During the It’s Glowtime iPhone 16 launch event this week, Apple unveiled the AirPods 4 as the sole new version of personal audio, offering both a standard option and a version with active-noise cancellation. Engadget’s Billy Steele got a sneak peek at the new buds in Cupertino and praised the ANC feature on the higher-end model, which comes with a $50 price increase. Both versions of the AirPods 4 are available for pre-order now ahead of the September 20 release date, not just through Apple. The mid-tier AirPods 4 feature an H2 chip, support ANC and transparency mode like the AirPods Pro, with the more expensive version offering these features. Priced at $129 without ANC and $179 with it, the buds also have automatic mode switching and a case with wireless charging and Find My app support. Additionally, the AirPods Pro are getting new hearing features as a software update this fall, while the AirPods Max received a minor update.
