Here’s the ultimate sign that it’s time to step up your audio game: The latest Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Amazon and Walmart, if you’re quick enough to grab them. Treat yourself to the Pods for a drool-worthy $99.99 without noise-canceling, down from $129, or spring for the ANC option at $119.99, down from $179. That’s 23% off and 33% off, respectively. Take your favorite playlists and podcasts with you on the go and enjoy up to five hours of playtime on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case.
Given the looming threat of tariffs (and the fact that Apple’s been the hardest pummeled by them, most certainly, passing that blow to consumers), we can’t say if this sale price will last much longer or if it will return!
You might assume this set is the same as previous models — but respectfully, you’d be wrong. The AirPods 4 feature the most up-to-date H2 processing chip (of Apple’s non-Pro buds) and have been redesigned to fit better in your ears.
The new buds have a shorter stem and upgraded contour from past ‘Pods. They don’t have the Pros’ silicone tips, but they are slimmer and angled differently than the 3s. So if the 3s don’t fit you or keep falling out, but you also don’t like the “stuffed” feeling of wearing tips, you may want to try these.
With the 4s, you can use voice control to change the song or make a call or can nod your head “Yes” or shake it “No” when replying to Siri. This model has head tracking to personalize spatial audio as you move and voice isolation technology to boost the sound quality on phone calls. Further, the set is dust-, sweat- and water-resistant, making it great for workouts or commuting in inclement weather. And as always, these AirPods seamlessly link to all your Apple products and can swap between your phone, laptop or iPad with ease.
The active noise cancellation option includes a transparency mode, adaptive audio, and a conversation awareness feature. Consumer Reports gave the ANC version a score of 69, for reference.
That said, we’d be remiss not to mention the 4s’ slightly shorter battery life than older AirPods — five hours on a single charge (rather than six) with the same 30-hour life for the USB-C MagSafe charging case. But considering how the 4s’ features are like a mix between the 3s and the Pros, and the relative affordability, we think that lost hour is worth it.
Check out what Amazon reviewers have to say about Apple’s latest earbuds below, and take advantage of this deal today before it’s over.
“These are honestly some of the best headphones I’ve ever owned. The sound quality is incredible—clear, balanced, and powerful without being overwhelming. Whether I’m listening to music, watching movies, or taking calls, everything sounds crisp and immersive.
I was so impressed that I ended up buying three pairs just so my family could experience how good they really are. That’s how confident I am in them. If you’re looking for headphones that truly deliver in both performance and quality, these are absolutely worth it.” — Dalton B.
“I never take the time to write reviews because why spend so much time on something that will ultimately have no effect on my life? Well in this case, these Airpods have met and exceeded every single one of my expectations and I figured that was worth writing about.
Important disclaimers:
- OF COURSE this is a subjective opinion, because that is all a review is. Take it with a grain of salt.
- Different products work better or worse for different people, it’s just that simple.
- When talking about noise cancelling headphones, it’s important to consider them for what they are, not what we think they SHOULD be.
THE FIT:
OKAY. I am someone who has very small ear cannals. I have spent years trying to find earbuds that fit my ears comfortably. Silicone in-ear tips have always been extremely uncomfortable for me. That being said, I did own the first gen Airpods Pro for a couple of years before buying these Airpods 4. I wanted earbuds that I could exercise with, use for commuting, and use for blocking out sound when I’m at school or on an airplane. The airpods pro fit the bill, but I could only wear them for short periods of time before they would start to seriously hurt. On top of that, they would always slowly come out of my ears. It didn’t matter what size of eartips I used. My ears are just NOT made for in-ear silicone tips. BUT THESE AIRPODS 4!!! Holy smokes they are so comfortable. They never fall out. I can wear them for hours at a time and not even notice them. I haven’t worn a pair of Airpods this comfortable since the gen 2 Airpods. The 3′s didn’t work for me either, but somehow apple really cooked up the ideal fit for these Airpods 4.
THE NOISE CANCELLATION:
Okay. Obviously, these are NOT going to have the same level of noise reduction as in-ear earbuds because there is no seal created by any silicone tips. If Airpods Pros and silicone tips have always worked for you, just buy those. However, considering that the noise cancellation in these Airpods is ALL driven by software, I have been extremely impressed with the results. It reduces the white noise of annoying sounds like public trains, airplanes, etc. very effectively. While voices and other louder sounds aren’t cancelled completely, when music is playing through the earbuds these noises are quite enough to hardly notice. For me, that’s enough. I don’t need complete silence, I have my over-ear noise cancelling headphones for that.
THE SOUND QUALITY:
When I say that I was blown away the first time I listened to music on these Airpods, I was NOT kidding. The amount of bass that they managed to pack in to such small, open-eared earbuds is frankly impressive. The sound profile allows for an incredible listening experience no matter what genre of music you listen to (I listen to a wide range of pop, folk, indie, and rap primarily).
THE OVERALL VERDICT:
These Airpods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are exactly as I expected them to be. They fit extremely well, the ANC is very acceptable for what they are, and they sound amazing. That’s not to mention the TINY case that they come in, making them so easy to slip anywhere. I have been looking for a solid pair of earbuds with ANC that work with my ears for the longest time now. I’m happy to say that these are everything I’ve ever wanted. If you have had issues with silicone ear-tip earbuds fitting you properly, then these are definitely worth a shot!” — Dylan Manzanares
“Amazing sound. I do not have to worry about turning down the volume. The sound is clear enough to recognize if someone is talking directly to you or just to others around you. Has multiple choices for how you want to hear your surroundings. Lightweight. It doesn’t fall out of my ear when I am talking or eating. Have not dropped them dont plan on it. It connects so well to all my Apple devices. Biggest bang for your buck. So far sturdy and durable for a mom of 3.” — Renesha
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)