These are the AirPods 4, and I’ve been using them for about six months—so this is the real “living with them” review, not just a first impression. I’m talking specifically about the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation ($179), but I also cover the standard model ($129) and what you’re actually getting for the money: H2 chip, gestures, IP54 dust/sweat/water resistance, USB‑C on the case, and (on the ANC model) wireless charging plus a built-in speaker for Find My. The big thing you need to know is the fit: there are no silicone tips. These sit outside your ear canal, which I personally love because I don’t like stuff going into my ears—but it also means ANC isn’t going to be AirPods Pro-level because you don’t get that seal. Still, the sound quality is simply excellent for plastic earbuds: great bass, fantastic clarity, and they hold up in fairly loud environments. I also go over mic quality for calls (it’s been solid for me), battery life (Apple’s claims feel pretty accurate), durability (mine have survived drops), and a couple small oddities like spatial audio making some videos sound “in a can” while editing. Overall: pricey, but they just work.