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Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling: 10 Reasons Why It’s The Gamer’s Choice
Many elements in life are constant. The sky will always be blue, the grass will usually be green, and Apple products will always justify their upmarket tech prices for a mass-appeal ecosystem, intuitive functions, and sleek style. Apple has always been spot-on and massive with their branding, scaringly to cult-like levels, but once you’re in, it’s usually hard to get out.
And even if you’re like me who got out of the Apple ecosystem and phones for Android since mid-2018, I did miss how everything just felt in-sync and right when I decide just to double-dip and have an iPhone 15 Pro alongside my Android phone of choice (an Infinix, if you must know). Especially when it came to playing games on a high-powered mobile device that’s smaller than a Steam Deck, and also feature a game subscription library with some gems in tow -specifically the Apple Arcade. Sure, the actual phone ain’t cheap, but it’s is peerless in terms of photo-taking, game-playing, video-watching, and anything else a smartphone does these days.
But we’re not here to talk about my sort-of return to Apple and the iOS; I’m here to talk about a lovely pair of wireless earbuds I’ve been using for a few weeks that help enhance my white-laced experience further. The recent release of the Apple AirPods 4 -the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) variant- is the definite companion audio-listening tool tailor-made for iOS users.
Besides, you can’t just rely on the speakers for everything you’re doing. Think of the people you might tick off and give passive-aggressive looks at you when you’re playing a HoYoverse game without earphones on. In any case, here are 10 reasons why the AirPods 4 ANC earbuds are tailor-made for entertainment and gaming enthusiasts like us truly.
Form factor and wearability are very important for earphones and earbuds; why willingly listen to music through something uncomfortable? Apple has always been about presenting a clean image and intuitive form(s) for their hardware, so the AirPods 4 ANC already gives a wonderful first impression.
And after using it for a week or so, it’s definitely an earphone I can get behind. The AirPods 4 ANC are compact, lightweight, and comfortable, simply put. I have worn these in 4-5 hours straight in a day, and only ever thought about taking them out when its battery is near empty (more on that later). Regardless of your stature, the AirPods 4 ANC will fit into most ears. While it’s an open ear design and not inner ear like the Air Pods Pro 2, they’re still a good and comfortable fit that won’t feel like they’re drilling into your ear canals. I’ve played long sessions of Zenless Zone Zero and Balatro using the AirPods 4 ANC as my earbuds for many hours; they’re very comfortable to wear at long stretches of time whether you’re playing at home or in public transportation.
Having said that, maybe don’t have these on if you’re planning on running marathons. While the AirPods 4 ANC stay snug in your ears and will stay there, extreme exercise and rigorous activities may shake the AirPods 4 ANC off.
Speaking of open areas, the Active Noise Cancelling feature is a boon that reduces a ton of noise from outside. While the ANC feature is not meant to completely silence the outside area, your gaming audio and otherwise will take centrestage and all outside interference will be heavily drowned out.
The AirPods 4 ANC feature a good amount of noise cancellation features (Transparency, Adaptive, and Full-On Noise Cancellation); just enough to make you want to enjoy your music and gaming audio in public. As for using them in your home, it still works fine but the ANC features are meant for public use more than indoors. Then again, the AirPods 4 ANC are comfortable enough to wear at home.
The sounds coming out of the AirPods 4 ANC are great, clean, and super-crisp. Using the latest H2 chip (from the AirPods Pro 2) means that sound quality and integration are of the highest quality out of an Apple earpiece.
I play a lot of Zenless Zone Zero and Balatro (thanks Apple Arcade!) on my iPhone these days, and I don’t think I can ever play any game without the AirPods 4 ANC. Everything sounds great and they’re very comfortable to wear for ours on end. The multiple audio options like spatial stereo options, not to mention the iPhone’s Game Mode features, means I can enjoy peace of mind playing my games with the best outer earphone option possible.
Apart from showcasing a more refined look and compact design, the AirPods 4 ANC come with a special charging case that keeps your pair of earbuds. It accepts USB-C which is the standard for all smartphones and smart devices these days, so charge away!
The case itself has an “invisible” sensor button that lets you sync up to your iPhones (or pair up with other compatible smartphones via Bluetooth) painlessly and effortlessly. You can also use your iPhone to have the case beep loudly in case it’s missing so you can find it. You’ll have to get used to their placements, but these additions do make it very convenient for you to pair up your devices and even find your earbuds when they’re “lost” at home.
