Anon M4S Review: Specs, Fit and Verdict
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The quick verdict: The fastest lens change in skiing plus the deepest lens lineup: nine Perceive tints from 6% to 72% VLT, in your choice of toric or cylindrical. ~$340 list, typically ~$240 on sale
Overview
Anon’s M4S is the mid-size version of the M4 platform, and it takes a different path to all-conditions vision than a photochromic lens: make swapping so effortless that you actually do it. A ring of N52 rare-earth magnets grabs the lens and seat it perfectly on the first try, no rails, no tabs, no removing the goggle. The Perceive lens family runs nine tints, and uniquely, the frame accepts both toric and cylindrical lens shapes. The package includes a bonus low-light lens and Anon’s MFI magnetic face mask, which snaps to the frame and closes the gap that lets spindrift up your nose.
Where It Shines
- Lens swaps in seconds, one-handed, with gloves on
- Widest tint range of any lens family here, from glacier-dark to night-clear
- Bonus lens and magnetic face mask add real value to the sticker price
- Mid-size fit suits medium faces that swim in XL frames
Tradeoffs to Know
- Magnets alone hold the lens; a hard crash can dislodge it, which rail-lock systems prevent
- Perceive low-light tints trail the 4D MAG’s ChromaPop storm lens by a hair in the flattest light
- Spare Perceive lenses are pricey, around $100-150 each
Who It’s For
Riders who ski dawn to dusk and want a purpose-built lens for each block of the day rather than one compromise tint. Also the pick if a magnetic face mask sounds better than a frozen neck gaiter, and most who try MFI never go back.
Key Specs and Sizes
Figures are approximate and drawn from Anon’s published product pages (via anonoptics.com and burton.com) plus evo and The House listings; the M4S is a one-size frame offered in Regular and Low Bridge fits.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lens shapes | Toric, cylindrical and flat toric lenses all fit the same frame; sold as toric or cylindrical bundles |
| Lens tech | Magna-Tech quick change with N52 rare-earth magnets and grab tabs; Perceive high-contrast lenses with hydrophobic and oleophobic outer coating |
| Lens tints offered | Nine Perceive tints: Sunny Onyx 6%, Sunny Red 14%, Sunny Bronze 17%, Variable Blue 21%, Variable Green 22%, Variable Violet 34%, Cloudy Pink 53%, Cloudy Burst 59%, Cloudy Night 72% VLT |
| Included lenses | Two per box; pairings include Sunny Onyx 6% + Variable Violet 34%, Sunny Red 14% + Cloudy Burst 59%, Variable Blue 21% + Cloudy Pink 53%, Sunny Bronze 17% + Cloudy Burst 59%, Variable Green 22% + Cloudy Pink 53% |
| Frame fit | Scaled-down version of the M4, sized for small to medium faces; Regular or Low Bridge (extra nose-pocket foam) |
| OTG | Yes, fits over prescription eyewear (per evo) |
| Helmet compatibility | Full helmet compatibility |
| MFI | Magnetic Face Mask Integration; paneled MFI face mask included |
| Strap | No-slip silicone-backed strap |
| Warranty | One year from date of purchase |
Across the line: dual-molded frame with a rigid outer shell and soft inner frame, triple-layer face foam with a moisture-wicking fleece layer, full-perimeter channel venting, and a box that also holds a protective lens cover, a MagBag carry case and a microfiber goggle bag. List price for the 2026 toric or cylindrical bundle is about $340, and both Anon and The House had it at roughly $240 during autumn 2026 sales, with evo holding closer to $320 on some colorways.
Sizing and Fit
The S in M4S means small, or at least smaller than the regular M4. Anon pitches it as a precision fit for small to medium faces, and retailers call it a medium frame. In practice that covers most women, teens and men with narrower faces. If you’ve tried the standard M4 and found the frame hanging past your cheekbones or gapping at the temples, this is the version you wanted. If you have a wide face and the M4 fits you well, stay with the M4; the M4S will feel cramped and the field of view will shrink.
The Low Bridge option matters more than most people expect. It adds foam in the nose pocket so the goggle seals against a lower nose bridge instead of resting on your cheeks and leaving a draft at the top. Choose it if other goggles leave a gap under your brow or slide down when you look up. Regular fit suits a more prominent bridge. Both share the same lens, so you lose nothing in optics.
Lens choice is the other half of fit. The Sunny Onyx 6% and Variable Violet 34% bundle covers the widest spread of conditions; Variable Blue 21% with Cloudy Pink 53% suits storm-heavy regions where bluebird days are rare. Our ski goggle lens guide walks through VLT in more detail.
Who Should Skip It
Skip the M4S if you ride a few days a year and $340 is hard to justify: the Glade Adapt 2 gives you magnetic lens swaps for roughly a third of the price, and the Anon Helix 2.0 brings the same Perceive optics in a simpler, non-magnetic frame for about $100. Skip it if you hate carrying a spare lens at all; the Julbo Lightyear uses a photochromic Reactiv lens that darkens and lightens on its own, so one lens handles the whole day. And skip it if you have a wide face, since the full-size M4 or a large-frame goggle will seal and see better.
M4S vs. Smith 4D MAG vs. Oakley Flight Deck M
These are the medium-face goggles most shoppers cross-shop. The Smith 4D MAG (~$355 list) pairs a magnetic lens system with a lower lens edge that curves down toward your cheeks for more downward view, and ships with two ChromaPop lenses at the same list price as the M4S. The Oakley Flight Deck M (~$200) is a rimless frame with a Prizm lens and a huge sightline, but lens changes are a manual Ridgelock swap and most packages include one lens. The M4S answers with the magnetic face mask and the choice of toric or cylindrical lenses in one frame. Pick the Smith 4D MAG if downward vision matters most; pick the Oakley Flight Deck M if you want the widest view at the lowest price and rarely swap lenses; pick the M4S if you change lenses often, ride in cold weather where a sealed mask counts, or already own Anon lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anon M4S good for beginners?
Yes, though it is a premium buy. The two-lens bundle is the real benefit, since a low-light lens makes flat days far easier to read.
What is the difference between the Anon M4 and M4S?
The M4S is a scaled-down M4 for small to medium faces, with the same Magna-Tech lens change, Perceive lenses and MFI face mask. Each size takes its own lenses, so settle on the frame that fits your face before you start collecting tints.
Anon M4S toric or cylindrical?
The toric lens gives a slightly truer, less distorted edge-of-vision image; the cylindrical lens has a lower profile and a classic flat-front look. Both fit the same frame, so you can buy one bundle and add the other shape later.
Is the Anon M4S OTG compatible?
Evo lists it as OTG compatible, but Anon does not promote it that way and it is a smaller frame; narrow prescription frames fit best, and wide glasses belong in a dedicated OTG model.
How It Compares
See how it stacks up in our full guide: Ski Goggle Lens Guide 2026-27. Other picks from that list: Smith 4D MAG · Julbo Lightyear · Glade Adapt 2 · Oakley Flight Deck M.