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At its iPhone 16 reveal event today, Apple also took the time to refresh some of its AirPods with the new AirPods 4 and a slightly tweaked version of the AirPods Max. Plus, the AirPods Pro 2 are getting some software upgrades, including one that will allow them to act as hearing aids.
AirPods 4
With the AirPods 4, there are now two versions of Apple’s base-level earbuds, finally replacing the AirPods 2nd and 3rd generation models. These include a standard model and one with active noise cancellation, a feature usually reserved for the Pro.
Both versions of the AirPods 4 are powered by Apple’s H2 chip, which powers features like Personalized Spatial Audio. On models with ANC, you’ll also get features that used to be reserved for the Pro, like Conversation Awareness. This lowers your music volume when your AirPods detect that you’re having a conversation.
H2-powered AirPods can also use head gestures to interact with Siri, so you get to move your head up and down for yes or left to right for no.
The AirPods 4 feature a new acoustic architecture which should provide a better overall sound. The charging case for all AirPods 4 have a USB-C port, and the case for the ANC model also has a speaker for Find My and wireless charging support.
The standard AirPods 4 will cost $129 and the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179. Both are available for pre-order today and ship on September 20th.
Updated AirPods Max
If you were hoping for a brand new AirPods Max, you’re gonna be disappointed. The specs haven’t changed and the headphones are still powered by the Apple H1 chip, including for features like Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
What is new is that the AirPods Max now come in five new colours: Midnight, Blue, Purple, Orange and Starlight. There’s also personalized spatial audio support (which comes with the iOS 18 update) and a USB-C port.
The updated AirPods Max cost $549, with pre-orders available today and shipping starting on September 20th.
AirPods Pro 2 Software Updates
Apple released the AirPods Pro 2 last year at the iPhone 15 event, and while a new model isn’t quite here yet, the company is adding a couple of new health features coming in an update later this year, pending FDA approval.
The first is Hearing Protection, which will be on by default and uses the H2 chip in the earbuds and machine learning to provide passive noise reduction. An example is if you have you’re at a loud concert—your AirPods Pro 2 will reduce the sound of the music to healthy levels without canceling it entirely.
A new Hearing Test in the Health app will also let you take a test to check your hearing loss. The test takes about 5 minutes and uses your iPhone and AirPods Pro 2.
Lastly, you’ll also be able to use the AirPods Pro 2 as “clinical-grade” hearing aids. This will come in the form of an update for the earbuds and an accompanying iOS 18 update. The Hearing Aid mode for AirPods Pro 2 will be available in 100 regions.
