Headphones
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds
$96.00
Price captured 2026-09-22 · check Amazon for the current price.
One of the best-reviewed products in this entire comparison, at a mid-range price with no ANC premium.
Price history
Editor scores (0–10) — not a manufacturer spec.
| Type | In-ear (open-ear, non-tip) |
|---|---|
| Noise cancellation | — |
| Battery life | 5 hr |
| Bluetooth | — |
| Weight | — |
| Water resistance | IP54 |
| Mic included | ✓ Yes |
| Foldable | — |
Editor's take
The standard, non-ANC AirPods 4 pair a redesigned comfort-focused shape with Voice Isolation for calls, Personalized Spatial Audio, and a smaller USB-C charging case, at $96 with 34,892 reviews at 4.5 stars — one of the most-reviewed and best-value products in this comparison.
This is the base AirPods 4 model without Active Noise Cancellation (that feature is reserved for the pricier AirPods 4 ANC / AirPods 5 variants) — Amazon's listing here makes no ANC claim, so we're not attributing one. What it does include: a redesigned shorter-stem shape for comfort and stability, the H2 chip powering Voice Isolation on calls, Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, and Siri Interactions that let you nod or shake your head to respond.
Battery life is rated at 5 hours per charge and up to 30 hours total using the case, which charges over USB-C and is over 10% smaller by volume than the previous generation's case. IP54 dust, sweat and water resistance covers both the earbuds and the case. An optical in-ear sensor automatically pauses playback when you remove an earbud.
With 34,892 reviews at 4.5 stars, this is the second-most-reviewed product in the entire headphones batch (behind only the wired EarPods), giving genuine confidence in its real-world reliability. At $96, it undercuts the ANC-equipped AirPods 5 scraped earlier by $53.
Pros
- 34,892 reviews at 4.5 stars — one of the largest, most credible review bases in this comparison
- Redesigned shorter-stem shape for improved comfort and stability over previous AirPods
- IP54 dust, sweat and water resistant, covering both earbuds and case
- $53 cheaper than the ANC-equipped AirPods 5 in this comparison
Cons
- No Active Noise Cancellation — this model omits the feature entirely
- 5 hours of listening per charge is on the shorter side for wireless earbuds
- Open-ear (non-tip) design offers less passive noise isolation than sealed earbuds
- No published driver size, Bluetooth version, or device weight in this listing
Ideal for: iPhone users who want Apple's comfort-focused open-ear design and ecosystem features without paying for noise cancellation.
Reviews
34,892 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5 — one of the largest, most credible ratings in this comparison.
