Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

I have both and I ll make it simple for you how much ANC do you need? If you are in flights, trains and want to block lot of noise go with pros if you are going to listen music, calls and at work take airpods 4 with ANC. They are much more comfortable than pros and can wear for a long time.

Pros sound better I have them and don’t use them much (sometimes when I’m outside for an hour or two). I just hate the feeling with silicone tips inside my ears (tried different brands and it was the same or worse). I loved AirPods 2,3 and now just bought 4s with ANC (actually haven’t unpacked yet). I also really like Samsung LiveBuds - I think those are much better than people say.

I just unpacked and tested my 4s with ANC. They are pretty awesome sounding for my ears. Even ANC seems to work somehow - impressive. If anything - they may have a bit too much bass for my liking. Especially in dialogue.

I’ve had both and prefer the 4s with active noise cancellation simply due to comfort. The ANC is amazing for not being plugged. I can wear them all day without issue.

I love my AirPods 4’s, haven’t tried the pros but maybe go to the store and try them out before deciding.

My ap4ANC sound incredible to me. I don’t mind the less anc they feel great also

I have had a lot of issues with my AirPod Pros 1. The battery sucks, I don’t love the silicone ear tips, and now I get audio feedback on them when I’m exercising. Now that the AirPods 4 have noise cancelling, it was a no brainer for me to go back to the classic style. I really liked my OG AirPods and am excited to get the 4s!

It mostly comes down to whether you like the silicone tips If you like them or prefer them, the Pro 2 are objectively better in, I believe, every other way except price - but if you don’t like them then you’re definitely gonna prefer the Gen4 just for comfort. There’s no point having slightly better ANC and sound quality if they don’t fit you properly or aren’t comfortable to wear I’m wearing my Gen4 with ANC right now, though, and they’re excellent. The ANC isn’t as good as the Pro 2 but it’s still good, I’m on a diesel (DMU) train and it removes almost all the engine noise and most of the general din of other passengers I do find the Gen4 don’t fit my ears quite as well as my old Gen1 AirPods did, but that might just be me

I wanted to love the Bose QC Ultra earbuds but didn’t. Can’t get a proper fit; couldn’t get the seal to stay on no matter which combo eartip and stabilizer I used. The earbuds also shift in my ears until they fall out. Same thing happened with AirPods Pro but not having a problem with AirPods 4 with ANC. ANC on AirPods 4 is no where near Bose earbuds or AirPods Pro but I guess earbuds with eartips aren’t for me.

It barely works as sound dampener, imagine if it actually did ANC without proper seal.

I got the 4's when they came out because a friend of mine says he likes them better than his Pro 2's. They didn't fit nearly as well or sound as good as my Pro 2's did, so I ended up returning them. But everyone's ears are different, so I'd suggest trying them both out and return the ones you don't like.

I have an S22 Ultra and they work great. ANC on and off works. The only things it looks like I'm missing out on are EQ options and the ability to use the case speakers for finding the case when lost but I'll live.

Three features are lacking in AirPods 4 with ANC compared to AirPods Pro 2. Everyone knows the first one: upcoming hearing health-related functions. I find it surprising that nobody talks about 2nd and 3rd features of AirPods Pro 2: Loud Sound Reduction and Conversation Boost. Loud Sound Reduction: your AirPods Pro 2 detect and reduce loud sounds that you're exposed to from the environment so it kind of protects your ears. It technically makes you attend loud EDM concerts and your AirPods Pro 2 will reduce music to healthy levels. This feature can be turned on in the AirPods menu in the setting of your iPhone. This is not the same as Reduce Loud Audio in the Headphone Safety under Sounds & Heptics. Loud Sound Reduction = reduce loud sounds from outside; Reduce Loud Audio = reduce loud audio coming from your AirPods. Conversation Boost focuses your AirPods Pro on the person talking in front of you, making it easier to hear in a face-to-face conversation. It technically makes you hear better than you would without AirPods Pro, especially in loud surroundings like in a stadium or a concert. You can turn this on in Settings>Accessibility>Audio & Visual>Headphone Accommodations>On>Transparancy Mode>On>Conversation Boost>On.

With a budget of $200USD and already being a fan of the OG AirPods, I feel like the obvious choice here should be the new Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, costs $180. Keeps the classic AirPod design of resting at the entrance of the ear instead of going inside https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-4

I went w/the 4 ANC b/c I don’t like the silicone gasket things on the pros. Incredible sound and ANC. Def recommend the 4s 👍👍

I went w/the 4 ANC b/c I don’t like the silicone gasket things on the pros. Incredible sound and ANC. Def recommend the 4s 👍👍

Most people are going to say the Pros 2, but it really up to your comfort and preference if you like, dislike, or don’t mind in-ears. Both contain similar features like ANC and the Find My capabilities, along with Spatial Audio and stuff. Don’t be mistaken, AirPods 4 can sit in your ear and don’t fall off (Unless you have some type of ear shape) so it won’t differ in that from the pros dramatically. Don’t totally consider on features but more in comfort

I have both. The Pro 2s sound better, but they sure don’t feel better in my ears. That’s just my personal opinion. I don’t like the fit on the Pros, so I use the 4s with ANC.

I tried both and found not that much of a difference. It was marginal; I’d say the 4s were about 85% as good as the pros. Pros kind of gave me a headache. 

I got my first AirPods on Wednesday and before that I had never used any form of ANC or AirPods at all.  It’s reallyyy cool. The demo in store sold me immediately. 

Price (there is a ~60$ CAD difference), first and lack of silicon tips, I have the first AirPods Pro and they just don’t fit, they always fall off my ear and I just bought a pair of Sennheiser. And I pre ordered a pair of AirPods 4 to replace my girlfriend’s first gen AirPods and couldn’t justify the pro price

I’ve had the pulse 3d in a drawer for years. Recently started using it when I got a portal. Also have AirPods 4 ANC. And both work well. I don’t know what to say if you found the explores tinny. They are in ear and sealed so I figured they’d had more bass. Bad seal maybe

I used them for work, have them on my ears 9-5 even I am not listening to anything. I can't have the silicone in my ear canal for that ammount of time. I barely notice i have the airpods 3 on and having this new 4 that are smaller and with ANC, I am sold. I have IEM and Over ear headphones for other uses like ANC and music quality

I bought both to try and I did end up returning the ones without. ANC and fitment IMO make 4ANC the best buds

I bought some today and and can tell you these are next level, very impressed for the price tag. These will be highly talked about in the coming weeks.

I hated them at first. But somehow started to really love the sound now. The bass is tight specially up to 80percent volume and I somehow love Spatial Audio on for most tracks except a few where I turn it off. Also the Headphone Accommodations with balanced slight or moderate both help a little as well. The anc is incredible in this form factor and really helps specially for podcast listening during flights where my volume can be much lesser than my EarPods hence good for ears. Adaptive mode works brilliantly in most cases and seems intelligent enough to keep as default imo. Although I’d love a little more oomph in the overall soundstage but it seems like a step in the right direction and I feel apple has tried their best to bring them closer to the AirPods Pro 2 as much as technically possible. I feel if someone doesn’t like in ear headphones like app2 and wants to use these for long, 50usd difference for anc seems worth it overall. All the best

I just got the 4s with ANC - my gen 2s are still working perfectly so (disregarding all of the new and very cool features with the 4s), I am currently switching them back and forth while playing music to compare only the sound quality. With everything set to default, the sound isn't much different (not a bad thing) however, I am pretty sure the bass is stronger on my gen 2s which is just a tad disappointing. The 4s are crisper and seem to be missing a tiny bit of bass... I have not tried the pros 2 but I am considering switching these out for a pair of pros only because of the lack of bass. How do the pros sound in terms of tone/bass?

If anyone out there is currently deciding between the 2 AirPods models, I returned the new 4s with ANC for the Pros 2 and the sound quality alone is insanely better (wider, clearer, bass-ier) I’m kind of surprised how much better the sound was. The 4s’ design (tip-less ANC) is ingenious but, so ingenious that I might consider them still in beta. The ANC seemed to panic with any kind of activity that involved continuous shifts in small movements (for example, driving in my car). With each subtle movement, I could hear a whomp and feel the pods try to re-gain the seal after losing it just briefly. This would happen the entire time I wore them in my car at a rate similar to a heartbeat. I bet the next version of this kind of ANC will be much better.

I had the 4s with ANC for about a week. They sound great and the noise canceling is pretty cool considering the pods are just plastic and technically don't seal around your ear canal opening. However, because there is no seal, the noise canceling starts to act up during certain activities like driving on a bumpy road (which is something I do a lot). I also still have a perfectly good pair of AirPods (2nd generation). I compared the 4s with the 2nd gen and the sound quality is different but I can't decide if it's any better. The 2nd gen clearly has more bass but the 4s are a bit clearer. I eventually returned the 4s for the Pros 2 which sound better, are bass-ier, and clearer than both the 2nd gen and 4. And, because of the silicon tips, the ANC is much more accurate and consistent.

I have had mine for about a month now and I have had the Bose QC2 and QC45 over ears as well as AirPods 4 with ANC. I use the buds when it’s windy as the 4’s pick up too much noise. They are smaller than the QC2 buds and you can have them in longer. The sound is classic Bose the best imo and the ANC is decent. They connect easily with all my different devices across brands and they are cheaper than the Ultras which has slightly better ANC just. I would highly recommend them they are the best Bose in ears I have tried. Get some!

Bought the AirPods 4 ANC because my AirPods Pro 1 slowly stopped working. The Silikon tips in the pros never really bothered me, but they also never fit properly and started to fall out of my ear after a short period of time. The AirPods 4 fit much better and are on par with my old Pro’s. The ANC works mostly great and sound quality is good enough for me.

i have them. The ANC version. I also have the Max and the Pro 1's. I thought forsure I would love these way more than my pro 1's, because I was such a fan of the launch/original airpods non-silicone fit/feel. However, these are slightly different than the ones I so fondly remember, and I really cannot make up my mind as to whether I should keep these ANC4 or just return them and get Pro3 (whenever those come out). I was so sure I would love these anc4 like 100000% more than my pro 1's. but strangely enough, it's not as obvious as I would've predicted, unfortunately. A cool (yet completely unnecessary) thing I do for funzies sometimes is put on either of the in-ears, and set them to transparency. Then i put the Max on over, with noise cancelation on. I share audio to both sets of headphones, and then i have a very intense surround sound effect (as long as i adjust the volume levels very meticulously)!

it all comes down to whether or not you’re comfortable with a silicone tip in your ear canal, if that doesn’t bother you then the AirPods Pro 2 is what you should go with. I don’t like my ear canal sealed so I got the AirPods 4 ANC it’s cheaper too.

APP2 would probably have better sound quality cause of the seal and you can also adjust the volume on it but if all fits were comfortable and convenient to me and Im going for best sound quality I’d go with the AP Max big over the ear headphones. I have no regrets with the AP 4 anc these things are great.

been using it for about a couple months, been great the noise cancelling is great but I rarely use it, I typically use one bud at a time but I like how it makes the volume turn down when I talk. I recommend.

For calls the AirPods are going to be your best bet. For calls I prefer the AirPods over the AirPod Pros. They are more comfortable over the course of a day as they let your ears breathe, and you can better regulate how loud you talk because you can hear yourself. I’ve had just about every version, plus Sony, Bose, and other, but I recommend the new AirPod 4 with noise cancelling.

I own them both & find myself gravitating towards the AP4 more & more.

i had pros if you don’t like a silicone buds 4 is ideal choice!! if you are still confused go to any apple store and ask then you need to try both and decide! I found quality and ANC much better on 4 . i returned pros and bought 4ANC on sale

xiaomi buds 5, samsung galaxy buds 2 and huawei freebuds 5, or the airpods 4 anc.

Sorry to necro this thread but i picked up 4s with ANC today over AirPods 2 as I already have a pair of WF-XM5s for true ANC but prefer earbuds without a seal for day to day comfort. And jeepers - these things exceeded my expectations! Bloody marvellous. My old 3s will be up for sale

Apple 4 ANC, only ones that do not hurt or bother my ears.

Look. I had a big concern of whether to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 2 or the AirPods 4 having owned the AirPods Pro 1 for a long time. The AirPods Pro 1 are a very good AirPods but my seller asked me to just test the AirPods Pro 2s and if I did not like then I could return. We did a bet. Results: The transparency mode on the AirPods Pro 2 is miles….miles …..miles better than the AirPods Pro 1s. For get noise cancelation. These AirPods Pro 2 sit on my ears like I am wearing nothing. Another thing. When I was wearing the AirPods Pro 1 with the transparency set in accommodation mode I would bang the car door and want to remove the AirPods. The bang was so loud because of the sensitivity. The AirPods Pro 2s removes that completely. Finally the hissing that came with transparency is gone. In short. AirPods Pro 2s are far ….far better than the AirPods Pro 1s. As for the AirPods 4s what I hear is the noise cancellation is not as good as the AirPods Pro 2s. Of course this is the case because they have no proper seal the the ANC algorithm keeps having to work hard to compensate.

I’ve just bought them over the pro 2. I am a dancer coming from the AirPod 3s and I had the problem of not hearing my own music properly when others had their music blasting through music boxes in dance practice. For me comfort plays a big role and I can’t stand having these rubber tips in my ears. I think they are very impressive! The music quality sounds a lot better compared to the 3s and the ANC actually surprised me, since I wasn’t expecting them to work as well as they do. I am very happy with them .

It’s slightly better than the other generations, I would say. With ANC on and watching a movie, I got about three hours on a flight (almost all the way between Chicago and Las Vegas). Without ANC, the battery life is closer to five or six hours.

If I really had to choose, considering all the situations, gym (sweat), possibly hot summer days... and a little more comfort due to their smaller size and ease of carrying in your pocket... Airpods Pro. I myself have the Sony XM4 together with the Airpods 4 ANC, I use both during the day, when I want a better quality sound and good bass, XM4. When I want more freedom of use mainly due to the interaction with iOS, immediate device switching between my iPhone and iPad (the XM4 can also do it), and still have quality sound and bass, Airpods 4 ANC. With a slight adjustment in the bass on Spotify + spatial sound, the Airpods fly! The bass and quality of the Airpods almost reach the same level as the XM4! I replaced my Airpods 3 with 4 and it was an absurd change!

I had my AirPods Pro for long time, even though they were always falling down my ears. Not comfortable at all after a few calls/meetings. Decided to give a try on AirPods 4 ANC and not going back to AirPods Pro anymore. The only better thing on the AirPods Pro is the noise cancelling, in my opinion. But again, not for very long, otherwise starts hurting the ears.

Me too. I just can't find way to turn off ANC. I searched for an answer but still none. Hope you respond if you find a way..

Like most ppl said it’s the eartips. I am an AirPods 3 user and AirPods Max for when I need that ANC. But if AirPods 4 with anc can quiet down the environment just a touch, it’s already a win for me for something I carry everyday.

Make the switch, you won't regret it. I was in the same boat as you.

This has been my experience also, as someone who wears them on/off for hours a day. The 4 is amazingly 80% there with ANC compared to the Pro 2, also I can turn ANC off and not feel like I've got clogged ears.

I wish I could but I can’t wear the pros they hurt my ears. The fours fit perfect and feel great. It’s all about what suits you.

I love my AirPod 4 anc!! They are more comfortable to me than the pros. I’ve had ear issues all my life and never could wear in ear earbuds. The fours just fit really well and don’t irritate my ears. They also sound really good and the noise cancellation is great for not having rubber inserts.

100% People act like silicone tips are objectively better but they're really uncomfortable for some folks. Also for me personally, the Pro's will NOT stay in if I'm working out (I somehow have no issue with the regular buds). Strongly considering ditching my Pro 2's for these, purely for comfort. Biggest bummer is the lack of volume slider, which is probably my favorite feature.

I got the Airpods 4 with ANC and its pretty good for train rides. Only wish is that the fit could be a bit more snug.

Of cuz the one with ANC. it’s life changing !

I think the same. I've had mine for like 2 months and though I usually avoid full ANC, it's amazing how good it works. This little things had me googling the physics behind active noise cancellation 🤣

Just got mine. I knew the ANC wouldn't be as good as my first gen Pros, but it's a pretty big difference. I may return them and keep using my old Pros.

I could tell a significant difference when switching back and forth with the TV on in the room. It's amazing how good they are without silicone tips though. I just need to decide if the other features and the better battery life is worth it for me. I got a pair for my wife too. She hates the fit of the Pros and doesn't like the silicone tips. I'm hoping she likes the fit of these better.

Exactly my position. I hate the tips and could not be more happy that they put the pro features into the 4s.

Pros would not stay in my ears no matter which tips I used. The 4’s fit perfectly and the ANC works well enough for me.

