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Apple AirPods 4 ANC vs Technics EAH-AZ100: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Technics EAH-AZ100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Technics EAH-AZ100 - Outstanding overall at around $250.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Technics EAH-AZ100 leads on 5 of 7 measures.

  • Apple AirPods 4 ANC
  • Technics EAH-AZ100
HearWiki score
80
86
Sound
7.6
9.2
Noise cancelling
6.7
8.6
Battery
5.9
8.7
Calls
7.9
7.8
Value
7.1
8.1
Price (USD)
$180
$250

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Mixed generations

Technics EAH-AZ100 (2025) against Apple AirPods 4 ANC (2024). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Apple AirPods 4 ANC brings ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid, while the Technics EAH-AZ100 answers with Top codec LC3 against AAC and LE Audio (LC3).

  • AirPods 4 ANC2024
  • EAH-AZ10020251 yr newer
What differsAirPods 4 ANCEAH-AZ100

Platform

Top codec
AAC
LC3
LE Audio (LC3)
No
Yes
ANC type
Adaptive
Hybrid

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Water resistance
IP54
IPX4

Level on: Bluetooth, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

AirPods 4 ANCEAH-AZ100
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$180
$250
HearWiki score
80
86
Released
2024
2025
Availability
Still sold new
Sold new
Driver
11 mm dynamic
10 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
11 mm
10 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
-
16 Ω
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
4 h
12 h
Battery life (ANC on)
4 h
10 h
Battery incl. case
20 h
28 h
Full charge time
-
120 min
Quick charge
-
15 min → 1.2 h
Wireless charging
Yes
Yes
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
hybrid
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
Yes
Controls
both
touch
Voice assistant
Siri
Yes
Weight
4.3 g
11.8 g
Case weight
34.7 g
42 g
Water resistance
IP54
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Microphones
3
2
Microphone type
-
MEMS

What reviewers said

Apple AirPods 4 ANC

The Apple AirPods 4 ANC deliver adaptive noise cancellation and a balanced, bass-improved sound in a compact, IP54-rated design. They offer solid performance for Apple users, with a comfortable fit for active use, though battery life is on the shorter side and multipoint is absent.

  • Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
  • Pro:Improved bass response and overall clarity
  • Pro:Comfortable, stable fit for workouts
  • Con:Battery life is limited to 4 hours per charge
  • Con:No multipoint Bluetooth connection
  • Con:ANC is decent but not class-leading

Technics EAH-AZ100

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver rich, detailed sound through a 10mm dynamic driver, with support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They combine effective hybrid active noise cancellation with a comfortable, IPX4-rated design, plus smart features like multipoint pairing and wireless charging for versatile daily use. With up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, they are built to last through long listening sessions.

  • Pro:Excellent sound quality with LDAC support
  • Pro:Strong hybrid ANC and transparency modes
  • Pro:Long battery life with wireless charging case
  • Con:Premium price point
  • Con:Touch controls may be overly sensitive
  • Con:No aptX codec support

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonApple AirPods 4 ANCTechnics EAH-AZ100