It has been nearly three years since Apple has updated the vanilla AirPods, but the 4th generation of the iconic earbuds has just been announced. It comes with new features that makes it inch closer to its Pro counterpart, both on the software and hardware sides.
Starting with the basics, the new AirPods get an upgraded acoustic system that the company claims to provide better audio, as well as a better and more comfortable fit when it comes to the shape of its hardshell tip. As with the 3rd generation, it gets the Pro’s shorter stems that come fitted with force sensors.
Of course, the highlight of the new model is the addition of active noise cancellation and transparency mode — as optional features — which were previously exclusive to the Pro models, along with the newer H2 chip. With this, the AirPods 4 earbuds ship with Conversation Awareness, adaptive audio, and Voice Isolation.
On battery side, it seems the 4th generation is not getting any improvement in this area; it can last up to a total of 30 hours with the charging and five hours on a single charge, although this is reduced to four hours when ANC is enabled. Speaking of which, the USB-C case supports MagSafe and wireless charging, alongside a built-in speaker to help you find it.
As for the AirPods Max, the headphones did not get a 2nd generation announcement, but rather, the tech giant refreshed the model but switching out the Lightning port to a USB-C. The older Pro model was not forgotten, as it will be updated with hearing aid and hearing protection features.
The AirPods 4 are already listed on Apple’s Malaysian website and starts from RM599 for the regular version and costs a whopping RM829 for the ANC variant. However, the date of availability has not been revealed yet for our market, so stay tuned for updates.
