Apple's AirPods 4 are set to arrive before the end of the year, in not one but two different configurations, replacing both the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 in the biggest update to the lineup in years.
The latest reports from August 2024 indicate that Apple is planning to unveil two new AirPods models in the Fall, possibly alongside the new iPhone 16. As mentioned, there will be two different models, one possibly getting the noise-cancelling prowess of Apple's AirPods Pro.
Here's everything we know so far.
AirPods 4: Release Date
As of right now, we don’t have a specific release date confirmed for the AirPods 4 just yet. Despite this, we have a good guess based on previous years and an Apple analyst. Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable source in the industry, stated in a prediction Tweet that the next AirPods will ship in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025, alongside new AirPods Max.
Further rumors suggest that the AirPods 4 could be coming out in September or October of 2024, thanks to more supply chain whisperings.
This aligns with previous launch cycles. The following are the launch years of all AirPods since the start:
- First Generation AirPods released in December, 2016
- Second Generation AirPods released in March, 2019
- First Generation Airpods Pro released in October, 2019
- AirPods Max released in December, 2020
- Third Generation released in October, 2021
- Second Generation AirPods released in September, 2022
(4/5)The next-generation AirPods will likely begin mass shipments in 2H24 or 1H25, including more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99) and new AirPods Max, which will be assembled by Luxshare ICT and Hon Teng.January 12, 2023
In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed that "Everything appears to still be a go for this fall" regarding the release of the AirPods 4. That means we should see them before the holiday season, and certainly be the end of the year.
AirPods 4: Price
It's likely that Apple's AirPods 4 will retail around the same price as the current AirPods 3, which started life at $169. However, there are two significant changes that could impact the pricing structure of the new models. Firstly, AirPods 4 are expected to feature noise-cancelling, a major upgrade over previous models that could justify a decent price rise. Apple sells its noise-canceling AirPods for $249, so it's very possible that AirPods 4 could cost more than the $169 AirPods 3, while not costing quite as much as the AirPods Pro.
The other quirk is that Apple is reportedly planning to different models of AirPods 4 at different price points. As such, while the noise-canceling version of the AirPods 4 might be more expensive, there may also be a cheaper option to replace the AirPods 2.
AirPods 4: Features
AirPods 4 will almost certainly feature USB-C to comply with new EU regulations around charging, just like the iPhone 15.
The AirPods 3 added a skin detection sensor for improved autoplay functionality. It seems likely that the AirPods 4 will further commit to this kind of tech with better in-ear detection and the advancement of spatial audio. We can imagine almost every feature from previous AirPods 2 and 3 to make their way in like dynamic head tracking and water resistance.
The AirPods 3 had the H1 chip which still performed valiantly but is starting to feel outdated now. if we don’t see the superior H2 chip spotted in the second generation AirPods Pro, we can expect a modification of the H1 chip or some unique hybrid, granting better battery life, sound, and more.
As noted, at least one of the AirPods 4 models are expected to ship with noise cancellation, the first time Apple will have included the technology beyond the AirPods Pro line.
The H2 chip does support Bluetooth 5.3, which allows them to connect to devices quicker and with more reliability. This is a really nice upgrade focusing on something that Apple has always been good at - connectivity.
There’s a chance that AirPods 4 will come with some features seen in AirPods Pro 2 like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume. Adaptive Audio and Personalized Volume use data gathered from your listening habits and environments to automatically change the volume to what suits you best.
Conversation Awareness will turn down or turn off music when you are speaking, meaning you can keep in your AirPods in conversation without missing out on anything. Though these features are very impressive, they are currently locked to the AirPods Pro 2.
If Apple does implement any of these in the AirPods 4, the AirPods Pro 3 will have to be very special to avoid cutting into their own sales. For this reason, we find it unlikely we will get those features soon.
