Wireless Earbuds
Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4
8.5SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$179.95at Amazon
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1 / 12Apple
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Noise Isolation / ANC & sound
2.3/ 10
2.3
0.010.0
A 2.3 puts its noise isolation / ANC in the bottom quarter of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 133 of the 271 we've cataloged.
3.6/ 5
SoundMDAQS Overall3.6
1.05.0
A 3.6 puts its audio quality in the bottom quarter of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 64 of the 271 we've cataloged.
Key specs
Battery Life Earbuds
5 hBelow average5 h
3 h16 h
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 243 of 271 we've cataloged.
Battery Life With Case
30 hBelow average30 h
7 h60 h
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 245 of 271 we've cataloged.
IP Rating
IP54IPX433%IP5516%IP5415%IPX512%
IP54 appears on 15% of the 244 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 271).
Noise Cancellation Type
ActiveMost commonActive61%Passive14%None9%Adaptive8%
Active is the most common — on 61% of the 172 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 271).
Battery
- Battery Life Earbuds
- 5 h
- Battery Life With Case
- 30 h
- Charging Method
- USB-C, wireless
- Full Charge Minutes
- 5 min
- Battery Life Anc On
- 4 h
- Battery Life Wireless
- 5 h
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Build
- IP Rating
- IP54
- Sweat Resistance
- Yes
- Water Resistance
- Yes
Sound
- Noise Cancellation Type
- Active
- Ambient Mode
- Adaptive transparency
- Anc Modes
- Off,anc,transparency,adaptive
- Driver Count
- 1
- Driver Size
- 11 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic
- Frequency Response
- 20-20000 Hz
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 20000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 20 Hz
- Frequency Response Signature
- V-shaped
- Adaptive Anc
- Yes
Connectivity
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.3
- Bluetooth Codec
- AAC, SBC
- Bluetooth Range
- 10 m
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth
- Headphone Jack
- No
Design
- Earbud Form Factor
- Semi-in-ear
- Case Dimensions
- 50.1×46.2×21.2 mm
- Color Options
- White
- Wearing Style
- Shallow fit
- Wearing Time Max
- 3.5 h
- Weight Per Earbud
- 4.3 g
- Weight With Case
- 43.3 g
Features
- Certified For
- Made for iPhone
- Companion App
- IOS only
- Control Type
- Force sensor
- Find My Device
- Find My (Apple)
- Auto Connect
- Yes
- Auto Pause
- Yes
- Fitness Tracking
- No
- Mono Mode
- Yes
- Spatial Audio
- Head tracking
- Voice Assistant Support
- Siri
Microphone
- Count
- 3
- Noise Reduction Type
- Active
- Type
- Dual microphone
Release
- Date
- 2024
- Msrp Usd
- 179 USD
- Year
- 2024
SoundGuys review
Read the full review ›SOUNDGUYS rating
Reviewed byChristian Thomas & Chase BernathEditor-at-large · Brand & Partnerships ManagerReviewed September 2024
6.3/ 10
Worth a lookNoise cancelling5.3
Isolation2.3
Battery life6.4
Comfort & fit4.5
Connectivity5.0
Design5.0
The verdict
The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation is a great effort to bring ANC to unsealed AirPods — though it's still not everyone's cup of tea. AirPods fans will love the new earbuds, though newcomers might not understand the hype.
✓What we like
✓Improved fit
✓H2 chip
✓ANC
✓Price
✕What could be better
✕Unsealed design
✕No stabilizer fin
✕Features limited to iOS
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise CancellationSoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve
Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.
Frequency response — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -17.8 |
| 25 | -10.6 |
| 32 | -5.3 |
| 40 | -1.9 |
| 50 | -0.0 |
| 63 | 1.5 |
| 80 | 2.8 |
| 100 | 2.7 |
| 125 | 1.5 |
| 160 | -0.8 |
| 200 | -0.7 |
| 250 | -0.2 |
| 315 | -0.5 |
| 400 | -1.0 |
| 500 | -1.5 |
| 630 | -1.3 |
| 800 | -0.6 |
| 1000 | 0.1 |
| 1250 | 2.2 |
| 1600 | 6.2 |
| 2000 | 8.4 |
| 2500 | 7.5 |
| 3150 | 5.1 |
| 4000 | 3.2 |
| 5000 | 2.0 |
| 6300 | 3.0 |
| 8000 | 4.2 |
| 10000 | 4.1 |
| 12500 | 2.8 |
| 16000 | -1.5 |
| 20000 | -22.7 |
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
Passive isolation — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -3.0 |
| 26 | -7.3 |
| 33 | -0.1 |
| 41 | -0.1 |
| 52 | -0.1 |
| 65 | -0.1 |
| 82 | -0.1 |
| 103 | -0.1 |
| 130 | -0.1 |
| 163 | -0.2 |
| 205 | -0.3 |
| 259 | -0.4 |
| 325 | -0.5 |
| 410 | -0.9 |
| 516 | -0.8 |
| 613 | -1.3 |
| 772 | -1.7 |
| 972 | -1.9 |
| 1220 | -2.5 |
| 1540 | -2.3 |
| 1940 | 2.2 |
| 2440 | 9.7 |
| 3070 | 13.8 |
| 3870 | 10.9 |
| 4870 | 10.2 |
| 6130 | 11.8 |
| 7720 | 16.0 |
| 9720 | 14.7 |
| 12200 | -0.5 |
| 15400 | 12.1 |
| 19400 | 28.0 |
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
Noise cancelling — measurement data
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -1.2 |
| 26 | -7.5 |
| 33 | -2.1 |
| 41 | -2.9 |
| 52 | -2.4 |
| 65 | -0.6 |
| 82 | 1.6 |
| 103 | 3.7 |
| 130 | 6.4 |
| 163 | 11.0 |
| 205 | 16.1 |
| 259 | 13.9 |
| 325 | 16.7 |
| 410 | 16.0 |
| 516 | 16.1 |
| 613 | 17.1 |
| 772 | 16.6 |
| 972 | 17.8 |
| 1220 | 16.8 |
| 1540 | 16.4 |
| 1940 | 16.4 |
| 2440 | 24.4 |
| 3070 | 21.4 |
| 3870 | 16.7 |
| 4870 | 8.8 |
| 6130 | 7.3 |
| 7720 | 13.9 |
| 9720 | 17.7 |
| 12200 | 1.4 |
| 15400 | 12.1 |
| 19400 | 26.6 |
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
3.7
3.5
3.8
3.6
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
Related comparisons
Browse all versus ›See how the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation stacks up against the competition.
Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
How long should your earbuds last? Our battery tests have the answerEarbuds don't last long, but how much is enough?Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeI tested Apple’s AirPods equalizer: Here's what works (and what doesn't)An improvement — if only a small one.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeAirPods' three-band EQ may not be so badIt may be baby's first EQ, but it has potential.Christian ThomasEditor-at-large
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeI tested Apple’s AirPods equalizer: Here's what works (and what doesn't)An improvement — if only a small one.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeAirPods' three-band EQ may not be so badIt may be baby's first EQ, but it has potential.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeMore Wireless Earbuds
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