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TheAppleAirPods 4 are, ahem, overdue.
Fortunately, according to Bloomberg’s reliable Apple commentator, Mark Gurman, the wait might soon be over.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 aren’t the newest bose buds, but they’re our top noise-cancelling pick,
He anticipates that the AirPods 4 will be released inSeptember or October 2024.
It might be that the regular AirPods will never get ANC, regardless of which version were talking about.
But where should Apple draw inspiration from?
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 aren’t the newest bose buds, but they’re our top noise-cancelling pick,
When it comes to ANC, Bose is the undisputed leader.
However, ANC is no longer a feature exclusive to high-end earbuds.
Today, some of thebest noise-cancelling earbudsare available at mid-range, and even budget, price points.
The JBL Live Beam 3 have a 12 hour battery in the buds and 48 hours in their charging case.
A great example is theNothing Ear (a)buds.
When testing Apple’s earbuds for ourAirPods 3 reviewin 2022, we rated their battery life as good.
This makes a battery life improvement a key expectation for the AirPods 4.
The Technics EAH-AZ80 are an incredibly comfortable pair of true wireless earbuds.
As with ANC, good battery life is no longer exclusive to premium earbuds.
In fact, many affordable and mid-range options excel in this area.
While the AirPods 3 were comfortable, they lacked the security needed for more vigorous activities.
TheSony WF-1000XM5support Sony’s LDAC codec.
Most other brands already offer earbuds with customizable ear tips, like theBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2and theTechnics EAH-AZ80.
Hi-res audio support from Nothing, Samsung and Sony
The AirPods 3 only support the SBC and AAC codes.
Which means theres nohi-res audio.
Granted the Beats Powerbeats Pro are geared up to sports, but they show that a pair of Apple-owned buds can be very stable and water-resistant.
Apple should learn from Sony and its earbuds most recently theSony WF-1000XM5 and create a codec like Sonys LDAC.
LDAC enables high-resolution audio over Bluetooth, bringing listeners closer to studio-quality sound on the go.
By developing a similar codec, Apple could offer a more competitive product in the wireless earbuds market.
High-res audio support isnt just reserved for premium devices.
TheNothing Ear (a)also feature LDAC hi-res audio support.
AndSamsungusers get hi-res support from theSamsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Another crucial improvement would be to upgrade their water-resistance rating.
Currently, the AirPods 3 have an IPX4 rating, which offers basic protection against sweat and light splashes.
