AirPods 4 ANC is the version of Apple’s AirPods 4 that adds Active Noise Cancellation to the open, tip-free shape. Inside each earbud Apple’s H2 chip runs Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Apple rates the AirPods 4 ANC at up to 5 hours of listening per charge, or 4 hours with noise cancellation on, and the USB-C case charges with a cable, a Qi-certified pad or an Apple Watch charger.
Table of Contents
- What the AirPods 4 ANC adds over the standard AirPods 4
- AirPods 4 ANC sound, spatial audio and calls
- Battery life and the USB-C case
- Controls, sensors and the IP54 rating
- Size, fit and which devices get the full feature set
- Who This Is Not For
- Ordering the AirPods 4 ANC from Totot
- Technical Specifications
- FAQ
What the AirPods 4 ANC adds over the standard AirPods 4
Apple sells AirPods 4 in two versions. Both share the same redesigned shape and the H2 chip, but only the AirPods 4 ANC version has Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness. It also gets a charging case with a speaker for Find My and support for wireless charging.
Active Noise Cancellation uses the microphones to measure outside sound and cancel part of it, which helps with the steady hum of a bus, an aeroplane cabin or an air conditioner. Transparency mode does the opposite and lets outside sound in, so you can hear a gate announcement or a colleague without taking the AirPods 4 ANC out.
Adaptive Audio blends the two modes on its own as your surroundings change, and Conversation Awareness lowers your media and boosts voices in front of you when you start talking to someone. These features are what you pay the extra for, so if you never need them, the standard AirPods 4 is the simpler choice.
AirPods 4 ANC sound, spatial audio and calls
Apple pairs a custom high-excursion driver with a high dynamic range amplifier in each earbud, and Adaptive EQ tunes the sound to the way the AirPods 4 ANC sit in your ear. A pressure-equalisation vent is there to reduce the blocked feeling some people get from in-ear designs.
Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places films and supported music around you and keeps the sound anchored to the screen as you turn your head. For calls, dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone and a speech-detecting accelerometer work together with Voice Isolation, which Apple uses to keep your voice clear when the room is loud.
Battery life and the USB-C case
Apple’s figures for the AirPods 4 ANC are up to 5 hours of listening per charge with noise control off and up to 4 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on. With the case, that rises to up to 30 hours without noise control and up to 20 hours with ANC. Five minutes in the case gives around 1 hour of listening.
The case has a USB-C port and also charges on a Qi-certified pad or an Apple Watch charger. A small built-in speaker plays a sound so Find My can help you locate the case. Note that Apple ships the AirPods 4 ANC with the earbuds, the case and documentation only: the USB-C cable is sold separately, so use one you already own.
Controls, sensors and the IP54 rating
There are no touch panels. The AirPods 4 ANC use a force sensor on the stem: press once to play, pause or answer a call, twice to skip forward, three times to skip back, and press and hold for Siri. You can also say Siri or Hey Siri, and nod or shake your head to respond to Siri announcements.
An optical in-ear sensor pauses playback when you take an earbud out, and motion and speech accelerometers support head tracking and calls. Apple rates the AirPods 4 ANC IP54 for dust, sweat and water resistance. That covers sweat during a workout and light rain, not swimming or rinsing under a tap.
Size, fit and which devices get the full feature set
Each AirPods 4 ANC earbud weighs 4.3 g and measures about 30 x 18 x 18 mm, and the case weighs 34.7 g at about 46 x 50 x 21 mm, so it fits a small pocket. The open shape has no silicone tips; it rests in the ear instead of sealing the canal, which many people find more comfortable for long wear.
Apple lists its own platforms in the system requirements: the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS and visionOS. That is where automatic switching, Siri, head-tracked spatial audio and the full settings menu live. Apple does not publish Android support, so on an Android phone treat them as standard Bluetooth 5.3 earbuds.
Who This Is Not For
The AirPods 4 ANC are not the strongest noise-cancelling AirPods. Without silicone tips there is no tight seal, so the cancellation will not shut out as much as a tip-based pair. If you take long flights every month, a model with ear tips is the better buy.
They are also a weak fit for Android-only users, since most of the extras depend on Apple devices, and for swimmers, because IP54 is not waterproof. If the shape of standard AirPods has never stayed in your ears, the AirPods 4 ANC may not either, as there are no tips or wings to change the fit.
Ordering the AirPods 4 ANC from Totot
We deliver across the UAE within 3 business days, and delivery is free on orders from AED 300. You can pay by card, cash on delivery, Tabby or Tamara at checkout.
Your AirPods 4 ANC come with a 1-year warranty from Totot. Defective or non-matching items can be returned within 14 days, and please tell us about any shipping damage within 48 hours of delivery.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
- Chip: Apple H2 headphone chip
- Noise control: Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness
- Audio: Custom high-excursion driver, high dynamic range amplifier, Adaptive EQ, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, pressure-equalisation vent
- Microphones and sensors: Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, optical in-ear sensor, motion accelerometer, speech-detecting accelerometer, force sensor
- Calls: Voice Isolation
- Controls: Force sensor on the stem, Siri voice commands, head gestures for Siri
- Battery (earbuds): Up to 5 hours listening; up to 4 hours with ANC on
- Battery (with case): Up to 30 hours listening; up to 20 hours with ANC on
- Quick charge: 5 minutes in the case for about 1 hour of listening
- Case charging: USB-C, Qi-certified wireless chargers, Apple Watch charger
- Find My: Supported, with a speaker in the case
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
- Resistance: IP54 dust, sweat and water resistant
- Earbud size and weight: About 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.0 mm, 4.3 g each
- Case size and weight: About 46.2 x 50.0 x 21.1 mm, 34.7 g
- In the box: AirPods 4, charging case (USB-C), documentation; USB-C cable sold separately
- Colour: White
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
Specifications are taken from Apple’s official AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation technical specifications; sizes were converted from Apple’s inch figures. Full details are published on the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation tech specs page.
FAQ
Is the AirPods 4 ANC different from the standard AirPods 4?
Yes. The AirPods 4 ANC add Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and a case with a Find My speaker and wireless charging. The shape and the H2 chip are the same.
How long does the AirPods 4 ANC battery last?
5 hours per charge at most, or 4 hours with ANC on. With the case, up to 30 hours, or 20 hours with ANC on, according to Apple.
Is a charging cable included?
No. Apple includes the earbuds, the USB-C case and documentation; the USB-C cable is sold separately.
Can I charge the case wirelessly?
Yes. The case works with Qi-certified chargers and with an Apple Watch charger, as well as USB-C.
Are the AirPods 4 ANC waterproof?
No. They are rated IP54, which covers dust, sweat and splashes, not swimming.
Do the AirPods 4 ANC work with Android phones?
Yes, as Bluetooth earbuds, but Apple only lists its own devices in the requirements, so features such as Siri and head-tracked spatial audio need an Apple device.
Do they have silicone ear tips?
No. AirPods 4 use an open design without tips, so they do not seal the ear canal.
Browse more in our Earbuds range. Every order from Totot carries a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with our 14-day return policy for defective or non-compliant items, and nationwide UAE delivery.
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