AirPods 4 is the name given to Apple’s latest true-wireless in-ear headphones. There’s the regular version, reviewed below, and the souped-up model called AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. There’s no visible difference between the two versions of earbuds, though the case is different, inside and out.

Apple’s AirPods weren’t the first wireless earbuds to hit the market, but in typical Apple fashion, they turned that market on its head when they arrived. And the new AirPods 4 release (s) bring some big upgrades to the lineup.

Open-ear earbuds are more comfortable to wear for most, but it used to mean no active noise cancellation — until now.

In California, in the wake of its launch event, Apple told us how the AirPods 4 were designed and what changes have been made to achieve noise cancellation in an open-ear design.