Apple announces major AirPods 4 upgrade, minor AirPods Max refresh

Apple on Monday unveiled new AirPods models during its “Glowtime” event. The new AirPods 4 and AirPods Max are available for order now and will start shipping on Friday, September 20. Apple also revealed new hearing health features for the AirPods 2. Here are the details on the new AirPods.

AirPods Pro 2: Hearing Protection

Apple did not release a hardware update to the current AirPods Pro 2. Instead, the company announced major new features centered around hearing health, building upon Apple’s initiative to use its devices to promote and maintain proper health habits. These new hearing health features will become available later this fall in a software update and include:

• Hearing Protection: Performs passive noise cancelation and is on by default. This will be available only in the U.S, and Canada.
• A new clinically validated Hearing Test where a user can gauge their hearing level in a five-minute test where the user taps the screen in response to tones being played.
• After taking the test, the AirPods Pro 2 can then be adjusted to be used as a “clinical-grade hearing aid,” according to Apple. The test results are privately saved in the Health app, and a hearing profile is created and automatically applied when listening to music, watching videos, or on phone calls. The hearing aid is awaiting FDA clearance. 

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation

These new $179 AirPods replace the AirPods (3rd generation) that were $179 (or $169 with a Lightning charging case). The AirPods 4 now have a redesigned, smaller USB-C case that works with wireless charging and now has Find My functionality, with a built-in speaker for locating the device.

The $179 AirPods 4 have active noise cancellation, previously found only on the AirPods Pro and Max. These earphones also sport Apple’s H2 chip, which was introduced in the 2022 AirPods Pro and improves audio quality. The AirPods 4 also offers personalized spatial audio, and voice isolation that removes background noise.

The AirPods 4 also supports yes and no head nod responses to Siri. The stem has a force sensor for touch control of play/pause of audio, or mute/end phone calls. Apple also states that the AirPods 4 earbuds have been redesigned for a better fit. The new AirPods 4 offers up to 30 hours of battery life in the charging case, about the same as AirPods 3.

AirPods 4 without ANC

These new $129 AirPods 4 replace the AirPods (2nd generation) that Apple offered at the same price. The 2nd-gen AirPods had longer stems, while the AirPods 4 feature shorter stems and redesigned earbuds for a better fit. The $129 AirPods 4 features most of the features of the high-price model with the main exception of Active Noise Cancelation, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio.

AirPods Max with new colors, USB-C

Nearly four years after their initial release, Apple has announced updates to its high-end $549 AirPods Max headphones with a USB-C port instead of Lightning and new colors: Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight. They still have an H1 chip and Apple specifically did not call these AirPods Max 2.