Just went to the Apple Store to pick up new phone. While I was there I compared the new AirPods with ANC to my AirPods Pro (2nd gen). Connected them both via share audio option. And listen per the them simultaneously… The difference in ANC is noticeable but not a deal breaker. For the comfort factor it would be totally worth it. My ears tend to feel “sweaty” after a couple hours with my APP.. but in my opinion the audio quality was still better in the AirPods Pro.. but it was still a reasonable trade off if you don’t already have the pros.

Newest Airpods 4 with ANC are my fav right now. They connecting to my Pixel faster then Pixel Buds Pro. Amazon Echo Buds 2 took the longest time, usually 1 minute to connect.

I mean if you really don’t care then yes but the anc model brings so many more features for only like $40 more. I’m surprised how good the anc is on the 4’s, they cancel out a bunch of noise for not having a eartip. I came from the 1st gen pros and I’d say they’re about the same noise cancellation wise but the pros cancel out high frequency noises a little better.

I like the features of AirPods Pro 2 (own) like the swipe on stem to change the volume. Something that doesn’t sound like a big deal actually is super useful when I need to hear someone talking to me quickly. MagSafe on the case and lanyard are also nice. I heard also they have more battery life. I don’t like the silicone ear tips too much. Honestly AirPods 4 NC just had those features I mentioned, they’d be one I’d get.

Airpods 4 anc alll the way. TBF, I haven’t used the Pro 2s but I do have the original pros. The design of the 4 anc fits in my ear way more comfortably for longer periods, and the sound quality is fantastic. Better than the OG Pros. The noise canceling works quite well, battle tested on planes and noisy areas. I’m just in love with the 4 ancs after 6 months of use. I hope you get them.

Pro 2’s, I genuinely hate the 4’s so much. I have both. Lost my pros, tried to switch to the 4s, awful

because the UX is dogshit, you have to charge them, they randomly don't pair, or one side mysteriously runs out and then won't connect after you charge it, they can remotely make the ANC worse any time they want, the source switching is pure dogshit...

I have the wired Earpods, an Airpods 2, an Airpods 4 ANC and now the new Powerbeats Pro 2. From all of them, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sounds the worst. I have small ears, I tried out at least 25 several wireless earbuds within 1,5 years, only the Airpods 2 stays in my ear, and the new Airpods 4. I hate and can’t wear eartips. I think the poor sound quality of the PBP2 is becuse of the eartips. I have small ears, but the Sound Test says, I have a good seal only with the XL sized tip. Weird. The PBP2 should be pushed deep into the ear canal for better sound quality, but the width of the tips doesn’t allow this. So that’s why the sound quality is and will be trash - in my opinion. All earbuds I own sound better than the PBP2. The Airpods 4 ANC is the best, Earpods is 2nd, Airpods 2 is 3rd for me. But also a simple 12$ Redmi Buds 6 Active sounds better. Really.

If you plan on getting semi in ear earbuds, don't expect them to have "good" ANC. At most they will block out (some) low frequency rumbling but definitely not mid or high frequencies as they don't create a seal in the ear like ones with eartips. I've also used the Airpods 4 (ANC), Samsung Galaxy buds 3, the Jbl live flex 3, and in my testing when using a binaural microphone, they only block 60-75 percent of low frequencies (overall) from 50 to 15 decibels but I'm not 100 percent sure how accurate it really is. Like you mentioned, you could try getting your wife some over ear headphones.

I’ll be buying the AP4. I’ve wanted the ANC but I hate how the silicone tips of the Pro’s feel in my ears so this generation is perfect for what I’m looking for.

Both, at home chilling on my macbook I will use the 4, on airplane, they gym definitely the pros

Half worse, it seems. Equivalent to Pro 1st generation from what I saw online. Which to me is a good compromise. I’ll be getting the best of both worlds: open ear design and a little NC for daily conveniences

I recently got the AirPod 4 ANC as the AirPod Pro keeps falling out of my ear and the mics are definitely better on the AP4 compared to all the other AirPods I have used. Very comfortable for long use and works great with the Mac / iPhone. I mainly use it for Teams calls on my Mac mini / MBP.

Most of the AP4 ANC reviews on YouTube have microphone comparisons with the other AirPods - worth checking out - the difference is quite noticeable. One of the main reasons I switched to those.

Just got mine. Fit Even better than 1 and 2

The airpods 4 anc has head move gestures, like when you shake your head, you decline a call.

I will replace APP2 and get AP4. My ear fit is really awkward, and silicone tips don’t work as good. Fit of original Airpods is amazing to me. I liked ANC tho, so AP4 is ideal. That being said, I like how the silicone tips catch earwax. Have to take regular airpods for cleaning once every 6-12 months.

Same I can’t stand the silicone tips

Agree, I’m the one who don’t like silicon eartips and prefer classic earphones so I bought AirPods 3 instead of AirPods Pro 2 two years ago. Now I will buy AirPods 4 with ANC

Hello yes of course the ANC of the airpods 4 is fantastic for me using my Samsung A15 phone. Good day

I had the 3s and they didn't fit well, always felt like they were going to fall out. Got the 4 (ANC) an hour ago, and it definitely fits a lot better, almost as good as the 2s (non pro). I will be keeping them.

Hey, been using the Airpods 4 with ANC on Android (OnePlus 6T). Working perfectly for me so far with no issues. Just haven't figured out if there's a way to turn off the ANC feature to get better battery life out of my buds. Hope this helps

Hey, so i just figured it out. Long pressing the button on any of the buds does the trick. Have a good one

it does, unfortunately. it puts the buds in a sort of ambient sound mode. to configure/change this, im afraid you need an apple device or a nothing phone. i was only able to do it by connecting the buds to my ipad.

I'm quite late but I recently flew across the continental united states. the ANC on the 4 was more than sufficient to entirely tune out all the flight noise, and didn't suffer any noticeable sound quality degradation

I have to buy the pros. The regular ones won’t stay in my ears.

My OGs aren’t doing so well, so I bought the Pro 2. They wouldn’t stay in my ears for shit. Tried every tip size. No go. Gave them to my wife, and I bought the 4. Still won’t stay in my ears. Just returned those. The OGs are the best. I took my wife’s 2nd gen that are very much like the OGs. They fit fine and never all out. I do miss all the features the Pro 2 offers. I hope Apple makes the original design with all the Pro 2 features.

I just got mine and its amazing

I enjoy my AirPods 4 ANC. Silicone tips are too big for my ears, prefer not using them.

I am actually doing the opposite. Moving from Pro 2 to 4NC.

I got a new iPad Pro (and new pencil, case, and screen protector) at the same time, so any amount of savings is much appreciated. I had AirPod 2nd gen that were finally giving me battery issues so was thinking of upgrading them. I wasn’t looking for much, so when I saw the AirPod 4 with ANC, it seemed like the perfect upgrade. I also didn’t love the Pro 2s the few times I’ve worn them. So I wasn’t dying to get them and I have over-ear NC headphones for the heavy lifting. My AirPods are more for light use and I like the looser fit as a break for my ears and not being so closed in. The ANC on them is better than my 2nd gen AirPods, so that’s enough for me. I’m not trying to compare them to other options that have a proper seal.

I love AirPods 4. I got a set from Best Buy that was both open box and on sale, but you can often find them on sale, if not quite that good a one. I'm talking about that ANC version. The passthrough mode is great, letting me hear everything. It sounds slightly artificial, but it's easy to forget it's there after a few minutes. ANC works shockingly well given that these earbuds don't make a seal with your ears. Apple also increased the number of ears these work with, or so they say. I find them very comfortable and can wear them for hours. I know someone who hates sealed ear tips and who didn't love previous non-sealing AirPods. She loves AirPods 4. The main down side is the relatively short battery life. With transparency or ANC on, I usually get 3.5-4 hours, only some of which is actively playing audio. Still, they're comfortable, can block or allow sounds, have a small case, and do what I need. If you have an iPhone, they're great. If you have Android, they're still usable, just not as convieniently.

I got the 4s with ANC vs the Pro 2s because of the silicone tips. I couldn’t last 2 hours with those tips, but with the 4s, I could comfortably wear them the whole time I’m at work, and I go to the gym, they won’t fall out. ANC and sound quality is better on the Pro, but the fit of the 4s is perfect for me.

I never experienced the 4s dying out on me. I use them for the whole day - with about 15-30 min break in between every 2-3 hours. The only time they're really out of my ears would be at night. Though with my use case, I have to charge every 2 days.

AirPods Pro 2 - Great sound, ANC is the best on AirPods AirPods 4 ANC - Also great sound, no eartips but ANC still the best at its class AirPods 3 - Cheap and good sound AirPods Max - Overpriced earmuffs.

I got mine and I was kinda shocked how good it works

I took them on the subway last night and it was good enough. Usually with my AP3 I need to do like 85-90% volume to get them to be usable but I was able to use the AP4ANC at like 45%

Owned APP1 and currently own APM, APM>APP>AP4ANC in that order obviously but I’d say it’s about 60-80% as good depending on the type of noise. I like the APM the most but theyre the bulkiest and hate the APP since I hate the in ear silicon.

Pro 2s are better in sound quality and noice cancellation than the 4s, but tbf some people hate silicone tips and I get it, I hate them on every other earbuds but apple somehow make them comfortable

They don’t sound or even feel open. I think it’s just the bass vent. They’re very comfortable.. they just need better EQ options. I have basically everything, and nowadays I use Airpods 4 ANC (comfort is insane) and Pro 2’s (gym). Oh and Sony Inzone Buds for gaming. The Jabra 8 seem okay, but I find that stem design is too deep.

I got them and I liked but they won't stay in my ears. The left one especially. Back to the pros 2 for me

I used to want a full headset and then I started using my airpods and found out that works great instead. Either gen 1 or gen 2 pro’s or the airpods 4 with ANC will do the job very well. 

I just got them, the anc is impressive. I dont know how I feel about the fit though. I had the last version and I preferred that fit over the pros' silicone. Anyway, im on iOS 18.1 on the phone and they wouldn't pair, only a white box popped up. I had to update my iPad to ipados18 for it to pair

I have the 4s with ANC and I wish that I had bought the pro 2s because the ANC in the 4s is just rubbish. However, I understand that there are very different opinions on the silicone tips

I actually like the new airpods 4. Theyre not the pros but they do offer active noise cancelling. I like them mostly because I dont like the rubber tips on the Pros and even if you "turn off" the ANC on the pros the tips still block a lot of noise. I dont want FULL ANC from airpods, especially running. Purely personal preference for me because the standard airpod tips have always fit me really well. HOWEVER - I have randomly had weird charging issues where on bud just doesnt charge. No rhyme or reason, not consistent. Otherwise i like them

So I actually went for the AirPods 4 with ANC (which also has a wireless charging case which is a big plus for me). I am upgrading from air pods 1.. yes 1 lol. I am largely a casual listener and don’t really want the faff a lot of people mention about the pros, so I couldn’t really justify the higher pro price. I just know they will be better than my current AirPods.

hell yeah they are worth it. bought the pro2 first, hated the in-ear buds. so uncomfortable for longer than 30 minutes usage. returned, got the 4 with anc and love them

Try the AirPods 4 with ANC. Target and Best Buy has them on sale periodically for $150

I buy 4 with anc and later without anc, anc are not that strong like in pro2. the only thing i miss is the function of automatic muting of music while talking to someone. i gave 4 with anc and left the regular ones.

The new AirPods with active noise cancelling are really nice. Way better than regular air pods. Source: I use regular AirPods and bought my wife the new ones

any noise cancelling headphones will do - it's up to you which to choose. people report that the new airpods 4 work great by removing extra noise from the street (even though on paper their ANC implementation is not so great)

Pro 2s are usually cheaper. But from someone who has both, if the 4 (anc) fit you, I’d actually go with them. I prefer their fit, and the sound is very similar. ANC is a bit better, but the added comfort makes up for that on the 4.

I held out but eventually got the AirPods 4 ANC. And guess what? They didn’t fit and they hurt. I returned them. But I gave the AirPods Pro 2 a try. And I love them. They have tips so they’re like normal earbuds. And I think you should give them a chance as I did. They check every block you listed, and again, the Pros aren’t like normal AirPods with their fit. Otherwise, I second the other recommendation of the Sony XM5 earbuds. Though I don’t know if they have any kind of location tracking support.

Ordered the AP4 anc. I dont like the silicon tip.

Got mine (4 ANC) for a couple days now. Really like the update! The ANC actually works good. True not as much as the Pro would but hey I just don’t like the tip from the Pro.

Preordered the 4 ANC's, because my Pro 2 are just so uncomfortable to wear because of those eartips. If the 4's are even half as good, they'll be great daily drivers, and I'll relegate the Pro 2's to flights.

I ordered the 4’s with ANC even though I already have a pair of my pros 2 purely because I don’t like ear tips. I’ll still keep the pros for when the anc isn’t good enough on the 4’s (babies screaming their heads off on planes) but they won’t be used as much if the 4’s can deliver anc close to the 1st gen pros as I was using my AirPods 2nd gen so far more than my pros 2nd gen

I immediately ordered the 4's with ANC to replace my Pro 2's. I love the features of the pro model but the most comfortable tips are the small size which don't seal. The Medium seal better but cause pressure and sometimes fall out, and the large (the only ones that pass the fit test in settings) give me a headache from pressure and fall out unless my head is perfectly still. For me the EarPod design is very comfortable but I want the adaptive audio and conversational awareness.

I think for many of us who the EarPods fit better the ANC not being as good isn't a show stopper. I have to wear tips that are two sizes smaller than the tips that pass the fit test so I don't think I am getting the best ANC from the pros anyway and the 4's will be far more comfortable

If you prefer semi inear Gen 4 all the way. With ANC

Yep, I’m not a big fan of that feeling of something in my ear like that. I find the AirPods 3’s way more comfortable. I’m interested in the 4s with ANC because if that reduces ambient noise (it doesn’t have to delete noise like my Bose QC headphones) then that would be fantastic

These are awesome! Only thing I dislike is the right side makes my ear hurt. Probably have a funny shaped ear canal.

This gets asked probably 3-4 times per week - easy to find answers in the search. If you're using Android, Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the better options due to using a mixture of bone conduction mics for voice and MEMS mics for noise reduction. Unfortunately this incurs cost over using just MEMS mics, which is why every other cheaper set is simply balancing environmental noise reduction with not muffling your voice to the point you're incoherent, and thus falling short of those aforementioned models. If you're using iOS, then go for Airpods (admittedly I've only tested the Airpod 4 ANC). IOS features noise reduction processing on the device itself that makes them outstanding when used with an Apple phone, and completely ordinary on Android.

I just compared the main semi in ear models with ANC out there - https://youtu.be/Pn8jPFtjR_4 (and [here](https://youtu.be/ai7jujoC87M) for the sound test) In short, nothing comes close to the Apple Airpod 4 for ANC, sound and design on iOS. On Android, you lose quite a bit in terms of features and functions and might want to consider one of the other models, all of which have their compromises. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 were ok, but their unique shape didn't really work for me. The Samsung Buds 3 felt a bit beta with some software-based glitches, and the Airpod 3-style design didn't work as well for my ears. They also lack true multipoint. Soundpeats Air5 are also ok - they have five different ear anatomy settings that allow you to personalise the ANC to your ear shape, but they lack a few features like wear detection etc. The QCY model are good bang for buck, but the sound and ANC fall a bit behind the others (as you would expect being a true budget option) The Oppo Enco Air3 you mentioned are nice enough - basic but fine, but they don't have ANC

I've owned both pairs and can confidently say the Pros 2s are better. I didn't like the 4s at all.

I've had ~3 different pairs of 1/2, never tried the 3s. Just picked up the ANC 4's today and my experience was: - They are very obviously a different fit, almost more bulbous - Somehow still very snug (did a few shake tests) and not uncomfortable I think after a week it'll just feel normal, but the difference _is_ noticeable. **edit**: oh and the noise cancelling is surprisingly great for non overear headphones.

AirPods 4 with ANC is my every day carry, and I really like them alot. ANC works surprisingly good despite not being in ear headphones.

Exactly! Especially no rubbery extension 🤮 AP4ANC ALL DAY EVERY DAY BY LONG SHOT!

If your cool with the in-ear fit, grab the Pro 2s while they’re at 170, that’s a stupid good deal. The ANC and sound quality are just better, full stop. The 4s ANC are fine but they’re not touching the Pro 2 if you actually care about noise cancelling or audio depth. Only reason to go for 4s is if you hate silicone tips in your ears. Otherwise this one’s easy.

