Apple has just dropped its latest addition to the AirPods family—the AirPods 4. They’ve taken the classic AirPods design and given it a major upgrade, with a sleeker shape that Apple claims makes them “the most comfortable AirPods ever.” If you’re a fan of Apple’s open-air design, you’re in for a treat—these still keep that vibe while promising a big step up in sound quality, including support for personalized spatial audio, which should make your music, podcasts, and calls sound more immersive.

Two versions to choose from

This time around, Apple is giving you options: the standard AirPods 4 and a pricier version, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Yep, for the first time ever, you can get noise cancellation in non-Pro AirPods. That means the higher-end model will help block out distractions, whether you’re commuting, in a busy cafe, or just trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. It also comes with Transparency Mode, so you can still hear the world around you when needed.

One of the coolest new features in the ANC model is something called Adaptive Audio, which tweaks the sound to minimize environmental noise while keeping your music or calls crystal clear. Plus, there’s Conversational Awareness, which automatically lowers the volume when you start talking to someone—a feature that might come in handy for avoiding those awkward “sorry, what was that?” moments.

The standard AirPods 4 are priced at $129, while the noise-canceling ANC version will set you back $179. Both will be available starting September 20th, and preorders are open right now. So if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your wireless earbuds, now might be a good time to jump in.

New features and design tweaks

Both models get some of the features previously only seen on the AirPods Pro. For instance, the force sensor on the stem—remember the little squeeze to play, pause, or skip tracks?—is now on the AirPods 4 as well. And the case? It’s now 10 percent smaller and finally comes with a USB-C charging port (just know that, in true Apple fashion, the cable isn’t included). For the ANC model, the case even has a speaker that works with Apple’s Find My app, so you can easily track it down if it ever gets lost. It also supports wireless charging and is compatible with Apple Watch chargers, making it even more convenient.

If you’re running iOS 18, you’ll notice some new Siri interactions with AirPods too. Apple demoed this at WWDC, but now you can actually shake your head to answer Siri—nodding for yes and shaking for no. It’s a small feature, but kind of fun and might feel like you’re living in the future.

The standard AirPods haven’t seen a refresh since 2021, when Apple introduced the third-generation model. Those were a bit of a miss, as they took on the AirPods Pro’s shape but skipped out on noise cancellation. Apple ended up keeping the older, second-generation AirPods in its lineup due to demand, especially since the newer model didn’t quite win over customers.

For reference, Apple’s last big AirPods update came a year ago in 2023, with the second-generation AirPods Pro getting a fresh case with USB-C and support for lossless audio when used with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

With this release, Apple seems determined to make the AirPods 4 a hit by offering more features, a better fit, and improved sound across the board. With ANC now available in the standard AirPods lineup, these might be the wireless earbuds everyone’s been waiting for.