The Apple AirPods 4 earbuds were released earlier this month, but we're already seeing some welcome discounts ahead of the holiday season. Right now Amazon is taking $10 off both models: the AirPods 4 with noise cancellation is down to $169 (from $179) and the AirPods 4 without noise cancellation is down to $119 (from $129). On a related note, the AirPods Pro 2 is also on sale for $189.99 after an even more sizeable $60 discount.
Save $10 Off the New Apple AirPods 4
Aside from the fact that the $169 model has active noise cancellation which consumes more battery life, both Apple AirPods 4 models are identical. The AirPods 4 features several upgrades over the AirPods 3 which brings it in-line with modern day standards. These upgrades include the newer Apple H2 chip (vs H1), Bluetooth 5.3 support (vs Bluetooth 5.0), new IP54 resistance rating which now protects against dust intrustion (vs IPX4), and adoption of the USB Type-C standard (vs Lightning). Some smaller improvements include a smaller charging case that can hold a longer charge for the non-ANC model and replacement of the skin detect sensor with a more reliable optical in-ear sensor.
Should you get the AirPods 4 with ANC over the AirPods Pro?
The AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation is mostly similar to the more expensive AirPods Pro 2 with one major difference: the AirPods 4 is an open-ear earbud with non-adjustable tips, whereas the AirPods Pro is an in-ear earbud with adjustable tips. Both ANC models have useful features like Transparency Mode and Conversational Awareness.
If you were to base this decision on the retail price of the two earbuds, the AirPods 4 would certainly be the way to go. It's $70 less than the AirPods Pro 2 and offers pretty much all of its features aside from the adjustable eartips and in-ear design. In reality, however, the AirPods Pro has been consistently discounted to the point that it's currently only $20 more. In-ear earbuds will provide better noise cancellation and audio quality by nature of its passive isolation, but open-ear earbuds are less intrusive and more comfortable to wear. It's really up to what you prioritize: comfort or performance.
Check out our recommendations for the best AirPods models to buy.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
