Honor earbuds 4: a $69 challenge to airpods pro

The AirPods Pro reign supreme, but their price tag – a frankly obscene $250 – has long been a point of contention. Enter the Honor Earbuds 4: a surprisingly capable pair that’s forcing a serious rethink of the premium earbud market.

A budget earbud that actually delivers

Let’s be clear: the Honor Earbuds 4 look remarkably like AirPods Pro 3. The curvature, the overall aesthetic – it’s a deliberate, and largely successful, imitation. But appearances are deceiving. Beneath the superficially familiar exterior lies a genuinely impressive package, especially given their eye-watering $69 price point.

Sound quality: a titanium-coated surprise

The core of any good earbud is its sound, and here the Honor Earbuds 4 genuinely shine. Utilizing dual, titanium-coated drivers, they produce a balanced and detailed audio experience. The separation of high and low frequencies is particularly impressive, resulting in a richness that punches well above their weight class. However, to truly unlock the full potential – and experience that signature clarity – you’ll need to embrace the active noise cancellation at its most aggressive setting. Otherwise, the sound can feel a touch thin.

Anc performance: triple-mic magic

Don’t expect AirPods Pro-level silence, but the Honor Earbuds 4’s triple-mic active noise cancellation is remarkably effective. Honor claims a 50dB reduction in ambient noise, and while independent verification is difficult, the noticeable difference between ANC on and off is undeniable. It’s a significant step up for a budget offering, providing a respectable level of isolation without the premium price tag.

Fit and features: comfort and beyond

The comfortable fit is another crucial win. Similar to the AirPods Pro, these buds mold to the ear without causing discomfort, even during extended listening sessions. Beyond the sound and ANC, you get touch controls, intuitive gestures, and a surprising addition: real-time AI translation for two-person conversations in different languages. It’s a feature you won't find on the AirPods Pro, and a genuinely useful one.

The verdict: a bold statement

We’ve long accepted that popular earbud models are inflated in price. The Honor Earbuds 4 don't just challenge this notion; they provide undeniable proof. You can obtain excellent sound quality, a commendable level of noise cancellation, and a supremely comfortable fit for a fraction of the cost. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t always need to spend a fortune to get a genuinely superior listening experience. While the design borrows heavily from the AirPods Pro, the results are undeniably compelling. The $69 price point is simply too good to ignore – and a clear signal that the era of exorbitant earbud prices may finally be drawing to a close.