AirPods 4 hands-on: noise cancellation for people who hate ear tips

For the first time, Apple’s AirPods for the masses come in two different versions. Today, the company announced its AirPods 4 earbuds, which start at $129, but there’s also a higher-tier $159 model that brings active noise cancellation to this open-style design. We’ve seen this attempted by other brands before — most recently Samsung with the Galaxy Buds 3 — and I’m very curious about how well Apple’s implementation will be able to combat city streets and airplane noise without the help of an in-ear seal from silicone tips.

I just checked out the AirPods 4 here at Apple’s event, and the earbuds themselves look and feel quite similar to their predecessors, though Apple’s website says the contours have been refined for a more secure fit….

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