Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise-Canceling Headphones Are Now 50% Off.
Refurbished Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are available on Woot for $99.99, and using the promo code APPLETEN until August 5th will cut the price by another 10%, bringing the final price down to $89.99. That’s roughly half the price of Apple’s starting price of $179 and significantly less than the price of new AirPods for $148.99 or like-new ones for $133.39 on Amazon. Prime members also get free shipping (for everyone else, it’s $6), though Woot limits shipping to the continental US. Apple also offers the standard version of the AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation for $129, though it’s currently discounted on Amazon for $99.
The first thing to understand is the open-back design of the AirPods 4. The AirPods 4 don’t seal the ear canal as tightly as the AirPods Pro, so they naturally let in more outside sounds. The Apple H2 chip compensates for this with active noise cancellation, and it does a really good job for an open-back design, even if it can’t match the stronger isolation of sealed earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2. The chip also powers features like adaptive audio and conversation recognition, which automatically adjust what you hear based on your surroundings. Sound quality is another strong point: powerful bass and clear highs make these earbuds enjoyable for a wide range of music, although there’s no EQ adjustment. Potential downsides include battery life, which, according to a PCMag review , is about four hours with active noise cancellation enabled.
For those who want active noise cancellation (ANC) but dislike the sealed feel of in-ear headphones, this refurbished offering is a real find. The price is significantly lower than all other versions of this product, and the core audio features, from spatial sound to IP54 water resistance, are preserved. However, if long battery life or a secure fit are a priority, the open-back design with four hours of ANC battery life may not be suitable, no matter how competitive the price.