Yes, I am aware that wireless earbuds & the tech behind it are commonplace in this tech generation, but I have been a huge advocate for wired earphones and headphones. At least until the AirPods 4 happened; the pair are enough to slightly shake my belief to the core.
Apart from being a perfect fit in my ears, I don’t have to worry about tangled wires at all. The charging case can also be charged wirelessly (via Qi certified chargers) if you rather want to keep up with the wireless fantasy. The best kinds of wireless tech is the one that works without any interruption, and so far the AirPods 4 ANC capabilities are really good be it for listening to music, tuning in to game audio with your Apple Arcade title of choice, or just making calls and speaking through the device.
As a bonus, I can take a few steps back from my iPhone and the audio still works fine. In fact…
30 feet is a lot of distance for the most recent Bluetooth tech. I put this theory to the test in my house by placing the phone in my room, turning on Spotify, and then walking out of my house and almost block around my neighbourhood. That’s close to 30 feet in distance; it definitely cut off in this rather extreme situation if we’re not factoring wave interference.
Still, the distance in which it receives audio is amazing. I managed to listen to my Spotify playlist a floor down from my room with my AirPods 4 in tow. If you want to leave your iPhone charging and have it playing music in your ear while you’re making dinner a room away, you can and without any interruptions & cutoffs.
The AirPods 4 ANC is crammed with so many flagship features that you feel compelled to buy an iOS just for the buds. We’re talking about the iOS pausing your music/video player when you take off your earphones and then playing again when you put them on again. Seamless integration with any iOS product be it iPhones, iPads, or MacBooks. Heck, even these earphones are great to pair with the super-expensive Apple Vision Pro if you feel like you have more money to burn for some reason.
There are loads of Spatial Audio features and conversation awareness filters for your audio and calling needs, because you still need to use your iOS device to talk to people anyway. The iOS integration for the AirPods 4 ANC are seamless and will become second nature for users, to the point where the price tag is justified.
If you have an Android phone lying around, you can still pair the AirPods 4 ANC to them for your audio and gaming needs. Granted, there won’t be any additional features and automatic activations you can use (since it’s tailored for iOS), but the build quality is great for the ears and the audio is more than decent. Plus, you can still adjust the noise modes by pressing on the AirPods 4 ANC stems.
Perhaps the only feasible competition for the Air Pod 4 ANC is, well, itself. We have the AirPods 4 (standard) that costs RM599 and the AirPods 4 Pro that costs RM829. For its RM849 price, it’s the perfect balance between price and features, not to mention ergonomics and design.
If you rather go all the way and prefer inner earphones that go into your ear canal, the AirPods Pro 2 costs RM1,099. It’s really up to you if you feel that RM200 for an extra upgrade is worth it. I personally feel that it’s a huge step up from the original AirPods 4 and is worth the price for what it can do. For those who game, the extra RM200 should at least go to the titles you can buy for your Apple account, or even the Apple Arcade monthly subscription account.
The AirPods 4 ANC lets you listen up to 30 hours with the case, while it lasts up to 5 hours of listening on a single full charge. It’s actually less with the Active Noise Cancellation options turned on, however.
True, those kinds of hours aren’t the best when compared to other competitors in the earbuds field. But for what it can do and how intuitive, flexible, and comfortable they are, it’s a setback that a disciplined charging mindset can fix.
The Apple AirPods 4 ANC offers a little bit of everything and does it well. That’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none mentality, but given the fact that these earbuds are meant to cater to mass usage for all things from making voice calls to listening to Apple Music/Spotify, to even long-term gaming like we do, its practical application, build, and price point are justified.
Even if you’re using an Android phone to sync up with the AirPods 4 ANC, the earbuds have great sound quality, great voice-calling performance, and patented noise-cancelling. But still, you’ll get more out of it if it’s used in the proper ecosystem; that’s just how it is with anything Apple. It would be nice if there was an inner ear option and better battery life. However, given that it’s meant to do a lot of great audio things all at once without standing out in one particular area, everything else about these slick white pieces more than makes up for its few shortcomings.
If you’re an Apple user, it’s a no-brainer to buy for your listening needs. If you game a lot and want to jump ship to the Apple Arcade and iOS ecosystem, it’s definitely a must-buy.
Apple AirPods 4 retail unit provided by distributor.
Price: RM829
Chip: H2 headphone chip
Resistance: Dust, sweat and water resistant (IP54)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology
Wireless Distance: 30 feet*
Charging Case: Works with USB?C connector, Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified chargers
Size & Weight: Earphones
Size & Weight: Case
Battery
Audio Technology
Sensors
*estimate
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