Ap4 has more bass and more versatile (added capability on noise cancellation), and quite musical, but no volume control (a bit annoying). Bose has a very open design, nice and open sound (less bass). It’s a good one if you have a good use case but rather inconvenient to use with Apple devices, it has multi point now, but just not as seamless experience vs Apple. Say if I can roll back time, I would have just bought AP4 ANC, as much as Bose is not bad, but to me a wireless earphone purpose should be 1. Sound quality 2. Versatility 3, convenient, then I think Apple balance it pretty well

Just the connections and switching to Apple devices always have some hiccups. Definitely upgrade to the new AirPods 4 + ANC, best Christmas gift to yourself, best decade gift! Do that you won’t regret.

I had first gen AirPods and they stopped working after maybe 4/5 years and I decided to get AirPods 4 with ANC and they remind me of the original AirPods but with a lot of the pro features. I think if you prefer the original AirPods or non silicone tips, these are better than the pro 2.

The main question here should be whether you care about noise cancelling. Even the 4s with noise cancelling aren't as good as the Pro 2s. And I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say the noise cancelling on the Pro 2s is the best I've ever used. They even beat out the over-ear Beats Solo Pros I had several years ago.

Works fine on Pixel 7, with ANC, i'm happy with it lmao

It's easy to switch modes by keeping your finger on the headphones I'm waiting for the CAPod update to see if everything is practical, but even without it I'm happy with my purchase

Using the long pres Option in settings IS only on iPhone, but maybe an Android app can make this in the future

I own the AirPods Pro 2 (lightning) and AirPods 4 w/ ANC. While the Pro2's sound a bit better, I always go to the 4's. Comfort, nothing jammed in your ear hole, and still sound great. These are outstanding in the Apple ecosystem. That said, I was gifted a set of Shokz "OpenDots One" (I hope I got that name right). No ANC, but man do they sound good and are pretty comfy.

I have both, I prefer the 4's over the Pro2's because after a while, I am annoyed with the silicone tips in my ear canal.

All I know is I just went from the 3s to the new 4s w/ANC and even with ANC turned off, the sound quality is terrible imo. Everyone's different, but they sound kind of boxy / middy with less bass response. I've tried tweaking my EQ in Spotify and there's just no comparison, it just sounds flattened. No idea if they need broken in or if it's just me or what, but I listen to music constantly and I'm feeling like I want to return these. Ofc, ymmv, but my first impression (couple hours of use now) is that these suck ☹️

FYI. I ended up returning them and am still using my 3rd gens. I really wanted to like the 4s, but I just couldn't get used to them.

Because they're different models and taste is subjective. I use them almost exclusively for listening to music and find the 4th gens significantly less responsive and dynamic than the 3rd gen. A lot of people swear by the 2nd or 1st gens though. I'm thinking that they're probably tuned and optimized differently, no way do they sound the same.

3rd gen. I bought 4 with ANC, feeling ko bingi ako everytime i remove it ? Weird..

Short answer is NO. Long answer is a smaller No but to my ears, still a NO. Airpods 4 anc is the real thing & tbh pretty amazing. IMO YMMV

I’m just bummed the wireless charging magnet isn’t as strong as the 3rd gen. I liked being able to put them on my angled wireless charger but now I guess I just have to plug them in.

So I found out the magnetic charging works great with an Apple Watch charger but not the iPhone MagSafe charger

If you sleep on the side with noise cancelling, then airpods 4 is better. For any other reason, then the airpods pro 2

I just bought these after I lost one of my gen 2 regulars I’ve had since fucking 2019. It’s seriously awesome if you’re not used to any ANC

I didn’t even demo the ANC in store just tried the bought when the stayed in my ears. I can’t do silicon tip buds just irritates my ears. I know like folks have said the older pros are better ANC but I really don’t need that. I use mine to take work calls and listen to podcasts while doing laundry.

THIS! I switched from the JBL tune235 to airpods 4 anc just because it was too big in my ears and looked goofy. None of the airpods look bad, especially the 4s imo, they look good in everyones ears.

So true, and given how much better the 4 fit they naturally seal my ear with no need for the tip and ANC is by far better than then one I experienced with a poor fit of the pros

The AirPods Pro 2 are a software mess right now. To the point I ditched them for AirPods 4 ANC. But any Apple or beats earbuds can take advantage of apple’s safe listening volume limits and db meter in the control centre under “hearing”.

Try the AirPods 4 ANC, as it looks like the silicone tips are your problem. If the 4 ANC don’t work, then try something with an over ear hook

I know they’re not fully open but the AirPods 4 have a decent bass response. Bose ultra open also do fairly well, but fall off in sub bass much more than the AirPods. Most fully open buds struggle with bass, you might need a semi in-ear design to get good bass performance

This. I much prefer the fit of AirPods 4 ANC.

AirPods are strangely durable, a lot of pairs only die because of battery degradation. Beats fit pro also impressed me with longevity, some people are getting 3 years outta them before the battery gets fried

It’s basically entirely down to comfort. Which one is more comfortable In your ears? Pro 2 are only objectively better, but for many of us who hate tips, 4s will be subjectively better. The noise cancelling on the pros is noticeably better but sound quality is very similar between them, with 4s having a bit different tuning but overall sounding similar to the pros. But none of that matters if the one of the pairs doesn’t fit or is uncomfortable

The 4s are worth it but get the anc version. The base version can’t block much sound and 3rd gens have basically no isolation at all.

The pro 2s tips give them an advantage of about 10-15db of blocking with frequencies at 2000hz and above, as well as much better isolation when ANC is off. But below 2000hz the difference is a lot less, barely anything at certain points People mistake the high frequency difference as a full frequency difference all the time, not realizing how sound physics and ANC actually work. Basically, you probably won’t notice much of a difference if you get a good fit until you’re dealing with high frequency sound or incidental sounds like clangs and voices, which anc doesn’t work well on regardless. I’ve used both, and ended up fully switching to the 4 ANC because I find them more comfortable. As for sound quality it’s very close except for sub bass frequencies

I made the switch too because the pro 2 were causing ear itching, and I agree the sound is on par. I also was shocked by how good the anc is, and the smaller case is kinda nice too. The 4 anc are awesome (so long as they fit ofc)

AirPods 4 ANC. Gets everything done with no need for eartips

I had return my AirPods 4 with ANC because they didn’t fit in my ears well enough, you need a solid seal for ANC to be effective, bought the pro 2 on sale instead and they are leagues better for me

Just went today and tried both, APP2 ANC is far greater than 4’s ANC. Apart from that, it’s pretty much similar, if not slightly better (which is not a big concern for me). But the ANC on APP2 was significantly noticeable/better compared to AirPods 4 ANC. Hope that makes it easy for you to decide.

As someone with both, I prefer the Pros because the earbud tips create a better seal for noise cancellation in my ears. The AirPod 4 case is much smaller and easier to fit in my pockets which I love.

I’ve just purchased these!

The answer is going to depend on fit. And everyone’s ears are different. It’s also a matter of preference. Some people live the tips. Some people hate them. Some people can wear the 4s without issue. Others can’t get them to stay in their ears. You have to try both. I actually like both. I received one pair as a gift, and bought the 4s as a test. I like the Pro2s for traveling and yard work. The ANC is so much better. The sound is great. The 4s with ANC seem to sound a bit better. Could be because they’re newer. Anyway, I find them more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. I use them at work, and the ANC is not quite as total as it is with the Pro2s. So it’s better IMHO. But again, all of these things are totally subjective. Give em a try.

Makes a huge difference on teams call on Windows computer. I regret buying this over the pro 2

i just got them today and they are super comfortable. Had then on for like 5 hours at work.

I just tried both. Pro 2 has better sound but both hurt my ears. Liked the OG shape the best. Probably going to go with bose

Had airpods 2, today was my first training with airpods 4 anc. Everything sits in place. I don’t have pro version, because my ears don’t like that silicone thing. And i had jabra elite previously, and earbuds falled of during walking.

Never tried the pro 2’s but the 4’s are great, IMO.

I did the same, the Pro 2 earbuds hurt my ears too much; 4NC have been great

I had the first and second gen pros and I thought the AirPods 4 ANC was pretty similar to the first gen IMO. Very pleased with it and happy I don’t need to use silicon tips anymore.

I have had both the adaptive noise control for me is amazing as I the conversation awareness UNLESS YOU ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY SINGING AND LISTENING which I turn it off but I like them with more I returned the ones without

The Pros have better ANC and sound because of the tight seal. However I prefer the 4s because i don’t like the silicone tips on the pros.

I posted a long review. They aren’t as good as 3 in so many ways. There’s too much treble and brightness it and every instrument is pronounced. This is not music should be heard with everything in the near same volume. The bass is much better for me … loudness at same volume is better but if 3 had better bass or same bass as 4. It will knock the 4 out of the park. Have a strong feeling some dumb idiots from beats team started working on the AirPods team. Beats never makes anything with good sound, I have no idea what Apple gained by buying them .. they are only ruining this product. They need to update with a headphone eq feature or don’t shove non flat sound signatures on our faces. For these kind of crappy sound , beats is always there to buy.

The 4’s are going to sound better than pro 2. People always worry too much about noise cancellation but imo 3 was a bit better for me in sound stage because of their open nature. 4 is going to kick pro 2 in sound quality. I am sure of it.

It probably is, if the 2 pros block less noise then the 4’s they either got nerfed to make the 4’s look good, or they are broken.

AirPods 4 are great and $99

I hate the silicone ear tips. I can’t stand IEM’s because of that. I’ll pick up the AirPods 4 specifically because they don’t have those ear tips.. and I lost one of my original AirPods 😅

I already have the pro 2’s I just want a second pair. The pros are kinda my work headphones at this point. Had them for a while. So they are kinda my throw around. Going to use the 4’s for use after work. Smaller case easier to bring around and such in my pocket. Idk I just want both lol

Works airpod 4 + s21ultra

I hope the shape redesign help the new 4s to stay in my ears.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the silicone ear tip because it hurts my ears after prolonged use. However, the features of the AirPods Pro 2 are hard to overlook, especially the convenient volume control feature by swiping, which is not available on the AirPods 4. If the AirPods 4 had this feature, that would be the one I would choose. Comfort and features are important to me, so I’ve found a solution to make the AirPods Pro 2 more comfortable for me. I simply use the smallest ear tips, and that solves the problem. It’s similar to the AirPods 4 now, and it’s more comfortable for me.

it honestly depends on your preference. both are very good but airpods pro 2 are a little better because of the silicone tip that goes in your ear blocking out noise in general, while the 4’s sit in your ears.

This is exactly my experience. I got them yesterday and left ear is snug and the right ear feels like it could fall out any second, and does on occasion. I’m hoping I get used to it or it somehow gets better bc I’m pretty annoyed so far.

Simple. 4’s do not fit in my ear. The pros do. Do what fits and is more comfortable for you.

I bought and returned these. Still have my AirPod 4’s despite them sometimes falling out doing certain extreme exercises. It’s not so frequent that I NEED workout designed earbuds. I thought the heart rate sensors and more snug fit would keep me more engaged in my workouts but the software implementation of heart rate on iPhone is not front and center, having to use external apps for clear real time data in the background.  Why oh why is Apples health app not updated to support real time heart rate tracking at the tap of a button. Instead an anomalous green light on the earbuds is your only indicator that it’s tracking. I can only assume a better implementation is coming with next AirPod pros, typical Apple. The earbuds still wiggle out of my ears reducing bass response so despite them not falling out it does not keep them tight inside the ear. I have always had this problem with ear tips, ear hooks unfortunately didn’t solve it.  These issues do not pair well with a 250$ price tag and a sound signature that has very little engagement. AirPods 4 sound right, bass response is simply more dynamic in comparison. Soundstage is more engaging as well, I can only assume beats marketing makes you expect an Apple experience that misses the mark on purpose. The only great thing about these is instant paring and long battery life. For heart tracking I may try a chest strap or something, the software implementation for these beats is surprisingly lackluster and unintuitive. Couple workout YouTube channels elaborating on this more.  If you are a highly active person and swayed by all the videos released after the embargo period I would suggest lowering your expectations.  

Pro 2 are quite a bit better in ANC but for me, Airpods 4 are loads better in comfort and the case is lighter and smaller. Sound quality is surprisingly close. For some people, the in-ear fit is just as comfortable though. For those, Airpods 4 makes little sense.

Just reporting back, I was able to stress test my AirPods 4 perfectly over the past two days. I had a 2 hour plane right and an 8 hour day working in a datacenter. On both occasions, the AirPods drastically reduce the noise of the environment. I will say it didn’t eliminate the noise and if you only have your AirPods in with no content playing, you could definitely still tell that the outside was loud. It just didn’t sound loud to me. As soon as you turn on any content even at low volume, it immediately overrides the environmental noise. I was able to comfortably listen to a podcast or was it below 50% volume completely satisfied with the purchase. I will say battery life takes a hit. You definitely need a lunchtime recharge, but all is good with that.

In my opinion, Bose earbuds sound quality are terrible on iPhones. Not sure why. But I noticed this a long time ago. They have better quality on Android products. If you have iPhone, AirPods are unfortunately the way to go

Pros. I’m not liking my 4s because I have to charge them often

Cracking noise of original Airpods Pro 1st gen while on phone call was getting litte annoying. Went with Airpods 4 without noise canceling.

After getting a string of ear infections after a long summer of water sports I have not been able to comfortably wear the pro ear tips without feeling like my ears start sweating and ear infections start flaring up. The regular AirPods have always felt so much better for me and I’ve already ordered my AP4

AirPods 4 with anc if you like ease of use and comfort.

Big agree. Always dealing with discomfort and ear wax and they give a lot of static any time I wear a hood or sometimes for no reason despite already having this pair replaced for the same issue. I actually have started to despise my pro 2’s and have no reason to upgrade to new ones when they’ve always had issue. The 4’s are a great upgrade since I’ve just been using my gen 2’s the most for convenience.

It's impressive but not at the 2nd Gen Pro levels. I would say for low frequency noises like airplanes and loud fans, it's good enough. For high frequencies like TV and people talking, you definitely notice the difference. With that said, it's definitely a game changing product -- I always prefer open designs when working out, trapping sweat in my ears seems to lead to lots of health issues for me. But in a noisy gym I felt like I couldn't really enjoy music with open buds unless they're cranked really loud. The AirPods 4 definitely solve that problem for me.

Love my AirPods 4 I just dry them up every 5-10 KM with my tshirt And with Apple care I don’t even care much if they fall down and break you can just replace them for little $

Agreed. I got the 4’s today and immediately processed a return. I am Super bummed because the size of the case is so much smaller and I wanted them to work so bad. But literally standing still they kept just falling out. Maybe I have weird ears lol but I cannot keep them in my ears without the rubber tips 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you care a lot about sound quality then the short answer is just don’t get airpods, period. Airpods main feature is NOT sound quality, especially since Apple still use Bluetooth and loose way too much quality over the air. If you want audiophile quality go with wired headphones, no bluetooth headphones come close. Now the quality is good enough for everyday use, and the ANC is nice to have even though people seem to have varied experiences with it. For me it’s okay I’d say, nothing more. The airpods 4 with ANC are definitely bassy though, I’ll give them that. Also, please don’t touch the Spotify EQ if you want quality sound and crispness, leave it flat. The Spotify EQ is notorious for being shit

The thing that makes the most difference seems to be the ”Spatialise Stereo” setting though, it really widens the sound so it sounds more like you’re listening to speakers inside a room instead of earbuds, quite neat I must say, I enjoy that option more. The Airpod 4’s are also quite good in mid to low volume, they’re really lacking in the high volumes though. So if you buy them, don’t expect great quality at high volumes :)

Yeah I get that. I got the 4’s for that exact reason, convenience. I also don’t like plugs going into my ears so I’ve had the exact same issue before. Sadly no headphones without plugs will sound amazing (note that it’ll probably be fine for the average listener). As far as I’ve heard the Pro 2’s still clear the 4’s (even those with ANC). But I would say the ANC model does improve the quality somewhat. When I turn ANC off you get a flatter and narrower sound, when it’s on it’s noticeably wider and certainly more bassy. It’s not got the peaks that I personally prefer but it does the job for everyday use. When it comes to other brands I can’t say I’ve tried or seen any that offers the same convenience or comfortability. Those are my main points when looking for wireless, which Apple actually are very good at. Make of that what you will, I’m not an expert, I just enjoy music, convenience and high quality products!

