Apple has launched a lot of impressive products this year. But I liked one of the smaller releases the most. This is why the AirPods 4 are the Apple product of the year for me.
Apple Product of the Year: AirPods 4
When thinking about Apple, everyone often only thinks about the major releases: the new iPhone 16, a groundbreaking chip in a MacBook Pro or the launch of the Vision Pro. But sometimes it’s the smaller, subtler innovations that make the difference. For me, the AirPods 4 are the Apple product of 2024 – and that is because of their almost magical power in everyday life.
Technology that you forget
The best compliment you can give a technological product? That you forget you’re using it. That’s the feeling I have with the AirPods 4. Whether I’m on the road, working on a busy train or just watching a series at home, these earbuds adapt effortlessly to the situation. Moreover, due to the comfortable fit and lightweight design, I often don’t even notice that I am wearing them.
But what’s really special: how seamlessly they respond to my needs. Whether I reject a call with a subtle head gesture or switch to transparency mode to follow a conversation, everything feels natural. No hassle, no distractions – just technology doing its job. You don’t have to worry about it anymore. During the test of the AirPods 4, I almost stepped into the shower with them on – so little did I notice that they were in my ears.
Two AirPods, two worlds
Unique to the AirPods 4 is that Apple offers two versions for the first time: a standard model and a variant with active noise cancellation (ANC). I opted for the version with ANC and was surprised how well the noise cancellation works, even without silicone in-ear tips.
Of course, this form of ANC is not perfect. With activated noise cancellation, ambient noise is muted, but not completely cut off. This is ideal for me, because it keeps me alert to what is happening around me. The transparency mode is just as impressive: conversations and ambient sounds sound as if I were not wearing earplugs at all. It almost feels like Apple has upgraded my ears.
The soundtrack for your life
Not unimportant for earbuds: the AirPods 4 really excel in their sound quality. Whether I’m listening to a podcast, watching an exciting series or playing my favorite playlist, the sound is always rich and full. The deep bass and clear highs ensure that I really enjoy what I hear. And with 3D audio, sometimes it feels like I’m right in the middle of the action. Too bad that not all streaming services still support this.
But what does that sound quality mean in practice? Your favorite music sounds better, your calls are clearer, and even the simplest walks become a lot more fun. And thanks to transparency mode, even conversations with the earbuds feel much better.
Small changes, big difference
Apple is known for its attention to detail, and the AirPods 4 are no different. The new charging case with USB-C is even more compact, but just as easy to use. A bonus is that you can now charge the earbuds via your iPhone 15 or 16 – thanks to USB-C. It is small improvements like this that make the AirPods 4 even more practical.
Oh yeah, and Find My support makes it almost impossible to lose your AirPods. Or much more: that you can find them very quickly, if that happens. All over the world, the AirPods 4 transmit their location via the Find My network – consisting of iPhones, iPads and Macs
For everyone
The AirPods 4 are not the cheapest earbuds on the market, but they work so easily and intuitively that they are more than worth the price tag. Whether you choose the basic model or the variant with ANC, you get earplugs that are very flexible in use.
For me, the AirPods 4 are the perfect example of technology that quietly makes your life better. And that, more than spectacular features or big launches, makes them my favorite Apple product of the year.
Are you convinced and do you want to get the AirPods now? Below we have listed the best prices for you.
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