"The AirPods 3 are, somehow, coming up on their second birthday, and that makes them a prime candidate to get a new version sometime in 2024. Hopefully, these ones will be a little better value for money; although we can’t count on them stepping on the toes of the noise-canceling AirPods Pro 2, with any luck we’ll see some next-gen features. I think we might also see a new pair of lower price earbuds too, a replacement to the now very aged AirPods 2 — they’re a solid budget part of the AirPods lineup, but it’s likely that Apple will want to bring them up to speed with the rest of the line."
AirPods 4: Battery life
So far, all models of AirPods have had similar battery life. The first generation had around 5 hours of listening time, with the AirPods second generation hitting a similar mark and the third generation getting about an hour more than that. Given they charge in their case, this is a pretty decent battery life so we can expect a similar figure for AirPods 4.
The AirPods 1,2, and 3 case comes with around 4 charges at full battery, giving an extra 24 hours of listening time per device. Unfortunately, as AirPods age, they tend to lose some of their battery effectiveness, giving you less per charge. This means that most AirPods 1s today will give you under that battery, incentivizing upgrading every few years. It seems likely that AirPods 4 will have a similar battery life on paper but this will likely be more than your previous AirPods in practice.
Apple swapping charging ports to USB-C technically gives the ability to charge quicker than Lightning cables, even though this likely won’t affect charge time by too much. The H2 chip could result in a better battery life but this better battery could be drained quicker with improved features, giving a similar time in practice.
AirPods: Lite
One analyst has claimed that Apple is working on AirPods Lite, a presumably cheaper version of the AirPods to run alongside future AirPods models. This would mean that Apple would have AirPods, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max, and AirPods Lite all in production at once.
Though we don’t know what the price point will be just yet, reports claim it will likely be around $129, placing it somewhere between current and last-generation AirPods in price. Though we don’t have much more than this, we imagine the case will be a bit smaller as the Pro and Max models tend to be bigger.
Given the potential price point, it seems likely this is an effort to replace the AirPods 2 in the market, allowing them to stop production here. As you can choose between AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 on the site, the AirPods lite is likely a conscious choice to tighten up branding and give potential buyers a better way to distinguish between AirPods.
As is the case for cheaper models, we can expect it to be somewhat stripped back in its features - perhaps doing away with features like head tracking or coming with a slightly smaller battery life.
AirPods 4: Rumors
Though it seems unlikely to happen given how strong the AirPods design is, we could potentially see redesigns for the next AirPods 4. This could see a new ear shape to facilitate a tighter seal on the ear. Alongside this, there’s a possibility it could get more advanced controls, similar to those implemented by the AirPods Pro 2.
As well as this, more options with EQ customization have been theorised and this could allow listeners to adjust for certain songs or mixes.
As well as this, more options with EQ customization have been theorized and this could allow listeners to adjust for certain songs or mixes. We haven’t been given a reason from Apple to believe this could happen but one can certainly hope.
Going back to the Apple AirPods 1 and 2, one of the worst aspects is its mic quality. With the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max coming with better mic quality, it seems like the AirPods 4 could follow suit and implement a better mic.
Q&A
Should I wait to buy the AirPods 4?
If you are thinking of committing to a newer model of the AirPods, it is worth waiting for confirmation of all the little details the next generation has. Given they are quite some time out, it is likely not worth waiting until the launch of the AirPods 4 to get a new pair of earpods.
Will the AirPods 4 be smaller?
Given the AirPods 3 had a slightly wider but less tall frame than the buds for the AirPods 2, it seems likely that the case will be marginally bigger and the buds will be a very similar size. It may be a bit more snug in your pocket but likely not bigger in your ears.
Do the AirPods 4 have wireless charging?
Given the last few models have had wireless charging, it seems unlikely that the AirPods 4 will do without it. Wait for confirmation but we imagine they do have wireless charging.
Will the AirPods 4 come in different colors?
As of right now, we have no reason to believe that the AirPods 4 will come in different colors. All previous models only came in white so this will likely follow suit. You will have to go all the way up to AirPods Max to get more colors.
