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Apple AirPods 4 vs Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 - Outstanding overall at around $99.

Score breakdown

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

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Apple AirPods 4
  • Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
HearWiki score
78
86
Sound
7.6
9.0
Noise cancelling
-
7.8
Battery
6.5
8.5
Calls
7.5
8.0
Value
7.6
9.6
Price (USD)
$99
$99

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?

New platform

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 (2025) against Apple AirPods 4 (2024). The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.3 and Top codec aptX Lossless against AAC.

  • AirPods 42024
  • Melomania A10020251 yr newer
What differsAirPods 4Melomania A100

Platform

Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Top codec
AAC
aptX Lossless

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
No
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Water resistance
IP54
IPX5

Level on: Wireless charging, USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

AirPods 4Melomania A100
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$99
$99
HearWiki score
78
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
Impedance
-
25 Ω
Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Codecs
SBC, AAC
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
No
Yes
Battery life
5 h
11 h
Battery life (ANC on)
4 h
6.5 h
Battery incl. case
30 h
39 h
Full charge time
-
66 min
Quick charge
-
10 min → 3.2 h
Wireless charging
Yes
Yes
Active noise cancelling
No
Yes
ANC type
-
adaptive
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
No
Controls
buttons
touch
Voice assistant
Siri
Google Assistant, Siri
Weight
4.3 g
9.4 g
Case weight
32.3 g
38.7 g
Water resistance
IP54
IPX5
Foldable
No
-
Detachable cable
No
-
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Pad material
-
silicone
Microphones
3
6
Microphone type
beamforming
-
Call noise reduction
-
Yes

What reviewers said

Apple AirPods 4

The Apple AirPods 4 are a lightweight, open-style pair of true wireless earbuds that bring a polished Apple experience to a more accessible price point. With a comfortable half-in-ear fit, decent sound quality, and IP54 durability, they're a solid choice for iPhone users, though their feature set is fairly basic for the cost.

  • Pro:Comfortable and lightweight open fit
  • Pro:Strong sound quality for the size
  • Pro:IP54 dust and splash resistance
  • Con:Battery life is modest at 4-5 hours
  • Con:No multipoint connection
  • Con:Average call quality and isolation

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 are true wireless earbuds that deliver a versatile feature set at a mid-range price. They combine adaptive active noise cancellation with high-resolution wireless audio support, including LDAC and aptX Lossless, along with a comfortable, water-resistant design. With a lengthy total battery life and convenient extras like wireless charging and multipoint, they aim to be a well-rounded daily companion.

  • Pro:Excellent codec support including LDAC and aptX Lossless
  • Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode for flexible listening
  • Pro:Long total battery life with wireless charging case
  • Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC enabled
  • Con:Touch controls may take time to master
  • Con:No mention of ear tips or fit accessories in specs

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

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