Imagine being able to mute the relentless hustle and bustle of city life for the cost of a pizza night. If you are in the market for good active noise-canceling earbuds on a budget, the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro has it all.

Whether you’re taking a stroll around the neighborhood or enjoying the warm breeze on your balcony in a noisy environment, the urge to eliminate or block unpleasant outside sounds always kicks in. That’s where active noise canceling comes in.

When you hear the phrase “active noise canceling,” what usually comes to mind are Bose, Sony, and Soundcore — the major brands that have already established a name and solidified their presence in the sound market.

But what if I tell you that there is a more affordable option for half the price? You heard me right: half the price.

I present to you the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro, active noise-canceling earbuds from Soundpeats, for a whopping $50.

Launched in early 2024, these earbuds have stood the test of time and are among my favorites compared to the Apple AirPods 4. I’ve used the Apple AirPods 4 for a while after their launch, and compared to the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro, the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro stands out, but we will examine that in a moment.

What’s in the Box

In the box of the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro, you get:

• The earbuds and charging case
• An owner’s manual
• USB Type-C charging cable
• Plastic ear tips

Design

The design of Soundpeats Air 4 Pro is exciting. Although it comes in various designs, I specifically got the transparent design. A very unique design if you ask me, because most earbuds today come in either black or white.

The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro is designed to look futuristic, giving it a unique, one-in-a-million look. The earbuds themselves also come in a transparent look. The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro are in-ear earbuds featuring plastic and silicone tips, designed to sit perfectly on the ears and ensure optimal functionality of the active noise-canceling technology.

The design of the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro suits me well. It is also top-notch, considering how comfortable it is during long listening sessions, gaming, hiking, and other daily activities.

Considering their weight, the earbuds are very light on the ears. The combination of the silicon ear tips makes it very easy and comfortable to wear. Although the case is noticeable compared to other earbuds, it’s big, not necessarily significant, but quite noticeable when carrying them. In my case, it’s decent.

Key Features

• In-ear detection mode: Pauses music when you remove the earbuds.
• Active noise canceling (ANC): Hybrid ANC helps filter background noise.
• Game mode: Accessible through the app (triple tap). Ensures low latency when gaming.
• IPX4 water resistance: Protection against water splashes, light rain, and sweat.
• App support: Allows for customizable features, including button customization (although the app occasionally misbehaves).
• Customizable touch controls: Adjust touch functions via the app.
• Snapdragon Sound: Delivers high-quality and clear audio. 

Sound quality 

Arguably one of the best earbuds I’ve used when it comes to quality in a while.

The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro features 13mm dynamic drivers and hybrid noise-canceling technology (ANC), which will be explored in more detail in due course. And it sounds great.

When I first tried this on, I had the mindset that a $50 earbud with active noise canceling wouldn’t sound good. Having used the Apple AirPods 4 ANC for a while, I had big expectations, and trust me, I was not disappointed.

The bass was top-notch, as was the treble, and the voice was unmistakable. The music quality was top-notch, and combined with its active noise-canceling technology, I was mind-blown.

I am not hyping these earbuds because they’re way ahead of the Soundpeats Air 5. But let’s not forget that these are in-ear design earbuds. All these factors matter regarding the sound quality, as the Air 5 is an open-ear design.

• The bass is commendable, not too loud or harsh.
• The voice clarity is also really commendable.
• The ANC also helps filter out background noise, making the sound more presentable.

Battery life 

Throughout my use of this earbud, I appreciated the battery life, as it exceeds that of average earbuds. However, let’s take a look at what Soundpeats has to offer regarding the battery life of these earbuds.

For starters, these earbuds have 30 hours of playback time, which is distributed between the casing and the earbuds themselves. Imagine this: you could fly from NYC to Los Angeles and back with plenty of podcasts or music to spare. This kind of endurance means less time worrying about charging and more time enjoying your audio experience.

• These earbuds can last up to 6 hours with active noise canceling off and 4 hours with it on.
• The case can provide up to 26 hours of battery life, achieved with a 1-hour and 30-minute charge.

But what was my personal experience with these earbuds? The battery life stood out for me, as I only had to charge this twice over a two-week testing period. I was comfortable with the battery life of this earbud, and it’s highly recommended if you plan to use it for an extended period.

Active noise canceling (ANC) mode 

Soundpeats calls this system hybrid active noise canceling, which is one of the reasons anyone would get this in the first place.

However, the ANC mode of these earbuds did not meet my expectations. It does a pretty good job, but considering these earbuds are priced under $50, they should serve the average user.

But to be honest, there can be improvements, especially when users tend not to listen to music and want some peace. For someone like me, I tend to turn off my noise canceling and not listen to music simultaneously to relax.

All in all, it’s still an excellent choice for the average user, considering its price range.

Calling and Mic Test

Regarding calls, the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro performed exceptionally well. Whether it’s calls via regular mobile carriers, WhatsApp, or other apps, the microphone quality is superb.

The other individual on the receiving end could easily hear what I was saying, which was crisp and clear. The call touch controls were also very responsive and worked flawlessly.

Additionally, the media playback of these earbuds is impressive. I watched most of my YouTube videos using the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro within this timeframe, which was breathtaking.

Durability

How durable is the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro?

The durability of earbuds is also a significant factor to consider, as some of us often lose them, which can result in them falling and sustaining damage. The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro features a transparent plastic casing, which makes the case somewhat fragile; however, the actual earbuds are well-made and can withstand multiple falls.

It also comes equipped with IPX4 water resistance, which protects against sweat during workouts, hiking, and water splashes.

Connectivity 

The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro has a Bluetooth 5.3 wireless system, enabling seamless connections across multiple devices. This system is dedicated to providing the best audio quality and supports multi-point connectivity. It allows you to connect to various devices simultaneously and enables smooth switching between them.

This device performs excellently in terms of Bluetooth range. You can have your phone in the sitting room and listen to music in the yard or any other room without interruptions.

 Pros

• Affordable price at just $50
  
• Futuristic transparent design that stands out
  
• Comfortable fit with silicone tips
  
• Clear sound with punchy bass and crisp vocals
  
• Solid battery life (up to 30 hours with case)
  
• A hybrid ANC that works well for daily use
  
• Excellent call and mic quality
  
• Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connection
  
• Extra features like Game Mode, in-ear detection & app support
  
• IPX4 water resistance for workouts and light rain
  

Cons

• The charging case feels a bit bulky.
  
• ANC could be stronger when not playing music.
  
• The app can be buggy at times.
  
• The case material feels slightly fragile compared to others.

Should you buy the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro (ANC)?

Considering its price, the Soundpeats Air 4 Pro is an excellent choice for those in the market for active noise-canceling earbuds.

However, there are many close rivals to the Air 4 Pro, like the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless Earbuds and Soundcore Life P3i Hybrid ANC Earbuds.

The Soundpeats Air 4 Pro is a fantastic choice for its price and quality.