Flagship features at an affordable price! AirPods 4 with ANC drop to only $169

The best mid-range Apple AirPods are the AirPods 4 with active noise canceling. Blending a standard 'open' design with surprisingly effective noise-canceling technology, they give you a whole lot of flagship without the price tag you might expect.

And thanks to a new deal at Amazon, you can now pick these buds up for $10 less than the list price—that's a mere $169.

If you're prepared to wait, and if previous price drops are anything to go by, you may be able to pick them up for as little as $150 at some point, but we can't guarantee when that will be. If on the other hand, you're ready to go now, this is a fantastic price.

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: was $179 now $169 at Amazon

'Open' tipless design earbuds are not known for their noise-canceling capabilities but the AirPods 4 with ANC are a different beast altogether. Alongside excellent ANC, you'll also benefit from great sound, flagship features, and a comfortable fit. This isn't the cheapest price they've ever been, but at a smidge under $170, they're well worth every penny.

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The latest Apple wireless earbuds sound clearer and more detailed, powerful and rhythmically capable than all previous versions. If we're being critical, then we would like to hear a bit more dynamic drive and solidity, but its sonic profile sticks pretty close to our favourite Apple earbuds.

Even more impressive is that Apple has successfully implemented noise-cancelling in an eartip-less design. These 'Pods won't completely cocoon you in silence, but they specifically target low-level noise – traffic and engine rumbles, kitchen exhaust fans and the like – and these noises melt away effectively.

You will still hear high-pitched noises and office chatter come through, but the noise-blocking level is ideal for "those who love a tip-less earbuds design, and want to hear music clearly just enough to enjoy but still be aware of their surroundings", as we say in our full review.

These earbuds have a comfortable, lightweight design, with the only downside being the comparatively poor battery life: you get four to five hours on a single charge. Still, the charging case (now equipped with USB-C) will give you 30 hours in total.

Features such as personalised spatial audio, adaptive audio, conversation mode and many more features are now available to the AirPods 4 (for iOS users only, naturally), and overall the buds are easy to use and easy to recommend for those wanting new AirPods.

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Read our full AirPods with ANC review

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