Apple Reveals AirPods 4 and New Health Features for the AirPods Pro 2

Apple is updating its AirPods lineup today with new entry-level AirPods 4, which are getting some of the features that Apple first introduced on its more expensive AirPods Pro. The company is also updating its AirPods Max headphones with new colors and a USB-C charging port. While the company didn’t announce new AirPods Pro 3 today, the company will soon introduce new health features on the AirPods Pro 2.

The new AirPods 4 look really similar to the AirPods 3 from 2021, though Apple said it has redesigned the earbuds to be more comfortable. The company promises a “massive improvement in audio quality” thanks to a new acoustic architecture and the addition of the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2 and the Apple Vision Pro. This chip adds support for “Pro” features including personalized spatial audio and voice isolation, and it will also let users use simple nod gestures to accept or refuse phone calls by just shaking their heads.

The new USB-C charging case on the AirPods 4 is slightly smaller and supports wireless charging. Apple says that it should still deliver up to 30 hours of battery life when fully charged.

Apple’s AirPods 4 are priced at $129, but there’s also a $179 version with Active Noise Cancellation. This model offers more features that are also available on the AirPods Pro 2, including Transparency Mode, which lets users better hear the environment around them when necessary. Adaptative Audio can also intelligently reduce noise as the environment changes, while Conversation Awareness will automatically reduce media volume when users start talking to anyone.

New health features for the AirPods Pro 2

Apple announced three upcoming health features for its AirPods Pro 2 today. These features are designed to prevent hearing loss and assit people who already suffer from it throughout the day.

With Hearing Protection, the AirPods Pro 2 will use machine learning to reduce loud sounds in specific environments such as live concerts. The new feature can also be enabled by default across all listening modes.

The AirPods Pro 2 will also let users take hearing tests to check if they may suffer from hearing loss. This feature will require an iPhone, and it will generate a detailed report in the Apple Health app that users can share with healthcare providers if needed.

The last healthcare feature Apple announced today is a professional-grade Hearing Aid feature: It will boost specific sounds for people suffering from hearing loss, and the experience will be tailored for each user. These personalized hearing profiles will be automatically applied to music, phone calls, and more.

Apple said today that it expects to receive clearance from the FDA and other health agencies for this Hearing Aid feature soon. When this happens, these new health features will be enabled on the AirPods 2 with a future software update coming to iOS 18.