AirPods 4
Earbuds

AirPods 4Full Specs, Price & What Changed

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Released Guide updated

AirPods 4 are the right starting point for most people. At $129 they are the most affordable AirPods Apple sells, with the H2 chip, personalized spatial audio, and USB-C charging. Step up to $179 and the ANC model adds active noise cancellation, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness, features that used to be exclusive to the Pro line.

Latest on Apple earbuds

All AirPods news

What AirPods 4 does best

  1. Music

    Spatial audio tuned to your ears plays through an open fit that still sits secure and comfortable.

  2. Calls

    On calls, Voice Isolation keeps your voice clean, and you can answer hands-free.

  3. Translation

    Live Translation on the noise-cancelling model lets you follow a conversation in another language right in your ear.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 5

All 4 differences ›
AirPods 4
THIS PRODUCT

AirPods 4

Sep 2024
AirPods 5
THE NEWCOMER

AirPods 5

Sep 2026
  1. AirPods 4: Up to 4 hours with ANCBattery life wireless case model+1 hourAirPods 5: Up to 5 hours with ANC (Wireless Charging Case model)
  2. AirPods 4: IP54Water resistanceImprovedAirPods 5: IP57
  3. AirPods 4: Adaptive EQAdaptive eqChangedAirPods 5: Next-generation Adaptive EQ

Comparison

Compare earbuds

How it compares

Price

$129

What it costs to buy. None of these need a subscription.

Weight

4.3g

Grams in your ears. Lower is lighter.

Battery life

4 hrs

How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.

Price

AirPods 4
$129
AirPods 5
$129
Pixel Buds 2a
$129
Galaxy Buds 4
$179.99

Current list prices.

One earbud, not the pair, and not the case.

Hours on one charge with noise cancelling on, where that figure is officially stated; otherwise the official headline figure. Prices are each product's lowest version. Battery life varies with use, settings and firmware.

If not this one

  • If noise cancelling decides itSony WF-1000X

    Noise drops a further 25% from the WF-1000XM5, thanks to the QN3e processor and four microphones.

    $329.99
  • If battery life decides itOzlo Sleepbuds 2

    Lasts longer: up to 14 hours, against 5 hrs here.

    $279
  • If workouts decides itShokz OpenFit Air 2

    Pressure-sensitive buttons ignore sweat, water and hair, and the IP55 rating keeps them going through rain.

    $129.95

Most paired with

Everything it works with

What AirPods 4 work with

Made for iPhone. They also work with Android, but you lose Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My.

Do AirPods 4 work with iPhone?

Works

Works fully with iOS 18.0 or later.

Both models support setup, settings, Siri, Spatial Audio and automatic switching on iPhone. Find My for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation requires iOS 26 or later.

Do AirPods 4 work with the Apple Watch Series 12?

Yes. Apple Watch Series 12 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

See the Apple Watch Series 12 Guide

How do you connect AirPods 4 to a Mac?

Pair them in Bluetooth settings on macOS Sequoia or later.

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth.
  2. Put both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid.
  3. Double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
  4. Click Connect next to your AirPods 4 in the Nearby Devices list.

Both models support pairing and settings on Mac. They can switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account. If they are already set up on your iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, choose them under Sound in Control Center.

Some features need an Apple device

Do AirPods 4 work with Android?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them by Bluetooth by opening the case and double-tapping the front. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Get AirPods 4 updates

Email me when there's news.

Works with

Does it work with…?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them by Bluetooth by opening the case and double-tapping the front. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

  1. On your PC, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn Bluetooth on.
  2. Put your AirPods 4 in the charging case, open the lid, and double-tap the front until the light flashes white.
  3. Select your AirPods 4 under New devices in the Bluetooth list.

Pair AirPods 4 as Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri is unavailable on non-Apple devices; Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are Apple-device features.

Works

Works fully with iOS 18.0 or later.

Both models support setup, settings, Siri, Spatial Audio and automatic switching on iPhone. Find My for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation requires iOS 26 or later.

WorksWorked out from the official minimum

They work with every iPhone that runs iOS 18.0 or later, from the iPhone XR on.

  • iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPhone 17e: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16e: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation): yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 17 Pro: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • iPhone Air: yes, on iOS 18.0 or later
  • Any iPhone not listed: no, it cannot run that iOS version

Worked out from the official minimum ("iOS 18.0 or later") and Apple's list of the iPhones that run it, not a separate test. See the sources.

Doesn't work

Xbox consoles do not support Bluetooth audio.

You cannot pair AirPods 4 with Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. Those consoles need an Xbox Wireless or wired headset instead. You can still use AirPods 4 for Xbox games on a phone or PC.

Some features missing

They work best with Apple TV 4K, or as basic Bluetooth headphones.

Apple TV 4K needs to use the same Apple Account. Other TVs need Bluetooth audio, but Siri and other Apple extras will not work. Samsung and Google TV play one Bluetooth audio device at a time, some TVs have no Bluetooth audio, and lip-sync errors can happen. Roku and Fire TV were not checked.

Apple extras like Siri do not work on non-Apple TVs; only one Bluetooth audio device plays at a time on Samsung and Google TV; some TVs lack Bluetooth audio and lip-sync errors can happen; Roku and Fire TV were not checked

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them as standard Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them as standard Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Show all 15Show fewer
Some features missing

Full settings are built into iPhone and Mac, not a separate app.

Use an iPhone on iOS 18.0 or later or a Mac on macOS Sequoia or later for the full settings. Apple does not offer an AirPods settings app for Android or Windows. Features can be limited on non-Apple devices, and Siri is unavailable.

On non-Apple devices functionality may be limited and Siri is unavailable.

Pair them in Bluetooth settings on macOS Sequoia or later.

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth.
  2. Put both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid.
  3. Double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
  4. Click Connect next to your AirPods 4 in the Nearby Devices list.

Both models support pairing and settings on Mac. They can switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account. If they are already set up on your iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, choose them under Sound in Control Center.

Updates install automatically through a nearby Apple device.

Keep the AirPods charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad or Mac on Wi-Fi. The current firmware listed here is 9A348 for both models. Apple does not document a way to update them from Android or Windows.

No documented update path from Android or Windows.

Doesn't work

PS5 does not accept standard Bluetooth audio devices directly.

AirPods 4 cannot connect to a PS5 as a standard Bluetooth audio device because the console rejects that type of Bluetooth audio connection.

Some features missing

Bluetooth audio works, but the microphone does not.

Pair AirPods 4 through the Switch's Bluetooth audio settings for game audio. Nintendo Switch does not support Bluetooth microphones.

Bluetooth microphones cannot be used on Switch.

Doesn't work

Each AirPods 4 model needs its matching charging case.

The base AirPods 4 case works only with base AirPods 4 earbuds. The ANC case works only with AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation earbuds.

Some features missing

Core Bluetooth audio works broadly, but some Apple features need more.

Full Apple support needs iOS 18.0 or later or macOS Sequoia or later. Find My on the ANC model and Live Translation need iOS 26 or later. Live Translation is ANC-only, and both Live Translation and Siri can vary by region or language.

Live Translation and Siri vary by region/language; Live Translation is ANC-only.

Most paired with

Do AirPods 4 work with iPhone?

Works

Works fully with iOS 18.0 or later.

Both models support setup, settings, Siri, Spatial Audio and automatic switching on iPhone. Find My for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation requires iOS 26 or later.

Do AirPods 4 work with the Apple Watch Series 12?

Yes. Apple Watch Series 12 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

See the Apple Watch Series 12 Guide

How do you connect AirPods 4 to a Mac?

Pair them in Bluetooth settings on macOS Sequoia or later.

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth.
  2. Put both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid.
  3. Double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
  4. Click Connect next to your AirPods 4 in the Nearby Devices list.

Both models support pairing and settings on Mac. They can switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account. If they are already set up on your iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, choose them under Sound in Control Center.

Some features need an Apple device

Do AirPods 4 work with Android?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them by Bluetooth by opening the case and double-tapping the front. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Do AirPods 4 work with the Apple Watch Ultra 4?

Yes. Apple Watch Ultra 4 plays audio to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

See the Apple Watch Ultra 4 Guide

Can you connect AirPods 4 to a PC?

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

  1. On your PC, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn Bluetooth on.
  2. Put your AirPods 4 in the charging case, open the lid, and double-tap the front until the light flashes white.
  3. Select your AirPods 4 under New devices in the Bluetooth list.

Pair AirPods 4 as Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri is unavailable on non-Apple devices; Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are Apple-device features.

Do AirPods 4 work with Samsung Galaxy phones?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them as standard Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Do AirPods 4 work with Google Pixel phones?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them as standard Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

What you need

Do AirPods 4 work with Android?

Some features missing

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

Pair them by Bluetooth by opening the case and double-tapping the front. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My need an Apple device.

Can you connect AirPods 4 to a PC?

Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not.

  1. On your PC, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn Bluetooth on.
  2. Put your AirPods 4 in the charging case, open the lid, and double-tap the front until the light flashes white.
  3. Select your AirPods 4 under New devices in the Bluetooth list.

Pair AirPods 4 as Bluetooth earbuds. Siri, Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are not available on non-Apple devices.

Siri is unavailable on non-Apple devices; Apple settings, automatic switching and Find My are Apple-device features.

Do AirPods 4 work with iPhone?

Works

Works fully with iOS 18.0 or later.

Both models support setup, settings, Siri, Spatial Audio and automatic switching on iPhone. Find My for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation requires iOS 26 or later.

Do AirPods 4 work with a TV?

Some features missing

They work best with Apple TV 4K, or as basic Bluetooth headphones.

Apple TV 4K needs to use the same Apple Account. Other TVs need Bluetooth audio, but Siri and other Apple extras will not work. Samsung and Google TV play one Bluetooth audio device at a time, some TVs have no Bluetooth audio, and lip-sync errors can happen. Roku and Fire TV were not checked.

Apple extras like Siri do not work on non-Apple TVs; only one Bluetooth audio device plays at a time on Samsung and Google TV; some TVs lack Bluetooth audio and lip-sync errors can happen; Roku and Fire TV were not checked

How do you connect AirPods 4 to a Mac?

Pair them in Bluetooth settings on macOS Sequoia or later.

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth.
  2. Put both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid.
  3. Double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
  4. Click Connect next to your AirPods 4 in the Nearby Devices list.

Both models support pairing and settings on Mac. They can switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account. If they are already set up on your iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, choose them under Sound in Control Center.

Supports

Works

Both models support Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking.

You need a compatible Apple device. To make a personalized Spatial Audio profile, you need an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera.

Some features missing

They switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account.

Sign in to the same Apple Account on each Apple device to use automatic switching. Apple does not document standard simultaneous Bluetooth multipoint support.

Apple does not document generic simultaneous Bluetooth multipoint.

Some features missing

Siri works with Apple devices, not non-Apple devices.

With an Apple device and internet access, you can press and hold for Siri, say "Siri," and use Siri Interactions. Siri may not be available in every language or region.

Siri unavailable on non-Apple devices and may not be available in all languages or areas.

Some features missing

Only the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation support it.

Live Translation needs the ANC model, the latest firmware and an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 or later. The base AirPods 4 are not on Apple's supported list. Availability varies by region and language.

Base AirPods 4 are not in Apple's supported list; region/language limits apply.

Some features missing

Both work with Find My, but the ANC case has extra finding features.

With the same Apple Account, Find My can show a map location, play a sound and help find AirPods nearby. The ANC case has its own speaker and can be marked lost separately. Find My on the ANC model requires iOS 26 or later. The base case has no speaker, and separate per-bud or case lost marking is ANC-only.

Base AirPods 4 case has no speaker and separate per-bud/case lost marking is ANC-only.

Some features missing

Audio accessibility features work, but Apple's Hearing Aid feature does not.

With an Apple device, AirPods 4 support Live Listen, Headphone Levels and Headphone Accommodations. Apple's Hearing Aid feature is listed only for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3.

Apple's Hearing Aid support page names only AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3.

Some features missing

Lossless Audio is documented only with Apple Vision Pro.

With Apple Vision Pro, AirPods 4 support Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency through Apple's proprietary wireless audio connection. Apple does not document this for iPhone, Mac or other devices, and it does not publish a codec list for AirPods 4.

Not documented for iPhone, Mac or other devices; Apple does not publish a codec list.

Some features missing

Ultra-low-latency audio is documented only with Apple Vision Pro.

Apple documents ultra-low-latency audio when AirPods 4 are paired with Apple Vision Pro. It does not document a general gaming mode for iPhone, Mac or consoles.

No general gaming mode documented for iPhone/Mac/consoles.

How it works

Both cases charge by USB-C, and only the noise-canceling case also charges wirelessly.

Both cases charge with a USB-C cable, sold separately. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation case can also sit on an Apple Watch charger or a Qi-certified wireless charger. The base AirPods 4 case has no wireless charging.

Base AirPods 4 case has no wireless charging listed.

Order a replacement earbud or charging case from Apple.

Apple offers replacement AirPods 4 earbuds and cases for both models. The replacement must match your AirPods 4 model.

One of the two reviews has a score, so there is no average yet. It takes two scored reviews from two different publishers.

2 expert reviews, 1 with a score

  1. WIRED
    Parker HallSep 16, 2024
    5 / 10
    Read review
  2. Tom's Guide
    Kate Kozuch
    No score
    Read review

