New entry-level AirPods: 4th generation without MagSafe

In addition to the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10, new AirPods models will also be available from Friday. Generation 4 brings improved sound, Apple’s current H2 chip and, if desired, active noise cancellation (ANC), which costs an additional fee. At Apple you will have to pay 149 or 199 euros. Shortly before it was made available, fresh details emerged – including about the charging behavior and operation, which has changed slightly.

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Access the Charging Puck

Unlike their predecessor, the AirPods 3, the AirPods 4 conspicuously lack the integrated magnetic ring. In practice, this means that you can charge the plug using MagSafe, but they regularly slip off if the charger is installed at an angle and not flat on the table. What does work, however, is the Apple Watch’s charging puck: its integrated magnet fits the narrow housing of the AirPods 4 perfectly.

As can be heard, however, the holding pressure is only applied to the ANC version of the AirPods 4; the version without noise cancellation apparently does not have enough metal on the back. Here, too, the solution is to place the corresponding charger flat on the table and position the AirPods 4 properly so that they do not slip off easily. Apple does not provide any information on whether the AirPods 4 support Qi charging, but it seems likely.

DxO PhotoLab 8 with improved noise reduction

Well-hidden service

Apple has also made some changes to the operation. The setup button is now well hidden and is no longer physically implemented. Instead, it is a capacitive area located underneath the light emitting diode (usually hidden). This triggers the pairing process as well as the reset of the AirPods 4 if it becomes necessary.

Apple’s current audio chip H2 is installed in both models of AirPods 4. However, it only enables adaptive audio and conversation recognition with ANC models – these are missing from the standard plug. However, voice isolation and personalized 3D audio with dynamic head tracking are supported by it. Like the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 4 also have a transparency mode with ANC to understand the environment.

(B.Sc.)