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Apple Explains How AirPods 4 Feature 'Great' Active Noise Cancellation Without Ear Tips

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In a recent interview with Engadget, Apple's vice president of hardware engineering Kate Bergeron and AirPods marketing director Eric Treski explained how the company was able to add "great" active noise cancellation (ANC) to the higher-end AirPods 4, even though the earbuds have an "open-ear design" without silicone ear tips.

AirPods Buyers Guide Feature
Apple said the H2 chip and "computational audio" were significant factors in adding ANC to the standard AirPods for the first time.

"It's even computationally more intense in many ways than it is with the AirPods Pro," said Bergeron, in regards to ANC on the AirPods 4.

"It's really, really hard to create this great ANC quality in a non-ear-tip product," said Treski. "The power of the H2 allows that, so we're actually doing a lot with the H2 chip to manage ANC quality and listen from the mics for environmental noise to make sure we're canceling as much as possible."

Apple said the revised shape and acoustic architecture of the AirPods 4 also contributes to the earbuds having effective ANC.

The full interview offers additional details about how Apple designed the AirPods 4, which became available in stores today. There are two types of AirPods 4, with only the higher-end $179 ones offering active noise cancellation.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

V
VisceralRealist
20 months ago

"It's even computationally more intense in many ways than it is with the AirPods Pro," said Bergeron, in regards to ANC on the AirPods 4.”

Or…you could add 3 cents of silicon tips?

Why are the pros twice the price if these are the more difficult and sophisticated design? The whole article is on how the low end ones are worth way more than a superior product because of stupid design choices.
These AirPods are marketed at people who don't like silicone tips.

I don't see why it's such a problem to offer a feature formerly exclusive to the silicone tips model to those who don't prefer silicone tips.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Cirillo Gherardo
20 months ago
That doesn't really answer the question though. Yes, you can computationally cancel noise, but only the noise going through the microphone and out the speaker into the ear. There is no accounting for the noise that comes into the ear from around the sides of the AirPods, which is why AirPods pro have silicone tips to begin with ...to create a seal that prevents noise from coming into the ear unless its going through the mic first.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sandstorm Avatar
Sandstorm
20 months ago
We'll see. I'm one of the people who dislike silicone tips, but my current AirPods 3 are quite bad on a plane, for example. Picking up AirPods 4 ANC today.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
fwmireault
20 months ago

"The power of the H2 allows that, so we're actually doing a lot with the H2 chip to manage ANC quality and listen from the mics for environmental noise to make sure we're canceling as much as possible."
And yet all this amazing power from H2 was not deemed worthy of an upgrade for AirPods Max
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJR Avatar
DrJR
20 months ago
This is amazing and with new AI enhancements it is able to actively filter out the frequencies of my coworkers blathering voice yet render everyone else in the meeting crystal clear.

Imagine a "mute" setting for specific contacts....hmmmmm
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mapsdotapp Avatar
mapsdotapp
20 months ago
Picked them up at the Apple Store and immediately put them on. The hustle and bustle of iPhone launch day was tuned out and I could very clearly hear my music at a safe 80db limit. Apple has done it again.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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