In September, Apple launched a model of wireless earbuds that managed to confuse users who hadn’t used older AirPods models until now. The new generation of AirPods is available in two different versions under the same name, AirPods 4.
Apple’s move was known about almost six months in advance, but the tech press speculated that there would still be a differentiation in names between the two AirPods models.
What are the differences between the two AirPods 4 models?
If you haven’t had wireless AirPods before and want to buy the latest models, you should know that the new generation of AirPods is available in two versions: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).
The basic model, AirPods 4, is at least $50 cheaper, but it lacks some important features:
- Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, and Transparency mode. That is, the feature for reducing the surrounding environmental noise.
- Conversation Awareness. This feature lets you have a conversation without removing your earbuds. When you start talking, the feature automatically lowers the volume of the music or podcast you’re listening to and amplifies the voice of the person you’re speaking with.
- Location service and finding through the Find My network.
Related: Adaptive Transparency vs. Transparency on AirPods Pro
In addition to these audio experience features and the Find My location service, the two versions also differ in the charging case. The AirPods 4 with ANC supports wireless charging, including with the Apple Watch charger, while the version without ANC is limited to USB-C charging only.
So, if you’re planning to buy AirPods 4, you need to be careful about which version you choose, because although they have the same name, there are significant differences between them.