Kind of annoying that the only improvement to AirPods Pro 2 of note is the hearing aid functionality. For that reason I’ll probably go with the AirPods 4

Just wanted to chime in to say I just got these AirPods 4 and they feel awesome in my ears. So comfortable. They were redesigned for comfort and I expected that to be BS but I can really tell, coming from AirPods 3. As far as AirPods Pro 2, I had some and returned them. My reason was because I realized I needed over ears for my music listening. I like that banging bass. The AirPods 4 I just bought for movie watching and everyday walk around use. I maybe would have kept the AirPods Pro 2 if I knew I was going to eventually buy the AirPods 4, but now that I have them I would say they feel more comfortable than the silicone tip style of the APP2. They have more of a “not-there” feeling which I like more than the “I’m wearing ear plugs” feeling of the silicon tips

I had the original AirPod Pros, and the ANC was impressive. However, I picked up the AirPods 4 ($120 USD option, which lacks the improved case, and ANC), and I’m fine with them. If you travel often, in noisy environments, and want the added features of the improved case, then go with the Pro model.

Pro2 is better for sound, ANC, battery life, etc. Only reason to buy the 4 is if you can’t get a comfortable fit with the Pro 2.

Depends on what your ears like. Originally got the 4’s after a much needed upgrade from my 2’s but they kept falling out my ears so I got the pro 2’s which fit much better (and thus sound better)

Becuz they want to force u that shitty airpods pro max. Airpods 4 are amazing so were the 3’s

That's good to hear. I'm moving from Pro 1's to Airpods 4 after my some idiot left my Pro's behind on a cruise ship. (It was me. I'm the idiot.)

I have both and I enjoy the pro2s way more and they are often on sale on Amazon.

Just had mine delivered and these instantly fit in my ears with no issues. With the 3s, I would have to nudge them around to make them feel secure. Loving these already!

You can also get the normal AirPods 4 without anc if you never use ANC.

It really is dependent if you want to have ear tips in your ears or not. The pro 2 will have better anc since it has the seal. The 4 will have a better transparency since it’s open.

The AirPods pro 2 with silicone ear tips are painful to wear beyond 20-30 minutes and I find they can increased earwax and oiliness, which cause them to slide out, regardless of which tip I use. The AirPods 4 fit my ears even better than the Airpods 3 as they sit more securely on the bottom part of the concha of my ear.

So with the 3’s, you just rest them in your ear and they stay? I the Pros (1st and 2nd) but my 2nd got stolen and just been without but decided to try the 4’s. I guess it’s hard to remember how the first gen AirPods were without tips. For some reason, I don’t remember much about that experience.

If you have room for the over-ear, then you def have room to also bring in-ear (I am imagining something like an AirPods Pro case or similar?). Why not both? AirPods will take up next to no space in your bag and having both options is always nice.

AirPods 4 slides out of my right ear. Left ear is ok. However no comparison to 2 which sit in my ears perfectly!

AirPods Pro 2 are factually and objectively better than AirPod 4s

I bought both and tried them out, I really wanted to make the pros work bc their anc is really really good and the volume control is also convenient but for some reason the pros hurt to wear in my left ear only. I tried different size tips, tried foam tips, nothing worked so unfortunately I am returning them. the airpods 4 are a good enough replacement tho, they are way more comfortable and the anc is solid so I'm happy with them.

I know right. I bought them as an upgrade to Gen 2. Honestly the Gen 2 is far far better and I am feeling so bad of spending extra money to get something so cheap. Even one plus buds I tried is better than this. Airpods 4 suck with flat sound

I was really interested to hear how the noise cancellation works on these AirPods. "If the AirPods Pro are an 8/10 for noise cancelling, these are a 4/10 \[...\] It's less noice cancellation and more noise reduction."

Pros never stuck in my ears plus are uncomfortable for my liking. I’ve also had the 3rd gen which I’ve always liked the fit of so much more. I went with the AirPod 4s and am really happy w it. The audio is very clear and crisp compared to the 3s. Obviously these are just not going to be up to par if you are a real sound wizard but if you are just a casual user of AirPods, I highly recommend the 4s. I am happy with my purchase.

To each their own but the pros left me with a non healing scrape in my left ear that I could never find a reasoning for. There’s even a sub reddit about it; apparently I wasn’t the only one to have this mystery effect. I got the 4s recently and I like them, but they’ve started to pop and then send a blowing sound while on noise reduction mode only. Just had an automated chat yesterday with Apple and they said I needed to update my iPhone’s OS. I did that and am waiting to have some time to try it out to see if that fixes the issue.

Got mine today and they’re really decent, it’s noticeably quieter with noise cancellation turned on. Pros obviously block more noise but I wouldn’t say it’s entirely on the ANC. The pros are noice isolations + ANC, the 4s are just ANC. 

Airpods 4 for comfort and casual use. Pro 2 for seriously good sound and noise cancellation. If you are prioritise on calls 4 would suffice. If you are deep into music, Pro 2 takes the experience to next level !

I adore the AirPods 4. So comfortable to me. Sometimes forget they're in my ear. Sound great too.

The obvious answer is that some people dislike silicone tips. Another point to consisder is that the AirPods 4 charging case is considerably smaller than the AirPods Pro 2 case. It's about 20% in volume difference and it's about 35% lighter. That's a massive difference to me, that the main point of wireless earbuds is convenience, so if it's something I can always have in my pocket without it annoying me, it's win.

I had to get the 4s, because the silicone tips on pros were not fitting my ears correctly. One was inside nicely, but the other one was falling out everytime.

AirPods 4 user. I also use Beats Fit Pro for more active purposes. To me, I found music listening on AirPods 4 better than AirPods Pro 2. I don’t know if it’s only me but the AirPods 4 are more relaxed and fuller sounding than the AirPods Pro 2. I found the AirPods Pro 2 sounding more direct and less smooth for music listening compared to the AirPods 4. I don’t know why but AirPods 4 sounds smoother to me.

Earpods, Airpods 4, Airpods Pro 2, Sony WH-1000XM4 (over-ear), Bose QuietComfort (over-ear),

Hey i was in the same boat as you. I currently still use Airpods 2nd Gen as they were the best fit for my ears. I also have Airpods Pro 2 which the XS tip works well for me. And i also have Airpods 4 which is a better fit compared go 3’s but still not as good as the 2’s. But definitely audio quality is superb on the 4’s.

I think its better to take airpods pro 2 than airpods 4 . Purely my opinion , I think the airpods are better in the ear , as well as their listening time is longer than the airpods 4.

Like silicone tips and actual ear sealing feel? Yes-Go for the Pro 2 No-Go for Airpods 4

4s are open-ear and are less prone to infections and honestly more comfortable, and the sound quality is just fine (unless you’re an audiophile - but if you are, you should be looking at Devialet Gremlin, Sony CRE-c20, Astell & Kern, etc)

Not sure if you've tried AirPods 4 yet, they really fit a hell of a lot more secure than 3, are water resistant (I've run mine through the wash and they still work no problems), and the noise cancellation is nice if you live in a place it is safe to run with it. I always get a loud muffled bumping sound with every step when I wear in-ear headphones and I can't get into the music enough with Shokz lol

Yeah, I picked up the 4s, and although they don’t fit as well as the originals, they’re still good enough (they at least don’t fall completely out). Absolutely love the noise cancellation on them.

Yes. I'm not even sure you have other options besides AirPods 4 if you want ANC without in-ear design.

Same, i do not like the feeling of the ear tip but holy shit is it better than the 4’s like 10 times.

I have been running with the Airpods 4 and they fit wonderfully for me, but it sounds like it depends on your ears.

We aren’t born equal LOL I can’t stand the AP 4 due to the pain in my ears after 15 minutes… So I got the Pro 2 and I can keep them forever in my ears. Just need the right plug size. Also I wouldn’t pass the amazing noise canceling but that depends on your usage

I just got them today and love how they stay in my ears compared to the EarPods and AirPods 3 that slowly slides out my ear. I had to get wingtips just for it to stay in my ears but hate how I have to put on/remove the wing tips every time I want to use my AirPods or put it back into the case.

Just to let you know; Powerbeats Pro 1's Driver Size is 12mm; Powerbeats 4's Driver Size is 12mm; Powerbeats Pro 2's Driver Size is 9.5mm; Beats Fit Pro's Driver Size is 9.5mm; AirPods Pro 1's Driver Size is 11mm; AirPods Pro 2's Driver Size is 11mm; AirPods 4's Driver Size is 11mm. The "Driver Size" is the thing that makes sound (usually) louder, richer, fuller, more bass, etc. You may think of "Driver Size" like "Speaker Size". The bigger the Speaker, (usually) the louder, fuller, more bassy it sounds..

I tried that, the 4's kept working themselves loose (left ear especially). I would be sitting still, put them in my ears, rotate, they would feel snug at first, but maybe 20 minutes later, it would literally just fall straight out of my ear. I know it's not cost effective for Apple but I wish they'd make multiple sizes of the regular Airpods.

Yeah I returned mine. Could never got a good fit and I tried every singe tip size. The highs were so harsh and I was shocked at how bad they sounded for $250 headphones. Picked up some AirPods 4 instead and am 1000x more happy with them.

I know this is rhetorical clickbait but as for why I don't like it, it's the simple reason that I have sensory issues and the tips always hurt / fall out of my ears.

Never had Pros 2 simply because I am not a fan of the tip that goes into your ear. Its known that Pros 2 are better but for me Pods 4 are better simply because they are more comfortable

I'll actually try to be helpful. I know you said that you had issues with how earbuds fit in your ear. If you need to hear whats going on around you I would really give airpods 4, or airpods pro a try. Airpods 4 dont have those ear tips that can bother people and if you have issues with them falling out, you can buy ear hooks for them (just google airpods ear hooks). You can turn on transparency mode to so you can hear whats going on (Like with the bone conductors), or what I use all the time, noise cancellation, so I can get peace and quiet wherever I am. (these features will work on android too) I would seriously recommend returning the bone conductors, they are understood to be really niche, and not a great all rounder.

I bought and returned AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 because of the fit. So far AirPods 4 seems to fit closer to my EarPods but still need to adjust them sometimes 

I use my AirPods 4 or Bose quiet comforts.

Airpods 4 I came from an iPhone and don't want to buy a new pair. Plus I don't like silicon tips and these work great with the Pixel. Just missing out on battery levels and siri but siri was trash anyways. Spatial audio works tho!

This. The feel of the buds can be very important. The Pros will always be better at noise cancellation because good NC needs as much outside noise to be blocked as possible, but the Airpods 4 can't make a seal. However, I imagine the Airpods 4 can still block a noticeable amount of noise. (I have an old on-the-ears Plantronics headset with NC, and it does a surprising job at NC. It's not as good as the Pros or the Max but it still works passably.) Also, if you're active/do sports, the Airpods 4 will fall out of your ears more easily. (The Pros can also fall out, but that's a bit harder.)

Just got a pair and put them on and boy do I love em. Coming from gen 1 AirPod pros which I had to constantly adjust these don’t move not one bit. The conversation feature is awesome as well.

Pro2s are better in every way but some people don’t like the silicone tips or it doesn’t fit in their ears so they choose 4s

AirPods 4 is the first Apple product I’ve been disappointed in. I bought them as a replacement for my originals that finally died and these do not fit my ear the way the originals did. Always readjusting them and certainly cannot run in them. If anyone has a suggestion on how to keep them from falling out, I would appreciate it. Take the time to test before buying!!

I recently visited the Apple Store and tested both the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. Both impressed me with their audio quality and build, but here’s a detailed comparison based on my experience: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): While the AirPods Pro 2 offer slightly better ANC, the difference isn’t huge. The AirPods 4’s ANC is surprisingly effective. I shook my head and jumped vigorously while wearing them, and they stayed securely in place. Key Features and Differences: AirPods 4: • Comfort: Extremely comfortable, perfect for wearing over long hours without causing discomfort. • Fit: Feels less secure due to its lightweight and comfort-oriented design. • Mic Quality: Surprisingly better than the AirPods Pro 2. AirPods Pro 2: • Fit: Offers a tight, secure, and snug fit in the ear canal, making it ideal for sports and physical activities. • ANC: Slightly superior noise cancellation compared to the AirPods 4. • Battery Life: Better battery performance. • Comfort: The snug fit can feel heavy and create pressure in the ear canal, making it uncomfortable for extended use. • Precision Finding: An exclusive feature that adds convenience when locating your AirPods. Conclusion: If you’re someone who can’t wear over-ear or in-ear headphones for more than an hour due to discomfort, go with the AirPods 4. Their lightweight and comfortable design make them an excellent choice for long listening sessions. On the other hand, if you’re involved in a lot of sports or activities where you need a secure fit, the AirPods Pro 2 are a better option. Just keep in mind they may feel tight and uncomfortable over time due to the snug fit.

I've found exactly the same harshness - like you I need the XL ear tips but I still find that I need to adjust them in my ears every few minutes. I also have AirPods 4 which fit well and sound great - in fact, quite surprisingly, the AirPods 4 sound very close to the sound of my Sony WH-1000XM5's! (I used to sell high-end audio equipment and come from a technical background.) If listening to hip-hop, edm, workout playlists, etc the Powerbeats sound quite good, but, for example, higher voices, guitar or horns sound overwhelming and harsh, so much so that I am thinking of returning the Powerbeats. Listening to Sam Fender Hypersonic Missiles or something older like Earth Wind & Fire's September and the sound is harsh and fatiguing. It seems to be the 5Khz-6Khz region that is the root of the problem. I use Apple Music on Hi-Res-Lossless. Perhaps a solution for me could be to also subscribe to Spotify and set Spotify's EQ to compensate for the harshness.

if you're ok with silicone ear tip poking into your ear then pro will be better. else ap4 will be for you. the anc will also work slightly better on the pro because it prevent further noise leaking into your ear too

Put it like this AirPods 4: might fit better and more comfortable AirPods Pro 2. Less comfortable, but more features-better sound, anc, transparency, MagSafe, find my, longer battery, swipe controls. Also $70 more expensive.

Got the 4’s without anc for Christmas and really like them. I’ve never anc so don’t really know what im missing

Do you fully understand what you’re saying. Definitely by much the pro 2s are better, seal = better anc, better drivers, better features, better listening experience. They beat the 4s by a long run, the 4s are legit revamped 3s with a different ear design.

Well for a daily use and on budget of hundred dollars I would recommend Air Pods 4. I use these as a daily and I am really happy with them. No noise cancelling but I don’t find it a problem. If thats an issue just go for the Air Pods Pro. Any of them are good enough.

I recently bought AirPods 4, it’s definitely worth it, if you’re a anc guy probably buy the AirPods Pro one, don’t buy AirPods 4 without anc

Do we have the same ears? I just got them yesterday and i have the same issue as you, verbatim. Pretty disappointed... my 2s fit good but i wanted longer battery life and a more comfortable fit, and these only provide the former.

depends. if you're going to the gym, pick the airpods 4 and don't look back. if you don't want your headphones falling out every two seconds, airpods 4.

Have you tried foam to see if that fixes the issue? I have the same problem and recently have heard about people trying foam tips. My 1st gen pros broke so now I’m up in the air on the Airpod 4s vs getting the Pro 2nd gen with foam tips.

Same experience for me

Exactly the reason why I had to get the 4s. No matter what tips I tried even memory foam, the pros 2 still hurt my ears after 10-15 mins. Much better with the 4s and ANC is pretty decent I have no complaints. Best fit for me still was the first AirPods.

Many people hate the in ear rubber though, like myself. 4s are so much more comfortable

I have a few expensive headphones for “proper” listening with better cancellation like the Sony XM5s and the Max’s but I’ve found the 4s very good for the ANC and the sound is actually very good. I had the pros 2 for 2 weeks before and there isn’t a massive difference. It’s a very harsh comparing them to $50 buds, theses are lightyears ahead.

Unless they’re horribly painful, like a lot of people say. 4s are much more comfortable

4s if you prefer comfort.

The rubber felt like they were giving my ears blisters after a week. 4s felt natural. Just accept people ears are different.

No I just exchanged for the 4s and they’re much more comfortable

The rubber thing sucks and always sucked. Thats why the 4s are instant buy

See if you can try them out. The AirPods 4 don’t stay in my ears. I tried them for 40 seconds and they fell out, so I didn’t try them for longer. I’ve never tried the One Plus Buds. Like I said, there are multiple reviews for each one. Go through, watch the videos, and see which one has the features you want for the price.

These are all mainstream enough that multiple reviews are available for each and comparison between them. The bottom line is that the Bose have the best overall ANC with the Sony and AirPods being roughly the same (so long as you use Sony’s foam hybrid ear tips). Bose and Sony have companion apps, AirPods don’t. You can’t EQ the AirPods while the Bose have a basic 3-band EQ and the Sony have a more advanced one.

They stayed in my ears without issues and earbuds like that normally don’t. The AirPods Pro 1/2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3 fall out almost instantly. More semi-open earbuds like the AirPods 4 don’t stay in my ears either. I usually need a wing/fin tip for stability. But not with the Tour Pro 3. I think they work better with their foam tips. But, unlike Sony’s hybrid foam-rubber ear tips, they don’t hurt my ears.

