Not to add to your pre-holiday stress, but Christmas is coming, and it’s coming fast. Whether you’re looking for a solid universal gift or just want to upgrade your own headphone game while the holiday deals abound, Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are sitting at their Black Friday price of $99.99 at Amazon and Walmart.
This is a huge deal (pun intended) because, according to our price trackers, these highly rated earbuds are over 40% off. But you have to move fast, we don’t know how long the sale will last and Santa’s sleigh (or, er, the mail carrier truck?) is getting ready to take flight.
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 and have been redesigned to fit better in your ears, featuring a shorter stem and upgraded contour from past ’Pods. And, they give five hours of playtime on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case, giving you more time with your favorite music and podcasts. They can connect to more than once device at a time, letting you seamlessly choose where to listen from, from your phone.
The 4′s don’t have the AirPod Pros’ silicone tips, but they are slimmer and angled differently than the 3s. So if the 3s don’t fit or keep falling out, and you don’t like the “stuffed” feeling of wearing tips, you may want to try these. Like, many people who previously thought AirPods “weren’t for them,” because of the fit, say this model changed everything.
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.
The active noise cancellation is “shockingly good for earbuds.”
With transparency mode, adaptive audio and a conversation awareness feature, users agree the ANC on this model is a big upgrade from previous ones. Consumer Reports gave the ANC version a score of 69, for reference.
Reviewers celebrate the noise cancellation, saying it blocks out traffic, background chatter and other sound pollution, while still letting you hear alarms, microwave beeps or someone shouting for you.
They also enjoy the “audio passthrough” mode, naming it something you may think you’ll never use, but likely will start to rely on. One reviewer who gifted a pair to their wife said, “If someone starts talking to her, the earbuds automatically let outside sound through so she doesn’t have to keep taking them out.”
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.
Check out what Amazon reviewers have to say about Apple’s noise-canceling AirPods 4 earbuds below, and take advantage of this gift-worthy deal today before it ends.
“The Apple AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation are easily some of the best earbuds Apple has released. The sound quality is incredible. Everything is balanced, clean, and detailed, from the low-end to the highs. They feel like a major step forward, even for someone who has used every generation before this. The noise cancellation is outstanding. It blocks out background chatter, traffic, and general noise with a level of comfort that surprised me. These are perfect for people who want powerful noise reduction without the in-ear pressure or discomfort that some experience with the AirPods Pro (1–3). The open design solves that issue while still giving you premium audio and true isolation. The fit is secure, lightweight, and comfortable for long listening sessions. They stay in without forcing themselves into your ear canal, which makes them ideal for all-day wear. If you want top-tier sound, amazing noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit without the inner ear seal, the AirPods 4 are an easy recommendation. These feel like a refined version of everything people love about AirPods, taken to the next level” — Jonathan C
“These are THE best noise cancelling earbuds I have ever come across. I have been in the virtual field for the past five years now and have NEVER come across another set of headphones/ear buds like this. The noise cancelling feature even works when it’s not connected to the Bluetooth on the phone (which means you won’t be disturbed and your phone can still receive messages). THIS MEANS TRUE PEACE!!! I live on a main road and am incredibly sensitive to noise. I want to thank Apple but also thank God for this device. This is truly a peace saver. I AM PRAISING GOD OVER HERE ALL DAY!” — Nicole
“I love these AirPods so much. I had an earlier generation of the Pros for a long time and never really liked them — they never stayed in my ears, and I just wasn’t impressed. I honestly thought AirPods just weren’t for me. These completely changed the game. The noise canceling is incredible (I don’t even know how they do it), and they actually stay in my ears, even when I’m running or working out. That’s the biggest difference for me. Total upgrade and absolutely worth it.” — Amazon customer
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.)