What it gets right
- Long gaps between charges for commuting and travel
- Some protection from rain, sweat and splashes
- Quick charging
- True wireless earbuds
The compromises
- Fit and comfort are personal and should be checked during the returns window
- Battery and noise-cancellation claims vary with volume and listening mode
- The best sound depends on both the source device and the listener's preferences
Buy it—or leave it?
- You specifically want longer gaps between charges
- The Standard retail package version fits your needs
- You have compared the drawbacks with similarly priced alternatives
- Fit and comfort are personal and should be checked during the returns window
- Battery and noise-cancellation claims vary with volume and listening mode
- The best sound depends on both the source device and the listener's preferences
What it is actually like
Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.
01Listening every day
Apple AirPods 4 is easiest to understand through what it changes in normal use. You get long gaps between charges for commuting and travel. You also get some protection from rain, sweat and splashes.
02Where it earns its price
Some protection from rain, sweat and splashes. Quick charging. True wireless earbuds. That only matters if you will use it regularly.
03What may frustrate you
Fit and comfort are personal and should be checked during the returns window. Battery and noise-cancellation claims vary with volume and listening mode. The best sound depends on both the source device and the listener's preferences. If one of these affects how you will use it, a different model is the safer choice.
Price and value
On 17 August 2026, the matched UK price was £99 for the Standard retail package configuration. Apple AirPods 4 is assessed at £99 for the normal boxed product, so a clearance bundle or incomplete package cannot distort the result. Prices can move, so confirm the model, configuration and final basket total before buying.
Price last checked 17 August 2026This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.
Who will notice the difference?
Best fit
Choose it when longer gaps between charges will be directly useful in your everyday life.
living with it
Water & sweat resistant (the stated water-resistance level) is the second feature to weigh against the price, support and any extra accessories or subscriptions.
Wrong fit
Fit and comfort are personal and should be checked during the returns window; spending more or less on a better-matched alternative can be the smarter decision.
What else should you consider?
£99 · Apple AirPods 4 is compared on comfort, included speakers or accessories, battery claims and the kind of room or journey in which it will actually be used.
Our review process
We checked the exact product against the independent and official sources listed below. Technical details inform the performance and value scores, but we explain what those findings mean in everyday use.
Read our editorial standards