2s if you don’t mind that plugged up feeling. It wasn’t for me so I went with the 4s bc they’re the most comfortable imo

4s are amazing if you don’t like silicon tips. I just wish they had volume control on the stem like the app2. I have no clue why apple removed that feature, it was awesome for the gym.

Sadly 4 doesnt fit me too well, i hear thud when i walk or shake my head - 3 fit me perfectly tho.

Pro sounds better but the 4 fits way better plus the 4 sounds really good.

I’ve tried everything from 5k to 200mi and keep coming back to 4th generation AirPods . They’re perfect and last 5hrs. 10 if you use one ear at a time. If you don’t mind chords then the regular wired apple earbuds are even better

AirPods. Fit under winter hat without discomfort. Use 1 bud at a time for double the battery life

Most people don’t know how noise-cancelling headphones work and think they just magically make all noise go away. Headphones with ANC can drown out a lot of low-frequency ambient noise without having to play audio. If that’s what you’re trying to do, noise-cancelling headphones can work well. I often wear my AirPods without listening to music for that reason. They *don’t* work for short or periodic sounds like voices or construction noise, and they don’t work well for high-frequency sounds.

I bought mine at Best Buy tonight and I think they fit really great. I have no worries of them falling out of my ears

You’re missing out if you don’t mix on your AirPods (not exclusively of course). It’s a pretty important one to do, since toooons of people will listen to your mix through AirPods, so your mix should always slap on AirPods. :)

Most people listen to music through wireless buds or wireless headphones, so it’s actually really important that you mix on them and make sure that your mix sounds good on them. Of course you shouldn’t only mix on wireless stuff, you should switch the sound output between different sources while mixing to make sure it sounds good on different things. Your mix can sound awesome on your 1000$ wired headphones, or on your awesome pair of monitors, but that doesn’t automatically mean it will sound good on AirPods, and I can guarantee you a lot more people will be listening on AirPods than on something equivalent to your professional gear.

I use the Pros outside, and the Max inside. The Pros aren’t uncomfortable but they aren’t something I’d enjoy wearing for 6+ hours a day. The Max is straight up uncomfortable for me and I regret buying them. I kept them thinking they’d loosen up over time but my head is huge and they feel stuffy. For indoor use I’m switching over to the Airpods 4 because I don’t need an insane amount of noise cancellation, the priority is comfort.

Pro 2s weren’t comfortable, hoping the ‘new’ shape of the 4s will be better otherwise they’ll be returned and I’ll continue with my 2s

> Kinda like a parent yelling over a group of kids. Nope. Unless said parent were able to invert the frequencies of the kids' noise, cancelling it out. This is not exclusive to Apple by any means, but ANC in general is quite a bit more sophisticated than "drown out noise by making louder noise". And yes, of course, ANC combined with passive NC (i.e. ear cups or silicone tips to keep out ambient noise) will always be more effective than what the new AirPods 4 are doing.

Just got the 4’s, the 2’s fit a lot better unfortunately, rather disappointing. Hope il get used to it but they definitely are less secure in my ears than the 2’s are. Maybe we’re lucky & we’ll get AirPods SE with the old gen 1-2 shape.

Finally a worthy upgrade to the gen 2's. Update: I wanted to write this after dailying them for the past 11 days. Ive been using them for everything including gym, bus, study etc. the noise cancelling is great and does a good job of blocking out most noise but leaves some which i guess is good for safety like crossing the street and stuff. What i will say is while the fit is quite good they do tend to wiggle around abit at the gym when sweat is involved, they havent fallen out yet but i do have to wipe them down frequently so they have more grip and dont just slide around. I didnt have to do this with the original airpods (airpods gen 2), they just stayed in for me no matter what.

Yeah not gonna lie this is what happened to me long term, the first week was fine but yeah I should probably take down this post...

yeah i use them on my PC (running windows 11)

Yes that's correct, the fit of the 4's is very similar to the 2's, they're a little larger lengthways but the ergos make it not noticeable to me

Yeah! They are a little bigger but the same width, id probably go to an apple store to try them on though just incase

Airpods pro 2 / Airpods 4 depending upon what sits in your ears best.

For me, the AirPods 4 are good, I don’t think a 🌹🧟‍♂️Dominic’s AirPods🌹🧟‍♂️ would be too comfortable

I got both, the pro 2 as the main driver and the 4 non ANC for when the pros are charging, as a more casual pair. No waiting for charging and both are used 2x less due to always being alternating, so I’d like to think it pays for itself over time lol. I personally think the ones without the tips feel just a bit better, but the trade off is less accurate sound and no passive isolation because of the lack of seal. It’s not that the AirPods Pro 2 are uncomfortable per se, they’re actually very comfortable, but I notice when they’re in my ears. I often forget the AirPods 4 are even in my ears until I scratch my ear and bump it out and it drops on to the floor lol. Also the lack of on stem volume rocker on the 4s is a huge downgrade for me in terms of convenience and it sucks that it’s not on them, it’s up to you if it’s enough of a dealbreaker though

True , same , FINALLY

Tell you what put them in your ears and twist the stems a bit towards ur cheeks , thats the thing with these headphones knowing how to insert them in your ears . These are not just put them in thats it . Same with Gen 3 , put them in , twist the stems to not face entirely down. They all fall like that

Absolutely hate the silicone tips. Have for years. Tried so many different brands. I also don’t care much about ANC but I’m impressed with it on the 4s.

i got the airpods 4. id still recommend pro 2 unless: - the airpods 4 fit better like they did for me - you want the latest/greatest. i think the pro 3 will be released this year, per rumor mill

I\`ve been using the pods 4 almost every day, the quality sounds magic

No they don't. 4s block noise by 70 percent, pro 2 by 85 percent

Yeah I tried both at the store and immediately bought the 4. Might need to try the pro 2 again but those values were from my experience. Also some cope because if noise cancellation is much better im gonna regrett my purchase haha

Same!!!!! I thought I was the only one. Every time I begin to chew, move my face around or smile as you say is when they loosen up in my ears. Initially when I bought them they weren’t like this but after a week and a half they fall out ALL… THE… TIME. I’m puzzled b/c I never had this problem with AirPods before. Don’t know what to do 🤷🏾‍♂️

Same! Initially they were good but after a week and a half inexplicably started to fall without fail. I never had AirPods that did this. I wore them a lot and I’m thinking possibly they stretched out my ears.

airpods 4. I've never been an apple guy, but these are done very well. I don't like the buds blocking the whole ear canal, nor the rubberized ends. I'm using an app called wavelet on pixel 9, if you haven't tried it, it may shock you. I had to use an older profile for the app as they didn't have airpods 4 profile on there, but the change in the sound was nearly amazing.

If you ONLY use with your phone or don’t switch the device you’re using often, I don’t think you would miss them. I do love how easy it is to swap AirPods or beats from iPhone to iPad to Apple TV if needed. I use the regular AirPods 4 daily but I also use B&O EQ and Denon PerL quite often. They do sound different but nothing crazy. It really is hard to beat AirPods Pro as a jack of all trades. I am also impressed with the Skullcandy Rail ANC for the price. The B&O EQ and the Skullcandy offer multipoint pairing which is really nice to have. Last thing I’ll say is that AirPods and beats have the nice feature where it will readout your messages to you as they come in if you just have them in and not listening to anything.

I have both. 1. Both have good ANC but pro 2 is tad bit better 2. Sound quality is better at pro 2. Way better. 3. Find my features at pro 2 is like having AIRTAG. 4. Magsafe charging. 5. Widget shows battery level without using the buds or opening the case. Small thing matters sometimes. 6. For running sometimes u need to have foam tip for pro 2, the silicones given by Apple will get loosy when you are sweating heavily. 7. Pro 2 has better battery. 7. Other than that, the both are pretty similar. If you cant use tip, i guess you are only left with Airpod 4.

They’re not better than pros due just to not having silicone tips that fill your ear canal. But for people who find the pros uncomfortable, these are a good option

Wow, aggressive, but OK, I'll bite. I would like to say that I'd like to say that I mostly "understand" their products (since you asked) because I've bought pretty much all their products since 1998, but hey, who the hell do I think I am to have an opinion? You obviously know so much, so I apologize my comment rubbed you the wrong way. I see your point on one hand, and you make a good argument. But regardless of the intention, it's a re-cycled form factor coupled with a technology we're already familiar with. Overall, the sound is exactly the same as AirPods Pro 2, minus the touch control, and minus the seal... at a cheaper price (hoo-rah!) which overall seems like a downgrade, or at best, a "side-step" so they can buy more time until they actually unveil something exciting, like AirPods Pro 3s which will cancel out even anomalous irregular noise, or have true depth losslessness, smaller, longer battery life, etc. I'm glad you love your AirPods 4 though! I love mine, after all this.

You could try some memory foam tips for your AirPods Pro. Comply makes some. If that doesn't work, then maybe the non-pro version, AirPods 4

I tried airpods but you really gotta listen to your impact sound

I got the 4s because of price and I’m not a fan of the silicone tips. I didn’t get ANC since I like to be able to hear around me still while they are in My only complaint which doesn’t matter, the case lid on 4s feels kind of loose and cheap when it’s closed

Agree. My 3’s had solid sound, pretty good, happy with it. 4’s sound has too much bass and dull mids and highs, both with and without ANC. Way worse. Pretty disappointing. I still want to play around with more settings to see what can be done. Yes I have the spacial thing off.

After playing around with the audio settings, I like it!! It’s hard to find, but there’s options: Settings-accessibility-AirPods-audio and visual settings-headphones accommodations (maybe there’s a better way to navigate here, but this is what I figured out) I like “balanced tone” on the moderate setting (instead of slight) Check it out! Much improved.

aairpods pro 2 all day every day, why? they got 10 more feauters than the 4s, they fit better atleast for me, longer battery life, better touch control, both have the same h2 chip in the, so dont think one is better than the other in terms of chips, nope, same chips here in the pods. they are only 70 dollars more, and for that you get 10 great better features, for example the hearing aid, better noise cancellation and much more.

seems pretty clear, people dont like the silicone tips, but they still want anc, so thats why they buy the airpod 4s with anc, great thing apple did tbh, but at the end of they day, both airpods have same chips, the pro 2s are better, has 10 more featuers, better battery, better ANC, better everything than the 4s, now listen, the 4s arent a 2024 model, no, they are 2-3 years old, all the tech you see on the 4s already existed on the pro 2s which was released a few years ago, the main thing at this event, the thing apple wants to sell you guys on is the 4s with anc without the tips, thats apples selling point. and it sure got a lot of people, atleast everyone in this sub. but the thing is, if you are a larger person, you tend to have largers ears, its just human nature, can compare a woman or man thats 5.6 and weighs 120 lb complaining about the big airpods pro 2s not fitting, ofc they wont fit, you got smaller ears than a 6.3 220lb guy where they surely are going to fit much better, ofc ear size doesnt directly change with body size but 90% of the time it does. but yeah 4s vs pro2s, if you look at the tech and software and hardware, pro 2s are better in every single way, but people dont like it becuase they dont fit so they go with the less version, 4s.

makes no sense, "latest model" lol, the airpods 2 are getting new groundbreaking software updates that doesnt even exist on the airpods 4, thats how new they are, yes you read that right, they got features and updates that dont even exist on airpods 4, if anything, the airpods 4 is like "older" than the airpods pro 2, +, they both have the same h2 chip in it, so you have been tricked by apple thinking its a new product, when its not, airpods 4 are literally 2-3 years old.

well yeah, pro 2s might not be for everyone, but if you look and software and hardware, pro 2s are better than the 4s in every single way, + it got 10 more features that the 4s dont have, so in theory the 2s are better as i said than 4s, but people dont like the fit of them so thats why apple made the 4s with anc, just for people like you and everyone else, that doesnt like those silly silicone tips which people blame on, but in reality its just that their ears are too small.

yeah they both have the same h2 chip, so nothing new there, but the thing is, those silicone tips actually change a lot, and when i say a lot i mean a shit ton, they change so much in audio quality and anc, and yeah, especially anc, the pro2s will obv have much better anc than 4s, simply because of the tips. and better sound quality becuase of less leak.

yeah the anc on pro2s are better than the 4s eveyrone knows that, and its not a little bit better but by a lot, thats why apple didnt make any pro 3s, becuase the pro 2s are just too good, and the 4s literally has the same chip as the pro2s, so its not a new pair of airpods at all, the only new thing is that a base model (not pro) is getting anc, so people can decide, pro with anc and eartips, or no pro with less features, no tips but still anc

Do you prefer plain buds or tipped ones? The pros have better noise cancellation and a better fit (sorta) my wife can’t use them they don’t fit her ears so she has the 4s and loves them

I use my AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro with my MacBook Pro and I have zero issues using Discord for voice chat, while playing games. The game audio is perfect and same with discord. I don’t know why people are saying there’s latency issues but maybe I’m too simple to notice lol

The plastic like the new AirPod 4 or AirPod 3 is way better for me personally than the silicone tips. Comfy, no pain, they never fall out, they never move. 

Yeah it's not just price. No silicone tips is a huge positive for me. I also love how much smaller the case is. Only thing I miss is swiping for volume, but otherwise I am enjoying these much more than I did the Pros.

Starting cheap to expensive, these are what I recommend from buds I've tried or used before: 1. Erazer X11, shaped as open concept, this thing hangs on your auricula. Sounds balanced following Harman. This is an $8 that I randomly stumble and happened to have very good sound quality especially for sub $20. I think the low-mid has bad reproduction but everywhere else the sound is great. Also the battery is huge around 10h playtime per earphone. 2. Moondrop block, has classic Moondrop tune which follows rthing target band. Sounds really good, surprisingly delivers bass enough for an on-ear earphone. The low price of $18 is hard to miss. Also happened to have 140ms SBC latency which is usable for gaming. 3. Redmi Buds 5, classic bassy tuning which is surprising for a half-ear. But anyway you get what you pay for. I personally won't pick this and skip ahead to >$60, although this one only cost $28. 4. Xiaomi buds 5. $60, this is clearly in the premium spectrum of half-ear. You can expect the best of the best and this guy delivers... For a price of course. 5. Apple Airpods 3 or 4, clearly the standard for apple. The sound while being clear feels lacking in power (?) not tinny but definitely not as good as I thought. Only pick this if you have an iPhone I guess. This is very expensive in my country so check yours. Either way this limited selection hopefully fits your budget. I was personally surprised with X11 being very cheap while giving an amazing build quality and has too long of battery life. The purpose was for my mom's zoom call but ended up being a good music enjoying earphone. Generally going very expensive on half-ear doesn't make that much sense because sound quality wise they plateau'd really quickly, getting a high bitrate connection like LDAC just didn't give you the extra detail or dynamic for half-ear.

Yeah. Airpods work with Android phones they just don't support all the features (they don't show battery %, no spatial audio, no Find My Device). Still mostly usable.

airpods is by far your best bet; worth the money, takes at least 3years to notice the battery degrade (assuming you use it everyday).

The NRR rating in AirPods is a relatively recent update as well so I think most people still aren’t aware because for years they didn’t have any official rating.

I got tired of my AirPods falling out so I've been bringing my bluetooth JBL speaker with me to the gym. No issues so far.

I have AirPods and the clear Beats. I just have to flap up my diath before putting in my bud.

The difference in quality between wireless JVC earbuds costing hundreds and the airpods are night and day. I'm no fan of Apple except for their wireless earbuds. I'm convinced they set the standard against the similarly priced wireless competition.

At my desk it’s either PreSonus Eris E5’s, or MDR-7506 cans. When I’m mobile/outside, basic old AirPods or a $30 Amazon special Bluetooth speaker.

I use AirPods because they’re tiny. They are very comfortable for me.

I use my airpods

This. I hated the silicone tips of APP. That’s why I just only get the Airpods

I had airpods, forgot them at home once so I bought skull candy sets for a similar price at the airport and I was pleasantly surprised

I got some replacement foam “buds” (?) for my AirPods and they don’t fall out anymore. Amazon find that has been well worth the $7.

With all my AirPods, AirPods Pro and the new AirPods Pro, there’s about a quarter second of latency, it has to do with Bluetooth not the devices, Bluetooth just doesn’t go fast enough So I’d keep looking for one with a usb c dongle

I do the exact same thing. No case. Bose over my neck and “spare” AirPods.

Have to say I agree. Had mine 4 years and they’ve been through the washing machine twice. I use them every day.

I don’t know, I have done maybe 6 races in the past couple of years and none of them forbade ear blocking ones. I like my air pods. Depend a on where you run.

