Duel Apple headphones: the AirPods Pro 2 remain unmoved by the AirPods 4 ANC

Latest generation of Apple's famous open headphones, the AirPods 4 integrate for the first time an active noise reduction system. They also feature a revisited sound architecture and a range of new features offered by the famous H2 chip.

The sum of these new features allows them to get as close as possible to the high-end AirPods Pro 2also equipped with the best technologies from the Apple brand. It therefore seemed obvious to us to pit them against each other in a duel, in order to understand why it would still be relevant to spend €50 more to get the AirPods Pro 2.

The AirPods Pro 2 triumph across the board

If the two iterations of Apple were rivals on most fronts, details and some obvious weaknesses on the side of the AirPods 4 allowed the AirPods Pro 2 to emerge victorious at the end of each round.

Both excellent, these pairs of headphones are very competitive in their respective categories. The AirPods 4 almost manage to reach the level of their predecessors when it comes to user experience and microphone quality.

On everything else, the open, poorly insulating format of the AirPods 4 is lacking. As a result, they have less effective noise reduction and sound reproduction that is not as controlled as that of the AirPods Pro 2. It should nevertheless be noted that the AirPods 4 perform much better than the majority of other headphones open to the market in these two areas.

While both models provide excellent support, the AirPods 4 continue to delight people allergic to silicone tips. This point also allows them again and again to find their audience, the sensations of comfort depending on the preferences of each person.

Priced at around €250, the AirPods Pro 2 therefore remain above the AirPods 4 sold at €199. The gap is quite significant, especially if we take into account the fact that noise reduction performance has become one of the main purchasing criteria.