AirPods 4 are already Apple’s most reasonably priced wireless earbuds, and a deal lets you pick up a pair for 17% less than the low regular price. There are sales on the version with active noise cancellation as well as the budget version without ANC.
Whether you need to replace an aging set of earbuds or get your first, now could be the time to buy.
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AirPods deal: Way better wireless earbuds than before
Best if you don’t like silicone eartips
AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation
4.0
Apple’s trend-setting earbuds add noise cancellation to the mix. They don’t use silicone tips, so some noise seeps in, but features like Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode and Personalized Spatial Audio make them a winner.
Pros:
Excellent sound qualityApple’s H2 chip enables advanced featuresUSB-C wireless charging case
Cons:
Noise cancellation isn’t as good as AirPods Pro
One version of AirPods 4 brings many professional-grade features to the new midrange version of Apple’s wireless earbuds. That includes active noise cancellation as well as Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio and Conversational Awareness. They’re closer competition for AirPods Pro 2 than their predecessor, although active noise cancellation isn’t as effective without silicone eartips, as discussed in the Cult of Mac review.
For those looking to save, Apple also introduced a bare-bones version of AirPods 4 with many of the same features but not ANC. And this AirPods deal lowers the cost even more.
No matter the price, the earbuds received a minor redesign that makes them more comfortable, with a more secure fit. The latest AirPods also offer personalized Spatial Audio. Plus, the charging case moved to USB-C for easier charging. (No more Lightning.)
The AirPods advantage
Apple’s earbuds cost more than many rivals, even with this AirPods deal, but offer a premium experience with iPhone, Mac and iPad. A standout feature is seamlessly switching their connection to whatever device you’re currently using, an advantage of the Apple ecosystem.
And buyers should be careful of budget earbuds. Cheap ones sound, well, cheap. High-quality speakers tiny enough to fit inside an ear aren’t a dime a dozen. And long battery life is rare in discount products.
AirPods deal means you don’t pay full price
Apple charges $179 for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The version without ANC costs $129. But you don’t have to pay those prices.
Amazon knocked 17% off the cost of the higher-end version. That’s a savings of $30 — sweet!
Buy it from: Amazon
And the deal on the version of the AirPods wireless earbuds without ANC saves you 9%. That’s $12 below the regular cost.
Buy it from: Amazon
Alternatively, you can opt for AirPods Pro 2. The list price for these is $249, but a 20% discount drops the cost to $199. Just be aware, improved AirPods Pro 3 should arrive later this year.
Buy it from: Amazon
Best if you don’t like silicone eartips
AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation
4.0
Apple’s trend-setting earbuds add noise cancellation to the mix. They don’t use silicone tips, so some noise seeps in, but features like Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode and Personalized Spatial Audio make them a winner.
Pros:
Excellent sound qualityApple’s H2 chip enables advanced featuresUSB-C wireless charging case
Cons:
Noise cancellation isn’t as good as AirPods Pro
This article was first published in September 2024. It’s been updated with the latest AirPods deal.