M50x and AirPods

The only two you need, no question. And I have quite a few different headphones including some high end open backs.

wired ones are good cuz you can’t lose them on the bus. wireless are good but maybe don’t bring your best AirPods and get a cheaper pair for tour.

Me too. And I use Apple Airpods. $$$$$

Imo if you have an iphone, air pods are an easy rec sound good enough for the environment upu would be listening to wireless inears and have great anc.

The shockz are cool, but honestly - if you already have working headphones you probably don’t need another pair. Have you considered saving the money and just using a single AirPod so you can hear better? Ive had shockz before but currently just run with 1 AirPod in and can hear the environment sooooo well……better than when I was just using shockz

I had the jabra and move to AirPods. Like them better in every way.

I’ve used AirPods for 3 years now and I will say this While they work first, as your head/neck/face start to become sweaty so will your ears and holy is silicon really slippery on wet surfaces so they’ll move around and shift Also they aren’t technically rated for ear protection above 110 dBA. When driving at highway speeds, you have to increase the volume on your phone for sound to still be crisp and I have noticed my hearing has taken a slight toll due to that and I have started using the classic ol’ orange tips as a result that are rated for 32dB NRR since then

As long as you aren’t trying to record on-time, nothing wrong with wireless buds for production. I’ll use AirPods occasionally to cook up an idea, then use monitors to mix when I’m home. Whilst I would never recommend wireless for any sort of performance capture, do not shy away from using whatever tool is most convenient in the moment.

I have weird ears and I have to have silicone tips or they just fall right out. I use mine everyday for gym with no issues. I use AirPods Pro I am not sure if which model. You guys keep mentioning the Bose I’m curious now. I also use my AirPods when I ride. I have no issues with them under both my full face and my Bell Rouge music sounds great, I sort of “feel” my bike as much as hear it but the NC makes it so a nice ride. I forget how loud my bike really is sometimes

Very helpful! I can share the results of my own research, though I haven't yet purcahsed these. I think AirPods might be one of the better solutions for you. They have good sound quality and noise cancellation, but some people seem to complain that they don't fit or stay in well enough. They're lightweight and reliable, though, and the passthrough audio is supposed to be excellent which enables you to hear your surroundings if and when you need them.

Agreed ,i love mine. Feels like i’m playing video games on my airpods , and my friends say the mic is decent.

Like you, Airpods are probably the best for my ears.  Only buds that fit and sound good.  Would love. Would love the ANC feature. May take the risk and see if it works

If you have an iPhone, your best bet is definitely AirPods as much as I hate to say it. The simple reason being Apple likes to make it very difficult for non-Apple products to work with iPhones.

Airpods doesnt have the best from my testing, but it for sure is the most comfortable, since there is basically no pressure, and minimal white noise hiss. From my experience I'd say its most likely Bose, but overall airpods are still the nicest to wear

Lately I’ve been using Apple AirPods, but before that, I was a fan of the Jaybird brand.

Be careful with air pods and running. The ear pieces themselves have protection from sweat, but the copper conductors in the case easily corrode. Make sure the air pods are fully dry before putting them in the case.

If you have all apple stuff and don't plan to change that, then go airpods, it still has several downsides, but that's apple for you. Get the xm5 if you will use them with anything other than apple devices (laptop, work computer, game console, etc.)

I honestly just use my Apple AirPods and I haven’t noticed any problems. Dunno if I’d buy them just for steam deck though.

I love everything about them after losing my Pixel Buds Pro without being able to actually locate them using the location process. Same issue with Apple Airpods. The sound quality is great, they feel great in ear and don't feel like they are going to fall out. I can't stand the case, I want them in my pocket but don't want to have to have cargo pants to keep them on me. I can't have a case hanging off of my belt loop, working in construction and having a 3 year old makes this a non-option. Maybe I need to embrace the fanny pack lifestyle, or grab a man-purse for my headphones?

I use Apple AirPods with over the ear things they slide into. My tragus pushes one of my earbuds out.

AirPods or just my phone speaker when going around the house

Apple AirPods honestly work great for this

Hmm I’ve used it on both windows and Mac with success. Are you positive your sound settings are good? IIRC there’s some sound “enchantment” features in windows that makes it sound terrible. Might be worth playing around with those and audio settings in the video meetings apps. Cause even the most basic earbuds should sound fine

Their quality is good but I wish I’d gotten AirPods. Jabari’s don’t listen for hey siri And I use AI and Siri all the time

Apple airpods if you could ,i used both sony wf1000xm5 and senheiser m4 but airpods are best imo

I have JBLs that fall out all the time. Same with apple airpods. Looking into over the ear options. For running, i am thinking that 'open ear' is safer, esp bc i am running in the city. What ear buds do people like?

I was using an extra pair of AirPods that I eventually gifted my brother with, and bought a wired JBL Quantum 50C, given that sometimes I play my 3DS or Switch.

Same. Conch, rook, tragus. AirPods have been no issue.

I also sweat a lot and have been using AirPods , used them for a half marathon without issue. I’m not sure how running in heavy rain would affect them, but so far so good. The only thing I’ve noticed is you need to seat them completely in the case or one side won’t charge.

Airpods and Pro, Status Between Pro But I use Sony IER Z1R and a bluetooth tws module Fiio UTWS5

Same and for longer races I just swap one AirPod in ear and one AirPod in the case to charge. Works to keep the charge going for longer and keeps an ear free.

I’ve had some before they never really stayed in my ears before. Felt like I had to push them back in ever 10 seconds. And that was with the smallest tips on them. That’s really my only issue with AirPods

My AirPods died at mile 24 of my marathon last year. I got Shokz open run mini’s this year and have been thrilled with them. No more constant pushing the AirPod in to make sure it’s not going to fall out. Also more waterproof and WAY better battery life.

I know you said you wanted to buy some but I still wanted to point out If you already have airpods. Then save your money and use those. I was going to spend some money on earbuds but there is a plugin called magic pods on decky loader that lets you control pretty much everything about the air pods. You can set noise cancellation etc from the plugin as well .

I’ve used Apple AirPods and I’ve never experienced lag

More of just an fyi for those who need it… When using AirPods with the deck you have to completely disconnect them from your phone. I had continual issues with it dropping the sound until I figured this out.

Air pods work flawlessly with it! They swap over as smoothly as they do with Apple devices

Earplugs (good quality) + com. kit., the higher priced one have really good quality sound and you can ear it perfectly with your earplugs. Airpods will destroy your ears even more than just riding. You'll put them at full blast + the wind noise. It is asking to be deaf. You also have brand now that make earplugs with speaker Bluetooth. They cut up to 32dB. These are the same used by sound engineer at concert/festival. I don't remember the brand.

airpods if ur good at ur job ive been wearing airpods for 2 years now i just keep one in

If you want to be able to use the mic, no. When using AirPods if you enable the mic, it switches the headphones to a lower audio quality (I think for bandwidth reasons?). Whatever the reason, the game will immediately sound like its occurring on the other end of a phone call until you disable the mic again. Id deff look at a cheaper wired headset, can get ones used for work at like walmart for pretty cheap.

you can fix this by just disabling the AirPods mic or just go into settings and switch to MacBook input instead of AirPods, i find it works much better

latency got reduced in recent updates and gaming mode helps

Dude, Samsung galaxy buds 2 has a good rating doesn't mean every TWS is better than every wired iems. Compare prices, use logic. For eg i have Letshouer s12 n it sounds better than Airpods or xm5, n it certainly sounds better than Buds3. TWS have other feature like Noise Cancellation, bluetooth, battery, ambient mode etc.. but dont compare them for sound quality. Because most of them have small drivers. I knw Crinacle is legend n i have bought some of my gear based on his videos but still i would beg to differ atleast for my set of ears.

I just use AirPods with my phone or watch. Usually my phone so I can log my lifts too. That seems to be what everyone does at my gym, minus the logging.

Air pods are surprisingly good

My AirPods work fine with it. BUT I don’t know why my Sony WHXM3 headphones lose audio every 10 seconds, it’s unbearable to be honest. There might be other headphones that face the issue out there

airpods for me

Airpods work really well for me personally as well. I do have an external mic/dac on my personal pc setup which is hands down better, but for work the best thing is just avoiding background noise and providing a clear voice chat and airpods/teams do that fine together.

I just don't think I can go back to earbuds after using headphones. I have the Sony xm4s and whenever I use my airpods they seem so much worse in comparison.

I listen to books while I'm walking my dog, about an hour a day. Switched from AirPods to Shokz a few months ago and now can hear cars coming behind us.

If you’re connecting your earphones to your PC, use a HyperX headset. Great mic quality and comfy. If you’re dialing from your phone, use AirPods.

As a Casual? AirPods.

I also have never had any problems with AirPods, I have the pros

Best audio quality would be AKG N5005. No ANC but sounds great. When it comes to ANC, it’s hard to beat apple. AirPods are amazing at ANC

Very true. I watched loads of reviews saying that the normal AirPods were perfect for exercise and running but for me they constantly feel like they are about to fall out. I actually sleep with my AirPods in my ears and they are still there in the morning when I wake up. I guess a bit of trial and error to see which ones fit different people the best 👍

Airpods mics wear out pretty quickly and need to be replaced. I use a pair if JBLs right now with my phone, and plug in my apple wired headphone/mic on my laptop.

Is this a serious question? AirPods.

Significantly better. Airpods wouldnt be even remotely worth their price if they were just regular tws earbuds. Supermix 4 and a qudelix 5k. Shove that in your back pocket and run your iems down the back of your neck :)

Most audiophiles agree that airpods are the best value for 120 bucks

After my dog are multiple pairs of AirPods, I’ve gone with the Tozo NC9s. Because he has expensive taste, they haven’t been eaten and I find them ok value for money. They’re not as good as AirPods. AirPods either transparency mode is good for running, and ANC for your other use cases.

Beats is owned by Apple so they work just the same as AirPods. It depends on your budget and what you use them for mainly. If its for talking on the phone, interacting with sire, dictation and occasional music listening than AirPods is still the best bet because of the H chip in them. But if its primarily to listen to music and consume media, there are much better alternatives.

I absolutely have to use my AirPods. I get up and move around a lot in my office on calls, helps my back and keeps me awake, so I just can’t be chained to the laptop with wired headphones anymore. I’ve only had a couple days where calls have been extreme and they’ve died. On those days I was literally in calls from the moment my day started to the end, no lunch breaks and about two seconds of a bathroom break. If you keep your case charged, you can do one earphones in at a time so the other is always charged. I’ve fine this now when I have higher volume days.

I have a set, I use them sometimes but my AirPods are just better

depends on your needs. airpods are always the solid choice for an iphone. mic quality isn’t bad, it just suffers from what a lot of true wireless earbuds from. which is not having a mic directly facing your mouth. if you don’t mind wired i would go that route. especially if mic and audio quality is a top priority for you. i’d start with just the regular earpods. their cheap and in most stores.

I have never found a set of AirPods that stay in my ears. Half a mile of running maximum before they’re gone.

The difference is down to personal-preference, situation, and terminology. I use a pair of headphones with 'active noise-cancellation' and 'transparency mode'. They allow me to choose whether to eliminate (almost) all ambient noise around me, with or without listening to music or other media, OR to reduce the ambient noise and still hear if someone is trying to talk to me. I have found that using 'active noise-cancellation' helps me with other sensory issues (reduced pain sensitivity, anxiety, all probably related to the interplay of hyper-focus, monotropism, and interoceptive issues. Note, some 'active noise-cancellation' headphones will not stay on without an active media source. Try out the different types of noise-cancellation. SoundCore is a good entry point to try out the technologies at a lower price-point than the high-end stuff. I've tried out products from SoundCore, JBL, Beats, Apple, Sony, and Bose. For now, I've been very happy with my full-size over-the-ear Bose headphones for home use, and Apple AirPods for when I am out and about. I consider both therapeutic/assistive-devices for my sensory issues. To reiterate, I use my headphones in both your desired-use example (as quiet as possible), and in the case of a preferred sound/noise masking external noise/sound. I hope you find some relief.

So if they actually work I dont mind at investing because in the end I am making money with the earbuds. My current headset smooshes my glassed into my brain so... I need to change but apple airpods sounds like im in a wind tunnel no matter how quiet my office is.

No don’t get them they still have an issue when they don’t get charged for a while they can’t be charged and won’t work never been fixed just get AirPods

airpods have always worked for me - don't like the look of a massive headset when at this point in my career most of my calls are video calls

AirPods or SoundCore’s that give zero wireless latency

Take it your apple fan having there buds at top the only good thing about them is transparency not sound quality Samsung buds pro 2 sound way better than apple's plus bowers and Wilkins pi6 and pi8 even better sound quality again than this

It’s tough to say, because people have such different preferences. I LOVE my AirPods, because I think they sound great, they’re comfortable and connecting them to all my Apple devices was just so seamless. BUT, if I just want to close my eyes and listen to music, I prefer my Bose QuietComfort over ear headphones. They sound fantastic and are super duper comfy. And if I go for a run, I prefer using my Shokz Airs for the bone conduction/open ear style to keep my music going, while I’m audibly aware of my surroundings. A lot of folks here will have some awesome recommendations based upon their experiences and preferences.

AirPods have a great sound and with ANC that works as expected. The mic on the other hand, horrible. Every call I make, everyone tells me I sound muffled. Speakerphone mic is so much better. Because taking calls, zoom/team meetings, etc is so important to me, I’m about to try the Shokz Openrun 2 headset. It’s open ear with bone conduction, but mic is reported to be better, as recommended by my buddy at work.

I honestly cannot live without my AirPods. It’s the only thing that makes going out in public largely bearable anymore.

The bone conduction ear loops like the Shokz will work a lot better if you use wind blocking strips on your helmet straps. It’s also better for your hearing, wind noise can damage hearing over time especially if you hit high speeds descending. And you can hear cars coming behind you or team mates talking better as well. They do make you look a bit like a Fred, but they work! I wear them on solo rides when no one is looking 👀 Fred = noob cyclist aka googan for fishing, kook for surfing, etc [https://wind-blox.com/](https://wind-blox.com/) AirPods have better sound quality, but I place these aftermarket silicone sleeves over them that make them stay in my ear much better.

Lucky you. I have tried to take a call on my AirPods but the caller complains about wind noise, even with a buff pulled down over my ears. I have to stop cycling to continue the call.

It gonna lie, best noise cancelling is still air pods.

My AirPods work just fine. When they don’t I use wired Apple headphones.

i personally use cheap over the ear firearm ear muffs with a wireless earbud in one of my ears like this: https://www.amazon.com/Yewltvep-Shooting-protection-including-shooting/dp/B0BTLKN64N FWIW i use sony true wireless earbuds and have had good luck. use airpods if you have an iphone i wouldn't overthink it

Use AirPods and they sound terrible . The cheap Anker 4nc is even better, but still far from desirable, all reviews and tests say that Jabra is the best in your list, also Nothing is good choice, especially now as they are on sale.

I used both AirPods and an other brand (can’t find which one right now). Both lasted well through the night, but to be fair I usually only use them 5 hours max. My only problem is they hurt my ears, because the pillow pushes them too deep. Recommendations for a ‘shallow’ Bluetooth earpiece would be appreciated!

Yeah it would be nice if you could tell the earbuds to silently die instead of beeping… Maybe changing the pillow is an alternative but I was kind of expecting technology to be advanced enough to make the earbud smaller 🤷‍♂️ (my current workaround is sleeping on my hand and/or giving the pillow an extra fluffing..)

I'm a bit disappointed with these as they keep falling out of my ears if I do anything more than a slow walk and when you use the controls it just loosens the fit further Tried my wife's airpods, and they're night and day It doesn't matter how good the features are if they don't stay in your ears.

Our right, It's a pity the shops don't have display buds you can try on before buying. I do feel the airpods have a better design that hooks better to the ear rather than just the angled design on the samsung

I put my air pods in and I put noise protection cupped headphones from 3m over them

I tried using AirPods and I could not get the helmet on without dislodging them. I ended up using NoNoise brand plugs which filter out wind noise but let everything else through and I listen to music on my Sena

My airpods work well but I suppose you wouldn't want to spend that amount of money to use them just on the SD.

Had this issue. It was another Bluetooth device in the house conflicting (a laptop). Disabled Bluetooth on the other device and never had the issue again. Check around the home and see what else may be using the same band.

Same. Some devices “snatch” Bluetooth pairing, and will force disconnect the AirPods from other devices when automatically pairing. Steam Deck and my Desktop PC always do this, which I don’t mind because it’s seamless and easy. When I want to switch them back to my phone it’s one swipe and a click which is way faster than going into deck’s Bluetooth settings.

