Our verdict on Apple’s new AirPods 4

Whether you want ANC or not.                               [The Morning After]( It's Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Apple expanded its AirPod family with two new models last week. We’ve now tested out the AirPods 4 — and a second version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) — and [we have some thoughts](. Improved sound quality and some advanced features are the key additions, but you’re more likely to notice the redesigned shape for keeping the buds more firmly (and comfortably) lodged in ears. [[TMA] Engadget]( With the ANC version, Apple offers useful noise cancellation while keeping your ears open — no silicone tips. There are also a lot of Pro features, but the issue is the more technically capable AirPods Pro are often on sale, undercutting those $179 buds. I wouldn’t have guessed it, but the basic $129 AirPods 4 may be the better deal. — Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed [Flappy Bird’s creator wants you to know he’s got nothing to do with the new version]( [Apple’s iOS 18 is available now]( [iOS 18 preview: Waiting on Apple Intelligence]( [Meta bans Russian state media outlets on Facebook and Instagram]( The ban on outlets like RT will take effect over the next few days. Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets,” the company told Engadget. “Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” This comes days after the Biden–Harris administration [publicly accused RT]( of spreading propaganda and disinformation online. [Continue reading.]( [Who asked for a Wordle VR app?]( And who hurt you? [[TMA] Meta]( The New York Times has brought its all-conquering daily word game to a new platform in the shape of Meta Quest headsets. Wordle VR works in much the same way as the game on your phone or computer, with six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Except you’re wearing a VR headset. [Continue reading.]( [Amazon Prime Big Deal Days announced]( The fall Prime Day sale returns on October 8. Amazon’s big sale event / buyer’s remorse generator will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. Prime Day in July remains Amazon’s biggest sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals during the two-day window. In case you missed out on that Echo. Again. [Continue reading.]( The Morning After is a daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't [subscribe](. Craving even more? [Like us on Facebook]( or [follow us on Twitter](. Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? [Send us a note.]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you opted in at [engadget.com](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe]( from this newsletter. Copyright © 2024 Yahoo. All rights reserved.