Sound is good – but one detail is disappointing

review

Californians’ new Bluetooth earbuds impress with their precise-fitting shape, high-quality design and effective noise cancellation. But something caused dissatisfaction.

Laura Helbig/t-online

Anyone who's ever owned noise-cancelling headphones probably won't believe this. You don't have to – because many new headphones now feature this clever invention.

This is the case with the recently launched new AirPods 4 . T-Online tested new earbuds with active noise cancellation (this model is also available without active noise cancellation for 129 francs instead of 179 francs).

Charging cable not included

When you first open the package, you will be disappointed. There is nothing in the minimalist packaging except AirPods and a small manual.

The new AirPods 4 in the Apple Store. Is it worth buying?Image: imago-images.de

Apple has stopped shipping new devices with adapters for a long time. So far, there's at least one charging cable. AirPods 4 lack this. You can charge it wirelessly, but you'll need the equipment to do so.

“Look and Feel”

At least the AirPods make a good impression. Although the headphone case is lightweight, it still feels high-quality. It's smaller and more compact than its predecessor, and has USB-C instead of the old Lightning port.

Built-in speakers in models with noise cancellation are also new. If your AirPods are misplaced or lost, you can use the Find My app to play a sound to help you find them again.

The design of the headphones themselves is similar to previous models, but the feel should be different. Apple said during the launch of the new devices that it used data from millions of ears to develop the perfect headphones for each ear. Wear tests show: effective. The headphones fit your ears so you barely notice them. Despite this, they hold on surprisingly well and don't fall off.

sound

Effective noise cancellation and dialogue detection

Even though they don't sit directly in the ear canal like the AirPods Pro, they work just fine Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Very good, even in busy areas such as busy streets.

The conversation recognition feature already available on AirPods Pro 2 is also particularly useful. When you talk, the headphones automatically switch to transparency mode, making your music or podcasts quieter.

When making a call or recording a voice message, AI can even be used to isolate the sound so that the other party can only hear the voice and not the street noise. This worked very well in testing, even though louder noises were still heard at muffled levels.

The sound from the AirPods 4 is also impressive, with rich bass. Thanks to spatial 3D audio, anyone who likes to watch series and movies on headphones will feel like they're part of it.

How long do they last?

According to Apple, the AirPods and charging case can last up to 30 hours with noise cancellation disabled. Active noise cancellation affects the battery, so runtime is reduced to around 20 hours when enabled.

Actual testing shows that if you use the earbuds for about 3 hours a day, you actually only need to charge them once every few days.

in conclusion

The new AirPods 4 impressed in testing with their good fit, high-quality design, effective noise cancellation, and good sound quality. Features such as the “Where” feature and automatic switching to transparency mode during calls are particularly useful.

But there are also areas that may object to a purchasing decision. For one thing, the charging cable is missing. Not everyone has a USB-C cable, Apple Watch charger, or Qi charging pad at home, which may mean the cost of the charger is added to the actual purchase price.

In addition, the price difference with AirPods Pro 2 is also relatively small. These products are priced at only 229 francs, which is 50 francs more expensive than the noise-canceling AirPods 4. For a small additional cost, the Pro model offers superior noise cancellation, better sound quality, and additional features such as use as a certified hearing aid.

This makes the small additional cost a worthwhile investment for many customers, making the AirPods Pro 2 a better choice – especially for those who value the best audio and technology experience.

source

(t-online/dsc)

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