What it gets right
- Reduces steady train, aircraft and office noise
- Long gaps between charges for commuting and travel
- Some protection from rain, sweat and splashes
- 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 less steady background noise while travelling or working
- 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 with Active Noise Cancellation is easiest to understand through what it changes in normal use. You get reduces steady train, aircraft and office noise. You also get long gaps between charges for commuting and travel.
02Where it earns its price
Long gaps between charges for commuting and travel. Some protection from rain, sweat and splashes. 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
Our price check found Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation at £149 for Standard retail package on 17 August 2026. Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation is assessed at £149 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 less steady background noise while travelling or working will be directly useful in your everyday life.
living with it
Battery life: Up to 4 hours (20 hours with case) 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?
£149 · Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation 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