I might downgrade from my AirPods Pro 2 to the AirPods 4

Glowtime 2024
(Image credit: Apple)

This appears to be the year that I realized that I am no longer a Pro. Instead of moving on to the iPhone 16 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro, I'm planning on preordering the iPhone 16. Instead of getting that sweet Satin Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, I preordered the Apple Watch Series 10 in Jet Black.

And now, I'm even considering ditching my AirPods Pro 2 for the new AirPods 4. I already have a preorder in and am ready to potentially replace the last Pro Apple product I will have (after I switch from the Pro iPhone to the Apple Watch Ultra which is basically the Pro Apple Watch).

With AirPods Pro 2 getting some software upgrades and still having what seemingly will be better noise cancellation, why would I get rid of them? Well, it has to do with two things.

Noise cancellation and fit are the factors

Glowtime 2024

(Image credit: Apple)

The first reason — and the big reason — I'm considering a switch from the AirPods Pro 2 is due to the fit. While the AirPods Pro 2 are great, the biggest issue I've always had with them is that they — whenever I've done any kind of exercise or chewed gum too much — would fall out of my ears.

If I go for a run, I'm going to be adjusting the ear tips of the AirPods Pro over and over and over again. If I go for a hike, it's going to be the same deal. And don't even try to do sit-ups or push-ups — those babies are coming out regardless of how much I try to secure them.

I've found that open-ear earbuds are more comfortable, so I really want to give the AirPods 4 a try to see if they not only live up to this but if they actually end up being more secure in my ears. That's a big ask since AirPods Pro 2 offer four different ear tips for a more custom fit, but I've heard from multiple people that the regular AirPods have actually stayed in their ears better than the Pros did. I'll have to see if I fall into that camp as well.

Glowtime 2024

(Image credit: Apple)

The second reason I'm considering a switch is that the AirPods 4 are getting the one feature that I really stuck with the AirPods Pro for: noise cancellation. This is the most important feature of my earbuds, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Being able to drown out external noise when trying to focus at work, on a plane, or during a workout is a required feature nowadays.

With noise cancellation coming to the AirPods 4 with that open-ear design, I'm wondering if they'll be a better choice for someone like me who has fit and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2. I know the AirPods 4's noise cancellation won't be as good as the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 but as long as they are good enough, I'll sacrifice a little bit of performance here.

So that's where I'm at. If the AirPods 4's noise cancellation is good enough for my use cases and fix my fit and comfort issues with the AirPods Pro 2, they could make me jump once again from a Pro to a non-Pro Apple product.

We'll see what happens when they come out on September 20th. I have my preorder in now!

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Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.

  • Just_Me_D
    My ears are not AirPods friendly because the AirPods would never stay snug and would easily slip out.

    The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, stays snug and stays in place in my ear so I will continue to enjoy my AirPods Pro 2.
    Reply
  • simonmann
    You wont
    Reply