AirPods 4 get optional noise cancellation, AirPods Max get USB-C

Apple has split its latest take on entry-level AirPods into two separate models: one with noise cancellation, and one without.

Announced alongside the new iPhone 16, the AirPods 4 are new entry-level AirPods with an open-ear design. This means they sit in your ear, rather than having tips that protrude into your ear canal like the AirPods Pro.

Apple says the AirPods 4 have a "massive" increase in sound quality, and they now benefit from the same H2 chip found in the AirPods Pro for features like voice isolation. There's also a force sensor that allows you to squeeze the stem to pause or play music. It can't adjust volume, however.

While the AirPods 4 look pretty similar to the last model, Apple says the headphones have been redesigned with a shape that fits even more users and is more comfortable than the previous model.

As the name suggests, AirPods 4 with ANC add noise cancelling to the AirPods 4. Noise cancellation is the key difference, but it also enables features like transparency mode, adaptive audio, and conversational awareness.

When we've tested noise cancelling on open-ear wireless earbuds before, we've not found it to be particularly effective, so it will be interesting to see how Apple's implemented it here.

The AirPods 4 with ANC get a slightly fancier charging case too. In addition to supporting USB-C charging like the standard model, the AirPods 4 with ANC case has wireless charging and a speaker.

The AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC are available to pre-order now ahead of a September 20 release date. You'll pay $219 for the standard model, or $299 for the model with noise cancellation.

In addition to new entry-level AirPods, Apple also announced a slight refresh of the AirPods Max. Apple's fanciest headphones now have USB-C for charging instead of Lightning, but are otherwise unchanged.

They do however come in five new colours: starlight, orange, purple, blue, and midnight.

The AirPods Max with USB-C still cost $899, making them more expensive than new rivals like the Sonos Ace. The Airpods Max with USB-C are available to pre-order now ahead of a September 20 release date.

Looking for a new NBN plan?

These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	amaysim Editor's Pick	amaysim All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick NBN50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Black Friday Offer + $10 Standard Intro offer), then $85/mth. Ends 30.11 $45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#2	Dodo	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth*. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#3	Superloop	Superloop All Fixed Line nbn® Extra-value nbn50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#4	Belong	Belong All Fixed Line nbn® NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $22 off for 12 months - $69/mth for first 12 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 30.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $69/mth for first 12 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth for first 12 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom All Fixed Line nbn® Value Plus NBN 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $64.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month. $64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90 Go to Site	$64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90	Go to Site
#6	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#7	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Value nbn - Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#8	Flip	Flip All Fixed Line nbn® Unlimited Family nbn50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $16.90/mth off for 6 months - $68/mth for first 6mths then $84.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 30.11.26. T&Cs apply. $68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68 Go to Site	$68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68	Go to Site
#9	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet All Fixed Line nbn® Silver Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $11/mth off for 12mths. $69.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $80.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90 Go to Site	$69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90	Go to Site
#10	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied

Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days

See More Plans ~ Last Updated 7/11/2026

Powered By

How WhistleOut Works

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio