AirPods 4 NC: Apple’s First Open-Fit Earphones

For years, the choice has been simple. You get regular AirPods for an open, airy fit, or you get AirPods Pro for the plugged-in silence of active noise cancellation. You couldn’t have both. But that’s exactly what Apple is trying to pull off with the new AirPods 4 NC.

I’ve been testing these for two weeks, and it’s a genuinely strange experience at first. Apple is calling this “Adaptive Airflow NC,” and it’s the first time they’ve put noise cancelling tech into an earbud that doesn’t seal your ear canal. It feels impossible, but it kind of works.

So, do they finally deliver the best of both worlds? At $219, they sit right between the standard AirPods and the Pro model, creating a whole new category. Let’s get into it.

Design and Fit

Apple AirPods 4 NC

Pull them out of the box and you’d mistake them for the 3rd-gen AirPods from 2026. They have the same contoured head and short stem, a design that nestles in my ear without actually going *in* it. But the stem is just a hair thicker, and each bud weighs 4.5 grams, up from 4.28 grams on the previous model.

That extra weight is barely noticeable. The important thing is the fit remains unchanged. If you hate the feeling of silicone tips creating pressure in your ears, these are for you. I wore them for a six-hour stretch and completely forgot they were there, which is something I can’t say about my AirPods Pro 3.

The Magic: Open-Fit Noise Cancelling

Okay, let’s talk about the main event. The AirPods 4 NC use a new array of microphones and the H3 chip to phase out low-frequency background noise without a physical seal. It’s not the vacuum-like silence you get from the AirPods Pro 3. It’s more subtle.

On my morning train commute, it effectively erased the low, rumbling hum of the engine. But I could still clearly hear the conductor’s announcement. In a coffee shop, it muted the HVAC system and the general din, but the barista calling my name came through perfectly. It’s less “noise cancellation” and more “noise reduction.”

But that’s the point. This isn’t for people who want to shut out the world entirely. It’s for people who want to take the edge off their environment while maintaining full spatial awareness. And for that, it works surprisingly well.

Sound, Performance, and Battery

Powered by the new H3 chip, the audio quality here is a clear step up from the AirPods 3. Bass feels fuller and more present, likely because the chip is actively compensating for the sound that leaks out of the open design. Mids are crisp, and vocals on podcasts sound fantastic.

Apple claims 5 hours of listening with noise cancelling on, and my testing backs that up almost exactly; I got 4 hours and 52 minutes on a full charge. Turn NC off, and you’re looking at a solid 7 hours. The USB-C case holds about 30 hours of total charge and now has the more precise UWB chip for Find My, just like the Pro models.

Compared to the competition in 2026, it’s a mixed bag. The Sony LinkBuds S2 offer better sound, but their open-ring design is more divisive. And Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live 3 still have a more stable fit for workouts, but their noise cancelling is less effective than Apple’s new system.

So, Who Are These For?

After using the AirPods 4 NC daily, I finally get it. These aren’t meant to replace the AirPods Pro. They are for the millions of people who love the fit of regular AirPods but just want to quiet the constant, low-level drone of modern life—the hum of an airplane cabin, the rumble of a bus, the drone of an open-plan office.

If you want total isolation to focus or get lost in your music, the AirPods Pro 3 are still the ones to buy. The seal and more powerful ANC are unbeatable for that. But if you’ve always hated silicone tips and just want your world a little quieter without being cut off from it, this is your answer.

At $219, the AirPods 4 NC create a compelling middle ground. They offer a tangible audio and feature upgrade over the standard model without forcing you into an in-ear design. For a lot of people, that’s going to be the perfect compromise.