Yes and no. AirPods only employ a seamless and trouble free connection and experience. That is it. Otherwise, a true audiophile would never disgrace themselves with the presence of AirPods on any level. If you’re looking for a a great experience, any real audiophile will tell you that only a DAC can deliver the results you want from music. This is why Apple Music in particular says that when using Lossless Audio at the highest setting requires a DAC and wired headphones. Otherwise, the quality is diminished over Bluetooth. However, in my experience, Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony are the top 3 I would choose. Bose being the first choice simply because I have more experience with those over the latter 2. But Sennheiser is a close second with Sony, as both of those brands offer professional studio quality options when using a DAC. The other option I may go for is AKG, in this case, a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds (believe it or not). All in all, Bose or Sony.

I noticed Apple's noise cancelation is horrible when it comes to phone calls. They seem to always cancel your own voice, so the person on the other end literally hears your surroundings over you. Whenever I'm taking a call when outside, I have to disconnect my airpods and use the phone regular so they can hear me.

If you have an iPhone it’s a no brainer, AirPods. They connect seamlessly between devices. If you have an android consider the nothing brand or pixel buds

Tried different ones but always come back to the apple airpods. Mine never fall out, i've been wanting to try some bone conductor headphones since I started road cycling though.

God I looking a drawer a few days ago and realized I have 6 (SIX!) broken or missing pairs of AirPods between me and my wife. They shouldn’t be so expensive to repair or buy spares.

I own some apple airpods & sony wf (1000xm3-5 series). for me the best for running is sony 1000xm5. but for your budget, trust me when i say this realme buds hav the most similar sound quality to those rm1000+ earbuds. almost perfect for running got noise cancelling etc https://preview.redd.it/t7sfdciy831e1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22535fe8d76bdca41cf299d28fdca6da3a97006f

I have an old pair of AirPods that don’t work anymore and it helps a lot. Not only will people avoid talking to you it makes it so you can still hear everything it’s just not loud.

If outside, AirPods. The volume is controlled by the volume on the phone so it’s never too low. At home, it’s either my AirPods or my Bose headphones.

Sony for me. I had two different sets of AirPods and my ear canals were too small for both sets.

I love rocking no headphones but if I do, my AirPods

Airpods anc sucks, im seriously considering replacing mine

Android user here; I bought air pods this year for music as I like the way they fit and noise cancelling in that style is rare - they should pair just fine with Android phones - you do miss out on being able to select which modes are on unless you have an iPad or old iphone - the headphones won't update without an apple device I couldn't get mine to pair out of the box though. I have an old iPad though, and that was helpful Once it did the firmware update, its been great, and I also use the ipad if I want to change settings. The nose cancelling is pretty good; gets rid of background noise per week while letting conversation through

I’d pay extra for the Pros, i’ve heard the regular ones are bad for your ears because they let sound through and you get the urge to turn the volume up to compensate. Plus the Pros are very comfortable. ANC and audio passthrough are amazing features. At home i use “proper” headphones but when i’m writing stuff on my laptop during downtime at work, i like to just connect my Airpods for convenience. I definitely wouldn’t recommend doing the mixing/mastering with them, though it’s good to have a range of devices to see how the song sounds across different devices afterwards. One thing to note - on Ableton when you open the settings and select the Airpods, there might be 2 different Airpods options. One of them is going to sound like cell phone call quality while the other one sounds normal so don’t worry about something being broken if it sounds like demons escaping from hell when you hit play. The only difficulty is getting Airpods to connect to windows, i forgot which one but i had to change a setting a long time ago in the device manager but after that, it’s been smooth sailing. (Except it’ll start to crackle occasionally but turning bluetooth off and on fixes that)

Airpods without eartips do not fit in my ear, which is extremely disappointing. They fall out almost immediately.

I carry both and use/bring OTA on long flights over 6 hours. To me it’s comfort and better noise reduction. I don’t easily sleep on planes but OTA helps. It’s one of my few one bag indulgences. I usually carry an old beat up Bose and leave the case behind. For everything else during a trip - AirPods.

Everyones ears are shaped differently so I don't think there is an objective answer to this question, but I can give recommendations on what works for me. A lot of people like apple airpods but they hurt my ears within 10 minutes of wearing them, personally. I liked Bose earbuds for a long time but they have gotten more expensive, for a worse product in recent years. If you can find a second generation of their Quiet Comfort earbuds, they're pretty great, but still gonna be pretty pricey. The third generation cost about $300 and the quality is worse than the second gen. More recently I've found that I really love Altec Lansing Nanobuds. They're the same shape and level of comfort as the Bose earbuds, but they stay in my ear even better and they're waaaay cheaper. They're not quite as user friendly as the Bose are, as far as touch controls on the headphones themselves, but thats a small inconvenience for me. They also have a better battery life and cost about $60 as opposed to $150-$250 for the second gen Bose. Hope this helps. Good luck on your search for the perfect earbuds OP.

I’m pretty sensitive to audio delay and my Air Pods are probably the least delay-prone Bluetooth earphones/headphones I’ve tried. That’s not to say there’s zero delay, but it’s not very noticeable or distracting. Nothing beats wired, though.

I bought the Sony, Google, Samsung, and Apple buds to test all four (one at a time, returned each pair as needed). All four fit me differently--I couldn't get the AirPods to seal in my ear, while my daughter found them to fit perfectly. I went with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. They were comfortable and I liked their touch control options.

How about meeting half-way. The Kiwi Ears Ardor are on sale @ Amazon for $75 right now. Very comfortable, great sound, and pretty good ANC. The Bluetooth link is rock solid. I can go across the house and not lose the signal. I got them to review, but they are close to unseating my AirPods as my goto set. The AirPods are just so dang convenient in the Apple ecosystem.

I have a conch and tragus and I wear AirPods

What are you using them for? I’m having this same dilemma and I’m kinda coming to the conclusion that AirPods are gonna be best all around I feel. If you’re gyming, working, traveling, they are worse than alternatives that specialize in those spaces but pretty damn good at being competitive in all

I am very happy with the Shokz Open Fit. They sound good and let outside noise in. These could be described as traditional ear buds but they have a gap between the speaker and the ear. I was not happy with the Shokz bone conducting headphones. My uncovered ears heard the usual wind noise while riding. To compensate, I had to turn the bone conducting headphones all the way up and that drowned out any important sounds anyway (cars approaching, etc…). So, I went back to Apple AirPods until I got the Shokz Open Fit. Honourable mention: The Meta Ray Ban smart glasses with integrated speakers sound great if you want to get smart sunglasses. My only problem with these is the thick frames mean craning my neck higher in an aero position. They would be excellent if you ride in an upright position.

Honestly AirPods have been the best earbuds for metal I’ve tried. I’d just get new ones that have those features you want.

it’s because people glaze apple too much. literally nothing about it is better than the other earbuds apart from the ambient sound I guess. they’re still stuck with single drivers, and only support the AAC codec.

Bro its so underrated here. Tried airpod either same or… tak best sangat compared to soundcore 🤣🤣

I have an iPhone, found the AirPods a lot easier to use, more comfy, less buggy, and the sound was good enough compared to the Sony. I just can’t get used to the foam tips, even when switching to aftermarket silicone ones on the Sony the ANC and sound quality changed.

I don’t think anything could dethrone the AirPods as my go-to for day to day usage. ANC and transparency are just so good, and like you say the ecosystem integration is just impossible to replicate. Helps that they sound pretty good as well, haha.

I use my AirPods with a transceiver.

None at all with this that I’ve noticed. I’ve used others in the past for other applications and had serious lag issues.

I loved my Sony link buds s I’d say they were on par with the air pro’s but the quality mine kept breaking maybe that was Apple fucking around or something but I’ve had my AirPods for 2 years and I love them also Apple customer service doesn’t suck balls. I can find them when I put them down, and idk that’s about it it does suck that they don’t exactly have an equalizer but other wise the best earbuds I’ve had. Its Lexus vs Mercedes

EPOS headsets are awesome. I use mine for phone calls, AirPods for teams/zoom. QC45s are also solid since they can connect to multiple devices and switch between them. I.E. I listen to music, even a call comes in on my computer I can answer it, even it’s over it switches back to the music on my phone.

At home I have some nice vintage AKGs. On the go? AirPods lol.

I spent $210 on 3 different cheap ones over the course of 1.5 years. I then bought Apple AirPods for about the same price and have had them for 5 years now.

I use aj iPhone pro with an Apple Watch cellular on number share with AirPods. I don’t even bother taking my phone with me I just pair with the watch and listen from it. Works flawless.

Yes it is… I used air pods for the longest time, and every time I tried talking to someone, they would say “they can hardly hear me “ Made the switch to the BT450… ZERO ISSUES!!… I’ve had several people ask if I’m at home because there is ZERO background noise.

I use airpods but also Bose are my other go-to pair which I use - however, for some reason the mic doesnt work on calls like 1 in 10 times...

airpods!!! The best I had😂

Airpods

Iv had this same issue with in ear buds with the tips but honestly I got the apple aid pods and they never fall out. Is there a way you can test with a friend or family as I've found they are the only ones that sit in right. Not the airport pros just the normal ones Reason why as the normal air pods don't sit all the way in your ears like alot of others that sit half way in which imo is more comfortable for me and doesn't fall out at the gym

I've done teletherapy for over 3 years and I have 2 corgis. These work fabulously: Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex Plantronics brand - but the software is archaic and the company is non responsive. JBL Tune Flex Apple Airpods suck. IMHO. Good luck!

Bose Quietcomfort wireless over the ear headphones are some of the best for travel. I use both AirPods and Bose quietcomfort over the ear headphones. I use AirPods for meetings and normal around the house stuff and the Bose quietcomfort when I really want to relax or when I’m flying on a plane.

used my airpods in 2022 nyc marathon, just had the case in my pocket (lululemon fast and free). it wasn’t that annoying, barely noticed it. i popped them in right before the start and then they started to die in bx, so i put them back in, charged a little, then had them for the finish. they were also kind of old though so a newer pair might have better battery life. alternative that i considered in 2022, and considering for this year, was bringing the case to the start, popping them in once i began, and then handing them off to my parents or someone in bk. i prefer the sound quality of airpods and couldn’t fathom running without music regardless of distance or event

I’d get over the ear vs wireless earbuds. My AirPods almost always end up falling out of my ear mid nap no matter how short the flight. One time it fell in between the seats and started to slide towards the back row. Luckily when we landed I assumed I would come flying back towards me and I was able to catch it with my foot and keep it there till everyone unboarded

Are these similar to airpods in terms of fit? If so, I don't see why they wouldn't work well for sleeping. I currently own a pair of airpods and use them every night and I sleep on my side. Anyone know how the ANC works compared to airpods?

There are still things that Apple does superiorly, and the AirPods is one of them. (Airtags an honorable mention) Granted, some of the features, such as volume controls are not available, but everything else works just fine. I left iPhone a decade ago.

I just use the same AirPods I use with my phone

Not only do they not fit, they break constantly. My extended family/friends come to me with all their tech problems and all the airpods break regularly. They can't hold a charge, won't sync, or the speakers just die. A basic pair of Bluetooth earbuds off Amazon is a fraction of the price and will work just as well, if not better.

I’ve been using apple airpods but they are almost dead now. Im looking to buy some new ear buds that are in budget friendly. I want something that is easy to connect to iphone and not something with weird bass or sound, like I’ve heard in few copies of airpods. Has Good sound quality

I don’t have experience with the OpenFit, but I have the OpenRun Pro 2 and never notice the band. I prefer them over my AirPods and Beats Fit Pro because I feel like the buds never fit in my ears properly. I like how Shokz fit around my ears and I never have to worry about them slipping out on particularly sweaty runs, or putting pressure against my rook and tragus piercings, which was always an issue with buds. Is the sound quality as good as an ear bud? No, but it’s not terrible by any means. I almost didn’t purchase the OpenRun Pro 2s because of some reviews I read on sound quality. Right out of the box, it isn’t great, but you have to download the Shokz app and either customize the sound, or select one of their other sound quality options, just FYI.

Apple AirPods with transparency mode are really very good. Used in conjunction with a radar I’ve never missed a car. With said, follow the local law.

Yeah there’s noise cancellation (absolutely do not use on the bike) and then transparency mode I think it’s called which is really good actually.

Apple is probably the most overpriced product on the market today, including the Airpods. I had an opportunity to try them, and I was surprised by how unremarkable they were. The sound quality was meh, as was most of the other options. The only thing that was alright was the ANC, but you don't need to look very far to find other earbuds that are just as good, if not better, for half the price. The ecosystem is just a gimmick imo.

Haha i have definitely tried AirPods and didn’t last long before one popped out of my ear!

I mean they’re not for gaming specifically, but I have a pair of AirPods and I use them frequently for work, I have a conch and wore them while it was healing and it wasn’t an issue

I had airpods earlier and had liked it but couldn’t justify the price i was paying for it. However recently i have bought oneplus buds 3 and they sound really well, have a good mic, a decent enough ANC and are an absolute value for money

I know it doesn’t work for all, but to circumvent this for me, I use both my speakers and AirPods to play sound when I have to use Discord, and then it sounds better. I just make sure the AirPods are set to Transparency mode and the AirPods are set to Voice Isolation mode if I’m using my AirPods for Discord vs the game audio.

Airpods are the answer. I use a mirror on my glasses and I have a varia. If you want headphones just be vigilant about your other senses. Stay safe

I’ve honestly just used AirPods a few times before, sound quality is far above any wired earphones. I’ve got the base ones, but you could get the pros or something.

I’ve tried two different sets of AirPods and have had nothing but issues. One getting sweaty which made the speakers muffled happened on two different gens. One earphone charging and the other not was another issue. And then only one connecting and the other not connecting was another. Sometimes I’d be at the gym for 5-10 minutes before my workout trying to get them to connect and work properly and that’s if the charging didn’t mess up. I finally had enough and bought some Jabra Elite 7 pro and love them so much and have never had a single issue. Sucks because I normally love Apple products but will never buy another AirPod

I like AirPods because all earbuds are capped at being mediocre at best, so might as well get the ones that work the smoothest with my phone. I also have a fiery hatred of Apple though and don’t blame you the slightest bit. Actually, I really only hate the iPhone.

Personally, every single version of the AirPods (apart from the max) hurt my ears after minutes of use. Despite trying the different tips and aftermarket covers, I can't seem to get them to be comfortable. For my case, the Max is infinitely better, but you're probably not in the same situation as me. So my reason: comfort.

I live in a condo and do this most of my time. I was using an armada of AirPods. They connect seamlessly with Apple products. As I go from room to room, Apple will ask what to connect to with one click. I tried some JBL Bluetooth earbuds and over the ear headphones. They sound fantastic. Their iPhone app makes them ultra configurable and having an eq is very nice. But the connectivity is not one click. Apple makes you go into the system menu everytime I switch from another source. (There is no blue tooth shortcut) JBL costs one tenth of AirPod Max. But has its trade offs.

AirPods have been my most durable by a long shot. I used to buy 10$ skull candy but they’d only last 3-4 weeks. No airpods have quit on me in 4-5 years. I’ve updated em a couple times just because of new features or good deals. I’ve burned out beats but never AirPods, so far anyway

Op, im in the same boat as you were and didnt want to make a new thread. Did you make a decision? I pretty much want cheap with good battery life and comfort. I have Apple Airpods but they only last 5 hours. I basically need to be able to sleep with some brown noise playing on vacation, while those around me snore so loud, youd think a tractor trailer was downshifting on the highway.

Yeah, it’s still there.

AirPods are significantly better and you know it. The seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem alone is amazing.

I use my airpods, dont know how people dont get so hot with headphones on.

Airpods are the absolute best ones with the switch that I've tried. Easy and functional compatibility and great audio. I'm assuming that will be the case with the Switch 2.

Thank you for this. Can you tell us more about the features? I do not miss my iPhone, however, I do miss the Siri capabilities with the Airpods and the iPhone. Do these work anything along those lines with either Hey Google or Bixby? For example, telling it to send texts to someone hands free?

Good to know. I drive a lot for work and having Siri read my texts and being able to respond without having to take my eyes off the road was so handy and I've missed that since going back to my galaxy phone (but kept the AirPods bc the 1st gen galaxy buds didn't stay in my ears). Thanks again

I was a beta tester for those. I ended selling them and buying AirPods…

Sigh, just lost my old earbuds and was planning to get the elite active 8 gen 2 or the elite 10 gen 2. Now I’m dubious at best. I expect 3 year warranty for products I purchase (living in sweden), seems I’ll at most get 2 year decent support and updates will likely be sporadic at best. Maybe better to try finding another brand. I’ve tried some other ones, airpods sit really bad and are uncomfortable. Sony sit decently comfortable but get pushed out easily, when smiling, talking or moving, especially once you get warm/sweaty. Jabra sit really nicely and comfortably and don’t slip out. Therefore they’re worth far more to me and audio quality is better due to a nice fit. I’ll have to consider things carefully. These earbuds aren’t cheap, I can get into the premium earbud category for every brand for this money. Wish it was easier to test a lot of different brands.

