New entry-level AirPods: Fourth generation without MagSafe

In addition to the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10, new AirPods models will also be available from Friday. Generation 4 brings improved sound, Apple’s current H2 chip and, if desired, active noise cancellation (ANC), although this costs extra. Apple charges 149 or 199 euros for this. Shortly before the devices become available, new details have emerged – including the charging behavior and operation, which has changed slightly.

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Handle for the loading puck

In contrast to their predecessor, the AirPods 3, the AirPods 4 lack the integrated magnetic ring. In practice, this means that although you can charge the plugs using MagSafe, they regularly slip off the charger if the charger is set up at an angle and not flat on the table. What does work, however, is the Apple Watch charging puck: the integrated magnet fits exactly on the narrower casing of the AirPods 4.

However, it has been reported that the holding pressure only works with the ANC version of the AirPods 4; the version without noise cancellation apparently does not have enough metal on the back. Here, too, the solution is to lay the respective charger flat on the table and place the AirPods 4 precisely so that they cannot slip away too easily. Apple does not provide any information on whether the AirPods 4 support Qi charging, but it seems that this is the case.

Well hidden operation

Apple has also made some changes to the operation. The setup button is now well hidden and no longer physical. Instead, it is a capacitive area that is located below the (also normally hidden) LED. This is used to initiate the pairing process as well as a reset of the AirPods 4, if this becomes necessary.

Both models of the AirPods 4 have Apple’s current H2 audio chip installed. However, this only enables adaptive audio and conversation recognition in the ANC model – these are missing in the standard earbuds. However, voice isolation and personalized 3D audio with dynamic head tracking support them. As with the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 4 with ANC also have a transparency mode to perceive the environment.

(bsc)