Jada Jones of ZDNET reports that Amazon’s highly anticipated October Prime Day event, officially taking place on October 7th and 8th, is already showing signs of early excitement with a handful of impressive tech deals appearing ahead of schedule. Among these, one of the most surprising and attractive offers features Apple’s newly released AirPods 4, currently discounted to an appealing $90 on Amazon—a striking price cut for such a sought-after device. Given how Apple products, particularly AirPods, consistently remain at the center of consumer demand during major sales events, even seasoned deal watchers at ZDNET were astonished to find this deep discount available before Prime Day’s official kickoff.
The latest generation of Apple’s wireless earbuds demonstrates the company’s ability to continually refine both form and functionality. The AirPods 4 showcase a wide array of enhancements that set them apart from earlier versions, including the introduction of Live Translation for cross-lingual communication, immersive spatial audio technology that creates a multidimensional listening environment, and IP54-rated durability, which provides reliable protection against dust and moderate water exposure. These earbuds offer up to five hours of continuous listening on a single charge and extend to roughly thirty hours of total playback time when used with their fully charged case—an essential feature for users who prioritize portability and minimal downtime.
In her comprehensive evaluation of the AirPods 4 and their Pro counterparts, ZDNET editor Jada Jones highlighted several major technical upgrades. She underscored the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.3, describing it as a substantial leap forward compared to the older 5.0 version featured in previous AirPods models. The shift to Bluetooth 5.3 ensures improved connection stability, smoother data transmission, more efficient battery management, and consistently high-quality audio performance. This incremental yet meaningful update reinforces Apple’s commitment to refining the user experience down to the smallest detail.
Jones also pointed out enhancements to the earbuds’ sensor technology. The AirPods 4 incorporate a more advanced in-ear detection system that relies on an internal optical sensor rather than a simple surface touch mechanism. This allows for more accurate recognition of whether the earbuds are being worn, reducing common playback errors that might occur when the devices register motion from being placed on a table or tucked into a pocket. The improved reliability translates into a seamless listening experience, especially for users who frequently pause and resume their audio throughout the day.
Physical redesigns further contribute to user comfort and performance. Apple has introduced a more compact charging case—streamlined but no less functional—and shorter, slightly angled stems on each earbud. This refined angle enhances how the buds sit inside the ear canal, resulting in both an ergonomic fit and a more faithfully directed sound path toward the eardrum. As a result, listeners experience clearer audio with less physical discomfort or pressure buildup, issues sometimes associated with lengthy listening sessions using less precisely proportioned earbuds from other brands.
The AirPods 4 also carry forward Apple’s design ethos of user-focused practicality through thoughtful hardware additions. The new charging case features a USB-C port for faster and more universal connectivity and includes a small built-in speaker compatible with the Find My function, enabling users to locate misplaced earbuds or charging cases with ease. Despite the case’s reduced size, this integration dramatically improves convenience and peace of mind for frequent travelers and multitaskers alike. Powering the AirPods 4 is the advanced Apple H2 chip, engineered to deliver cleaner, more detailed audio reproduction and improve power efficiency across the board. An unexpected innovation supported by this chip allows users to respond to Siri through simple head gestures—nodding “yes” or shaking “no”—offering a futuristic and hands-free interaction experience noted by reviewer Allison Jewell as a subtle yet meaningful step toward smarter, intuitive device control.
As the countdown to October Prime Day continues, it remains uncertain how long this particular discount will persist. Given the historically limited supply of Apple hardware during major sales events, potential buyers may wish to act promptly if they intend to take advantage of this early offer before prices rebound or inventory sells out.
ZDNET’s editorial team emphasizes that a 30% reduction—equating to nearly $40 off Apple’s newest AirPods—is a rarity, especially when compared to other Apple accessories that go on sale more predictably, such as AirTags. While Apple’s promotions occasionally repeat, deals on brand-new generations of AirPods tend to be fleeting, making this price drop genuinely noteworthy. Because retailer promotions can expire without notice, ZDNET’s experts continuously monitor live listings and update their recommendations to ensure readers are accessing only active and verifiable discounts. For those who miss out, there is no need for disappointment—new opportunities to save appear frequently, and ZDNET remains diligent in surfacing them in real time on ZDNET.com.
Committed to empowering readers to shop intelligently, ZDNET brings over three decades of experience in technology journalism and product testing. With a robust team of thirty hands-on reviewers operating across a 10,000-square-foot lab space, the organization ensures that every recommendation and rating reflects rigorous analysis and trusted expertise. In 2025, this dedication evolved into a more quantifiable system of deal evaluation, one that assigns editors’ deal badges to qualifying offers and leverages consistent metrics to communicate value transparently to readers.
This sophisticated deal-rating framework combines straightforward discount percentages with a sliding-scale assessment method that considers factors such as product frequency on sale, brand reputation, and relative market demand. Using this formula, ZDNET curates its deal selections with precision, transforming vast amounts of pricing data into concise, meaningful insights tailored to technology enthusiasts and general consumers alike. The resulting collection of editor-approved, carefully validated savings opportunities ensures that ZDNET readers are continually informed and can make confident purchasing decisions guided by expert judgment and extensive industry knowledge.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-airpods-4-are-90-before-prime-day/
