AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 4 With ANC Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?

For the first time in the standard AirPods range, the AirPods 4 offer optional active noise cancellation (ANC) for an additional $50, providing a quieter and more immersive listening experience, especially in noisy environments.

airpods 4 in ear
Key upgrades of the ‌AirPods 4‌ include a more comfortable fit, improved sound quality with a new low-distortion driver, and enhanced features like Personalized Spatial Audio. Beyond active noise cancellation, there are a handful of additional features that differentiate the two ‌AirPods 4‌ models. This buyer's guide breaks down all of the differences between the two variants and helps you to decide which best fits your needs.

AirPods
(Fourth-Generation, 2024)
AirPods With ANC
(Fourth-Generation, 2024)
Active Noise Cancellation
Transparency mode
Adaptive Audio
Conversation Awareness
USB-C Char­ging Case USB‑C Wireless Char­ging Case with support for Apple Watch charger and Qi‑certified wireless chargers
Support for Find My Support for ‌Find My‌ with speaker in charging case
Charging case weighs 1.14 ounces (32.3 grams) Charging case weighs 1.22 ounces (34.7 grams)
$129 $179

Choosing between the ‌AirPods 4‌ and the ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC ultimately depends on whether active noise cancellation is a priority for you. If you frequently find yourself in noisy environments—such as commuting on public transport, traveling by plane, or working in cafes—the ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC should dramatically improve your experience for just $50 more. Although the noise cancellation is not as effective as that of the AirPods Pro because they do not have an in-ear design with silicone tips, they perform surprisingly well for open-ear earbuds and offer enough isolation to make a difference in lower-frequency environments like engine hums and busy streets.

The ability to charge with an Apple Watch or Qi wireless charger is also notable, making the ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC considerably more versatile to charge, especially if you have an Apple Watch. The $129 AirPods can only charge via a wired USB-C connection, which is less convenient than wireless charging. However, USB-C has become such a ubiquitous cable that it is unlikely to bother users who are used to wired charging.

Likewise, the speaker in the charging case for ‌Find My‌ is a useful additional feature for those prone to misplacing their AirPods around the house. These added capabilities generally make the ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC worth the extra $50 over the non-ANC model for most enthusiastic tech users.

On the other hand, if you haven't owned any AirPods before or simply don't feel the need for noise cancellation, the standard ‌AirPods 4‌ will be a more economical choice. They retain the sound quality improvements, spatial audio, and comfort enhancements of the ‌AirPods 4‌, but at a lower price point. For users upgrading from AirPods 2 or 3 and who rarely find themselves in noisy places, the ‌AirPods 4‌ are a good choice that will give you most of the key updates without the extra cost or additional features you may not use.

AirPods can frequently be found for lower prices at third-party retailers, so be sure to check out MacRumors' deals roundup for the best possible price – which could reduce the price difference between the two variants and make the ANC model more accessible.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

yanki01 Avatar
7 months ago

Why not spend $20 more and get the AirPod Pro 2? I dont understand why this subpar product exists for nearly the same price as the premium version
why is no one understanding that not everyone likes the silicone tips and can become uncomfortable to many. this is the main reason and perfect alternative. it's not a price issue.

I posted this elsewhere, I enjoy my AirPods 4 with ANC. I was cutting my yard last week, so the noise of the weed eater, blower and mower was reduced significantly. Of course a lot better than my AirPods 2. Some noise was still present but I was able to listen to my music with noise cancelling without an issue. The weed eater was the loudest and did hear it at times but still, not an issue and really enjoy them.

I've had my AirPods 2 for a few years and enjoyed them. The new AP4 with ANC are great.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nickawhite Avatar
7 months ago
Just got a pair with ANC - honestly more than a little bit of the reason I got this version instead of non-ANC was for the charging case and Find My. Must say I'm incredibly impressed with the ANC and the "lower volume when speaking" feature. They both work far better than I expected for an open-ear design. And while the AirPods 3 fell out of my ears almost immediately, the redesign for the 4 seems to be closer to the 2 - no issues staying in place so far. Very pleased!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scott6666 Avatar
7 months ago
So the analysis is maybe buy one. Or possibly the other.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Godspeed8230 Avatar
7 months ago

Why not spend $20 more and get the AirPod Pro 2? I dont understand why this subpar product exists for nearly the same price as the premium version
In-ear is not comfortable for everyone
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
7 months ago

Why not spend $20 more and get the AirPod Pro 2? I dont understand why this subpar product exists for nearly the same price as the premium version
Silicone tips aren't comfortable for many people. I'm one of them - I can't stand the feeling of AirPods Pro
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nickawhite Avatar
7 months ago

Why not spend $20 more and get the AirPod Pro 2? I dont understand why this subpar product exists for nearly the same price as the premium version
Reasonable question - silicon ear tips are not at all a comfortable feeling for me. Happy to have the open-ear option!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)