At a glance

AirPods 4PREVIOUS MODELAirPods 4AirPods 5CURRENT MODELAirPods 5
Noise cancellation
No / Yes (open-earANC model only)
Yes, on both modelsApple rates it up to 1.5x AirPods 4 with ANC
Earbud battery
5 hrs
4 hrs ANC (5 hrs on the Wireless Charging Case model)
Works with
iOS full / Android basic (no Siri or Adaptive Audio)
iOS full / Android basic
Water resistance
IP54
IP57
Case battery
Up to 30 hrs total
20hrs ANC (22 hrs on the Wireless Charging Case model)
Spatial audio
Yespersonalized with head tracking
YesPersonalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
Show 3 more specs
Cameras
No
No
Health tracking
None
None
Weight
4.3g
4.3g
Technical specs
Processor
H2
H2
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Visual AI
No
No
Status light
No
No
Controls
Head nod for Siri, double tap stem
Stem press for playback and calls, head nod for Sirivolume swipe on the Wireless Charging Case model
Battery
5 hrs / 4 hrs ANC on
4 hrs ANC on, 20 hrs with the case5 hrs and 22 hrs on the Wireless Charging Case model
Case
Charging Case (USB-C)
Wireless Charging Case: USB-C or Qi wireless chargers
Buy
See prices
See prices
AirPods 4
Apple

Hold off for now.

AirPods 4

About Apple

Apple makes the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, and is known for hardware and software designed to work together.

Visit Apple
More from Apple we cover
AirPods 5AirPods Pro 3AirPods MaxiPhone 17

Where to buy

StorePriceIn stockAction
Amazon$99Buy

Price history

Lowest in 30 days
$79Oct 7
Highest in 30 days
$128.99Oct 22
Stores we check
1Amazon
On sale since
Sep 20, 2024
Newer model
AirPods 5on sale Sep 18, 2026
Lowest known
$69Nov 25, 2025, from older published history
Price checks
27 over 27 days

All earbuds prices

50%40%30%20%10%list50%40%30%20%10%list

12 sales in the past year. The best was $69 in December 2025, 47% off the $129 list price.

AirPods Pro 3$249Available nowGuide News
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Available nowGuide News
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100$149Available nowGuide News
EarFun Air Pro 4+$99.99Available nowGuide News

Frequently asked questions

Questions about AirPods 4

Using it

Does it have noise cancelling?
Only one of the two versions has it. It is sold both with and without it, so check which model you are buying.
Does it work with my phone?
It works fully with an iPhone and partly with Android. It pairs with Android, but the app and the iPhone-only features are not there.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 4.3g.
How does it connect?
It connects over Bluetooth 5.3.
Does it do spatial audio?
Yes, it does spatial audio.
Does it track heart rate?
No, it does not track your heart rate.

Battery and charging

How long does the battery last?
It runs 30 hours with the case and noise cancelling off. That is 4 hours of listening with noise cancelling on, and 5 hours of listening with noise cancelling off.

Water

Can it get wet (shower, pool, swimming)?
Yes for sweat and rain, but not for the shower. Its rating is IP54. It is rated for splashes, not immersion.

Price and models

When did the AirPods 4 come out?
It went on sale September 20, 2024. Announced September 9, 2024.
Is there a newer one?
Yes: the AirPods 5, out September 18, 2026.
How much does the AirPods 4 cost?
List price: $129 / $179 with ANC.

Works with

Do AirPods 4 work with Samsung Galaxy phones?
Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 work with Google Pixel phones?
Listening and calls work over Bluetooth, but Apple-only features do not. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 work with a companion app?
Full settings are built into iPhone and Mac, not a separate app. Some features missing
How do AirPods 4 charge?
Both cases charge by USB-C, and only the noise-canceling case also charges wirelessly. Some features missing
How do you connect AirPods 4 to a Mac?
Pair them in Bluetooth settings on macOS Sequoia or later. Works
How do AirPods 4 update their firmware?
Updates install automatically through a nearby Apple device. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support Spatial Audio and head tracking?
Both models support Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Works
Do AirPods 4 support automatic switching between devices?
They switch automatically between Apple devices on the same Apple Account. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support Siri?
Siri works with Apple devices, not non-Apple devices. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support Live Translation?
Only the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation support it. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 work with Find My?
Both work with Find My, but the ANC case has extra finding features. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support hearing and accessibility features?
Audio accessibility features work, but Apple's Hearing Aid feature does not. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support lossless audio?
Lossless Audio is documented only with Apple Vision Pro. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 support a low-latency gaming mode?
Ultra-low-latency audio is documented only with Apple Vision Pro. Some features missing
Do AirPods 4 work with PlayStation 5?
PS5 does not accept standard Bluetooth audio devices directly. Doesn't work
Do AirPods 4 work with Nintendo Switch?
Bluetooth audio works, but the microphone does not. Some features missing
Does the AirPods 4 case work with the AirPods 4 ANC earbuds?
Each AirPods 4 model needs its matching charging case. Doesn't work
How does replacing a lost AirPods 4 earbud or case work?
Order a replacement earbud or charging case from Apple. Works
Do AirPods 4 support the same features on every phone and in every region?
Core Bluetooth audio works broadly, but some Apple features need more. Some features missing
Galaxy Buds4