# Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC): specs and price

**Price (US):** $129 at apple.com, as of 2026-07-28. A sourced, dated price of record — other retailers (incl. Amazon) may be lower. Among the 16 wireless earbuds we track it is the cheapest; category median $250.
**Brand:** Apple
**Released:** 2024-09
**Deskmark:** Bronze Deskmark — pay-blind category standing 43/100, #15 of 21 in class (independent, computed from sourced data, never for sale).
**Price tracked since:** June 2026 (last change 2026-07-28: $179 → $129)

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price (US) | $129 |
| Brand | Apple |
| Released | 2024-09 |
| ANC | Yes |
| Driver (mm) | — |
| Battery buds hr | 4 |
| Battery case hr | 20 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| IP rating | IP54 |
| Wireless charging | Yes |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Weight per bud (g) | 4.3 |

## Where it stands

At $129, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) is #3 cheapest of the 16 wireless earbuds we track, where the median is $250. On the spec sheet, its battery buds hr of 4 is the lowest of the 22, its weight per bud of 4.3 g is the lowest of the 14, and its battery case hr of 20 is below the median of the 21. By release date, it is among the newer of the 16 we date.

## Price over time

Since 2026-06-27, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)'s price has fallen 27.9%, from $179 to $129. At $129 it is the lowest we have recorded.

## What reviewers say

Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, Engadget) reviewed this exact model — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. All three agree Apple's open-fit ANC genuinely works — a first for tip-less buds — with sound improved over the AirPods 3, but noise-cancelling stays mid-level versus sealed rivals and the AirPods Pro 2, and battery life is short. (Based on 3 reviews, 2 lab-tested, 2024-09-16–2025-11-24.)

Praised: ANC is genuinely effective for an open/unsealed design — a first among tip-less earbuds; Improved, more detailed and powerful sound over the AirPods 3; Lighter, more comfortable fit and flagship features (H2 chip, spatial audio) at mid-range price.
Flagged: ANC only reaches mid-level; low rumble is cut but voices/highs leak, and it trails sealed rivals and the AirPods Pro 2; Short battery life (drops to ~4 h with ANC on); No onboard volume control on the stem; Open, tip-less fit won't suit every ear and many iOS features are lost on Android.
Disagreement: Comfort/fit is contested: What Hi-Fi and Engadget found the tapered buds secure and comfortable, while SoundGuys reported team members had 'vastly different experiences' — some finding them painful or prone to falling out.
Sources: SoundGuys (2025-11-24, soundguys.com), What Hi-Fi (2024-10-14, whathifi.com), Engadget (2024-09-16, engadget.com)

## Frequently asked questions

**What do reviewers say about the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)?**

Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi, Engadget) reviewed this exact model — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. All three agree Apple's open-fit ANC genuinely works — a first for tip-less buds — with sound improved over the AirPods 3, but noise-cancelling stays mid-level versus sealed rivals and the AirPods Pro 2, and battery life is short. Praised: ANC is genuinely effective for an open/unsealed design — a first among tip-less earbuds; Improved, more detailed and powerful sound over the AirPods 3; Lighter, more comfortable fit and flagship features (H2 chip, spatial audio) at mid-range price. Flagged: ANC only reaches mid-level; low rumble is cut but voices/highs leak, and it trails sealed rivals and the AirPods Pro 2; Short battery life (drops to ~4 h with ANC on); No onboard volume control on the stem; Open, tip-less fit won't suit every ear and many iOS features are lost on Android. (From 3 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

**How much does the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) cost?**

The Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) has a US price of $129, as of 2026-07-28.

**How does the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) compare on price?**

At $129, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) is #3 cheapest of the 16 wireless earbuds we track, where the median is $250.

**Has the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)'s price dropped?**

Yes — since 2026-06-27 the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) has fallen 27.9%, from $179 to $129.

**What is the lowest price the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) has been?**

The lowest we have recorded for the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) is $129 on 2026-07-28 — which is its current price.

**Is now a good time to buy the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)?**

At $129, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) is at the lowest price we have recorded since 2026-06-27.

**When was the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) released?**

The Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) was released 2024-09.

**What are the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC)'s key specs?**

Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) (Apple): anc Yes, battery buds hr 4, battery case hr 20, bluetooth 5.3, ip rating IP54. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.

Source: https://www.apple.com/airpods-4/specs/ (apple.com, accessed 2026-06-15)
Corroboration: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-4 (accessed 2026-06-15)
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/product/wireless-earbuds/apple-airpods-4-anc/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) price of record was $129 as of 2026-07-28 — https://frontdeskreview.com/product/wireless-earbuds/apple-airpods-4-anc/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl