’s chaos. And hey, if they survive my mom’s FaceTime serenades, they’ll survive yours too.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a dance playlist to finish. 🎧

GeekInter.com Rating: 9/10
Perfect for normies, geeks, and everyone who’s ever lost an earbud in a couch.