Airpods and a JBL Flip 6 at the cabin. I spend too much time focusing on the critical things at work, at home I just want it to sound good and be simple to use.

Both Airpods and Bose QC ultra connected very well. No lags or drops.

Oh, if you are an iPhone user... You just can't go wrong with Airpods. Less hassles.

I've had many different models, and love TWS. Airpods, Clone Airpods, Qcy Ht05, etc.. In this moment I own a Huawei Freebuds SE 2 and a Huawei Freebuds 2 Pro and gonna be honest with you, 99% of the time, the "cool features" makes no difference. ANC, Transparency, Multiple controls in earbuds, auto stop when removed... in my experience, in the daily usage - which is GYM + Home Office work, I turn them on, plug in my ears and use them for music or conversation. The only things I would say REALLY matters is battery life and fit. And this last one you can't check through reviewers. You have to check by yourself. TL/DR - go with the one that best adjust to your budget and you like the most. Features you should care about: great fit and battery life.

My company issue Airpods or Jabra headsets depending if you want in or over ear. both work fine for me.

I can't fit those rubber in ear things into my ear. That's why I like apple air pods or now as a less expensive option the Marshall ones.

My overears plug into my phone charging port, so I can’t charge and listen at the same time. Fine when I had a good battery but my phone is old and o charger whenever I can. That plus the inconvenience of balancing large headphones leads me to choose my air pods more and more when travelling. I miss the comfort of my overears, but it’s a sacrifice I will make. 

for me, airpods are way too large and tight, and distort my tragus and cause pain, just to offer a potential counter example :(

As cliche as it sounds my air pods work great on it and it's what I mostly use

I know what you mean about the AirPods. We hosted a virtual conference a few years back (all speakers on Zoom at home). Most used AirPods and it sounded tinny. I mean, Bose is always going to have the top-tier ANC (for now, anyway)... but they suck in so many other ways that it pisses me off. It's definitely subjective, yeah (plus you have to deal with fanboys - Apple being the worst). I just want the best... period. I'm willing to pay for it, but I'm not going higher than $400 for earbuds (or any headphones).

Airpods are goat. I'm on a S25 ultra. Galaxy buds pro 3 suck for anc. Miss my airpods.

I’ve tested AirPods in an Apple Store in the U.S.

I have both the Bose QC and Apple AirPods and I find Bose to be better with noise cancelling. Literally blocks out the noise whereas with Apple, I can still hear street noise even with noise reduction at the highest level

AirPods give you convenience and decent sound. For the price they are solid. For “best sound quality possible” AirPods aint gonna be it and you are looking and a lot more money. Especially if you are looking for Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods for when at the desk and need to take calls. Super comfy and amazing sound for both. And Bose SoundSport for home when doing chores or working out or taking dogs for walk (also calls are excellent). They have wire between the two ear buds that makes it easy to pop one bud out to hear ambient noise or talk to someone and NOT lose the bud by putting it in pocket or on a counter.

most songs are mixed and mastered in a way that it sounds good for average listener with normal/cheap earphones, meaning songs would be worse in lossless so airpods are better imo if u can afford it obv

If you're on iOS & Apple ecosystem, I love my airpods. But if you're price conscious or don't care about integration features, Anker/SoundCore has always been reliable for me.

Dont get airpods for android theres not much to it if you dont have an iphone

I ride with AirPods and I’ve never felt like I was missing any external sound. They really are good at letting through what you need to hear.

The best? Hell no! AirPods are built to last a year the then they fail. Nothing like planned obsolescence.

My kids have gone through 2 pairs each. Every year, right after the warranty expires, one ear bud fails its almost a joke to us at this point.

we've had 8-9 pairs of air pods fail, and 3 apple watches die. Yet they keep buying the apple stuff. I won't.

One of the air pods just quit working on all the sets they've had... the apple watches quit holding charges, one separated from the back because the battery got super hot. No abuse they just die on their own.. and they aren't mine. My stuff lasts forever but they arent Apple products.

If I were you I’d get a pair of Linsoul Supermix 4 and the Qudelix 5k. You can run them wired or wireless with that setup (wireless from the phone to the dac, headphones will be wired). It will absolutely demolish the AirPods for the same price. That being said, I use my AirPods every day for non music related stuff like listening to audiobooks or YouTube, meetings and phone calls, etc

My phone usually takes priority when I open the AirPods case, so when I want to use them with another device (work laptop, Steam Deck, etc) I go to the Bluetooth menu on the other device and select the AirPods so it'll try to connect, and *then* open the AirPods case. This usually allows the device to connect to them before the phone snatches them up.

IMO except the tradeoff that comes with shokz that the sound won't be as best as an iem. wear your airpods when not biking and wear your shokz when biking. At least you wont lose your shokz.

My airpods. Seamless transfer between phone and iphone

That’s what I use and I have a Blue Parrot headset too. They often give me a headache so I mainly use the Air Pods

I’ve just killed my second set of Airpods. 😡

I’m pretty sure.

yeah fr, ive tried them a few years ago and i thought they sounded ass

I can't believe I would say this about any apple product, but their airpods were the best bluetooth earphones I ever had. They were easy to pair with my Windows, Android Phones, they do happen to have nice noise cancellations, they charge quickly, and last for long sessions. Now, admittedly you have more options to control them using other apple products, like enabling and disabling other features; That said, I never needed those.

Did you have any issues pairing? I’ve tried multiple times but deck doesn’t recognise the AirPods for some reason.

You should test the sennheiser momentum 4 if you’re thinking overear. They’re way better than APM, imo. If you go in ear then the AirPods are top

Luckily I’ve learned through long runs that my AirPods don’t last long, so I’ve always brought wired ones during marathons and switched over halfway. Just helps my sanity to not rely on headphones needing to be charged.

I have jbl Bluetooth headphones and they noise cancel and are the best ever. Comes with an optional wire and shit stays charged forever. I’ve never had good luck with any Bluetooth earbuds though other than AirPods. Mine are so degraded at this point though (four years on) that they can’t even hold a charge for 5 fucking minutes. Disgusting

I am an audiophile. While the AirPods aren’t the best sounding earbuds, sound quality isn’t really the reason you buy earbuds in the first place. The AirPods to a great job in many regards, but it’s the features and ecosystem that make them great. If you have a Mac, iPhone, and iPad, then Apple headphones are a no brainer. It killed me to pay $500 for the AirPods Max, but I don’t regret it. Automatic switching between devices and calls is so nice.

Same. I was an iPhone user but switched to Android but kept my Airpods. They work just fine w/o a companion app.

Airpods is always the answer.

Not just you. I've decided that Airpods and my ears are incompatible.

These so much, I've been through many many MANY headphones trying to find comfy ones that are high quality, airpods fall out of my ears and don't get loud enough, others don't stay put, etc etc, these have fixed all of those problems with only 2 minor problems. 1 is mentioned above which is the app you have to download, it's a minor annoyance, but it might put some people off all the same. The 2nd problem is that because they are quite large and go over the ears, if you plan on using them while walking or exercising etc, expect your ears to sweat. Also like this person said, Amazon has them on sale all the time for around 50% off. Absolutely do not buy them for their full 300-400 dollar price, they usually go on sale for around 150-200.

As much as I dislike Apple products, I have to admit the call quality of their Airpods are almost unmatched. Look at every single remote interview you see on TV... 99% of the time the person calling in is using Airpods of some kind. It always sounds pretty good too. I've tried calling my friends with all my earbuds and they all have said the Airpods sound better on their end. My other buds tend to have a slightly muffled or digital sound. I don't generally use them to listen to music, but when I know I'll be on a long call, I'll switch to them.

Apple AirPods don't stay in my ear. Earbuds with silicone tips don't feel right to me (it feels like my ear is clogged / underwater). I'm looking for open-style wireless earbuds without silicone tips but also have wingtips to lock them into my ear. Why doesn't this exist? Years ago, Bose made a wired sport earbud that was PERFECT (the Bose SoundSport), but this line was discontinued. Do you have any recommendations? I've spent hours and hours searching for something but can't find the right set.

I have the xm5 over ear headphones and love it. I’m not sure I trust the earbuds though for the price as I went through two pairs of XM4’s while using them only in the gym. I ended up going with AirPods this time around and I’m happy with them overall. My only gripe is you can’t customize the EQ so I can’t adjust them to the Harman Curve or other EQ profiles I found useful. But they do sound very good for what they are.

Airpods are really great. But their mic performance on the outdoors is worse than trash.

I've personally been totally okay with my AirPods for the NYC United Airlines Half and the Real Simple Women's Half.

Yeah!! Like they are soo snug I tried my friend AirPods without the rubber tips, and returned them the next day. Just not for me unfortunately

Matter of preference indeed. I’m in your camp on this one. I’m more than happy just carrying my AirPods, despite having to do 6-11 hour flights quite frequently. The extra bulk and weight of over the ears isn’t worth it to me.

I haven't tried the newest ones but one of my gripes with an older generation Samsung buds is all the touch controls don't work through the cloth and the fit was really bad and they tended to fall out easily, I currently have a Google pixel so I'm using the pixel buds with them and they fit well, everyone's ears are different and especially with how a turban may press and your ears in a different way, it's hard to recommend something like this so generally I'd just recommend whatever works with your phone. The airpods have great fitting under turban, but horrible noise cancelling from what I've heard and also don't have a good mic so speaking or answering calls with them isn't the best. You also just lose out on features with each type you go with if you don't have the compatible phones they are designed for, you'll get Bluetooth connectivity across all of them but you won't get the virtual assistant on android with airpods or things like active listing and live translation with pixel buds with non Google phone etc. it's up to you what features you value more and what you're willing to sacrifice on, even if you have to go with a third party one that may fit better and work for your use case. For Comparison the headphones I use with my PC are from a company that makes amps just because those ended up being the best option for my use case.

I had them for a week and returned them cause they were really uncomfortable. I switched to the Bose QCEs and it made me realize how flat sounding AirPods really are. The customizable EQ on other Earbuds helps so much. Only good thing about AirPods is that they are very easy to use on iPhone whereas with other earbuds you’ll need an app to function certain things. But that’s a trade off I’m happy to make for better sound quality.

IMO comfort and "stay-in-ear-ability" vary from person to person, and unfortunately the only way to figure out what works for you is trial and error. I bought $500 worth of earbuds / open-ear buds and ended up returning them all because I couldn't find anything more comfortable than my regular airpods. I wanted to love the Bose Ultra open earbuds because the design is very creative, but ultimately I couldn't get past the "jiggling" sensation of them bobbing on my earlobe.

This. If you are into FPS games and ms latencies, the AirPods are gonna irk you terribly. Furthermore, whenever you use them for voice comms, the reproduced audio quality goes to the crapper — limited bandwidth.

Air pods sound like shit I don't know what people in this thread are talking about

airpods with an iphone are pretty good if you have on and can afford them, I've had sony ones in the past that hav been really good as well.

Yes AirPods are pretty durable if you liked them plus they are in findmy now. If you don’t want to go Apple the ones I’d say that are durable are soundcore liberty 4 NC. I’ve used them in loud environments and they do good enough to block hearing damage. Maybe you’ll like the DeWalt job site earbud necklace

AirPods though I wouldn’t mind getting another pair of buds specifically for deck, like skullcandy so it fits in the case all in one

I hate silicone ear tips and can’t have anything deeper in my ear. Sensitive ears and have had recurring ear infections when younger. Also, the ANC version has the MagSafe case aka wireless charging which I use regularly in my Tesla just like I do my phone for easy charging and no cords. Like my current AirPods. Also, $50 is immaterial to me, so I’d rather have those features which are still positives for me personally. I use AirPods everyday for gym, work, etc.

I vouch for Airpods and Airpods Pro

They sound better than the pros..And the silicon tips hurt my ears..I can keep these in all the time

Running with them is a disaster.

No idea why you’ve been downvoted. It’s absolutely aggravating running with them. Squeeze is impossible while desert trail running, and the volume swipe gimmick is awful.

Just used them in flight last week. While they’re no Bose earbuds or even AP2s they really do cut down the noise to the point you can enjoy music or a movie.

Good timing on the question. all four family members in my house use Airpods. I had Gen2 Airpods up until last week when I had gotten my daughter the latest and greatest Gen4s (not the Pros and not the ones with noise cancelling) to replace her dead Gen1s. Okay, so here's the thing: 1. If you are a woman or someone with small ears, check the fit. My daughter and Wife both HATE the fit of the latest Airpods...they are apparently uncomfortable and don't fit well. However they fit me fine and are very comfortable. They also went to the Apple store to try on the Pros, and hated those even more. My wife actually gave my daughter her Gen1's to use, and now we are in search of replacements for my wife to use. 2. If fit is not the issue, then overall I like the Airpods for exercise. I run and work out with them, including with Apple Fitness. They're actually probably the best choice for AF+, because they quickly sync up to your device and/or your apple TV, and have other features like Siri integration. 3. I ended up trading in the new Gen4s to get the version WITH noise cancellation. I'm not sure how much of a fan I am of it. When ANC kicks on, if I don't have anything playing currently it feels like someone put my head inside a soundproof balloon. Also, while ANC works quite well, the tech is somewhat "reactive". The best example of this is when I tried them out while using a nail gun. The did nothing to cancel the sound of the shot from the gun, because it's an instantaneous, quick sound. They do, however, cancel out (mostly) the sound of the compressor. Overall, if they fit well I highly recommend them for exercise.

transparency mode is incredibly useful

Does it work? Yes. Did I find it underwhelming? Yes. I was really looking forward to the ANC after all the rave reviews I've read about it. I'm no stranger to ANC. I've used ANC headphones for years. I found the ANC effect for Airpods to be subtle at best. It's no where as apparent as the ANC I've experienced with headphones.

I wish I couldn't hear my surroundings with ANC. But even the very best ANC doesn't come close to that. On the Airpods, that's the point of transparency mode. So that you can listen to music and hear your surroundings.

Yeah I'm utterly baffled at the decision to use the stem squeeze. In comparison to tapping, the squeeze controls feel like a step backwards in usability. Trying to locate and squeeze a stem while running is ridiculous.

Yeah my most important thing to leave the house with is my AirPods with noise cancellation. Even if my device is dead and I have nothing to play on them they’re still such a nice thing to have when out and about. Especially anywhere busy like doing the shopping.

Just got mine. ANC is not as good as the pros, but that’s to be expected. Better than I thought considering there’s no seal. The volume lowering feature while speaking is game changing though.

Anyone able to compare the fit to gen 1/2 and gen 3? Edit: Got mine today. The fit isn’t as good as gen 1/2, but much better than 3. Pretty much as people said. They are *considerably* harder to get in and out of the case, though. I’ve already dropped one twice while trying. And they just feel cheaper and more cheap plasticky than gen 1/2 did. Will spend some more time with them before making a decision. Edit 2: Somehow one feels too tight in my ear and other constantly falls out. Every aspect of the design of the AirPods and especially the case feels worse. The noise cancellation gives me a headache. I can’t do the stem squeezing with my bad hands. The sound quality is better but I almost exclusively listen to audiobooks so that’s almost a disadvantage. Will be returning them. Edit 3: When I turn on spacialise audio it sounds like I’m sitting next to the narrator. It’s weird but nice. Edit 4: They don’t disconnect when I put them in the case. My gen 1s and 2s always did. Not sure if bug or intended behaviour. I have to manually change output source every time.

Honestly might be enough for me to buy another pair of gen 2s instead of 4s. I'm going to go into the Apple Store next week and see if I can try them out and see how viable stems are for me. Edit: They are not.

No one mentions the microphone? Airpods are great off the bike but it’s impossible to use them for a phone call under the helmet. The microphone will never hear your voice unless your standing still with the engine turned off and you’re shouting. Also, they’re uncomfortable as hell. Cardo and plugs is definitely the best solution.

AirPods but there are better options when it comes to sound and noise cancellation but nothing really compares to the seamlessness functionality of AirPods on a iPhone

For casual use the new Apple AirPods with noise cancellation are great in my opinion. I have those and also Bose QC35s, and I almost always just use the AirPods now. They sound great with Apple Music, the noise cancellation is actually decent enough to block out sounds when walking outside or at the gym, and they are just so convenient and small so I can always have them on me. The Bose are nice and sound great as well, but I’d leave them at home a lot because I didn’t want to have to carry them with me. Also the leather ear cups get sweaty in the heat.