Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
vs
Quick take: The Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation costs $71 less; the Apple AirPods Pro 3 lasts longer per charge (8 hrs).
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $190 | $119 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (12,000) | 4.5★ (21,000) |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 8 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 24 hrs | 20 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 1 hr | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | 5.55 g | 4.3 g |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- ✓ANC roughly doubled over Pro 2 — trades blows with Bose
- ✓8-hour ANC battery, up two hours over Pro 2
- ✓Foam-infused tips finally seal without third-party swaps
- ✓IP57 survives sweaty workouts and rain
- ✓Best-in-class transparency and call quality
- ✓Heart-rate sensing plus a genuinely useful hearing-aid mode
- ✗AAC only — Android loses hi-res and most features
- ✗No real EQ beyond Apple's presets
- ✗Slimmer case dropped total battery to 24 hours
- ✗Multipoint limited to Apple device auto-switching
- ✗Battery isn't user-replaceable — degradation gripes persist
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
- ✓Real ANC in an open fit — no ear tips required
- ✓Excellent H2-chip call quality
- ✓Featherweight 4.3g buds disappear in-ear
- ✓Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness at $119
- ✓ANC case adds wireless charging and Find My speaker
- ✓Takes the edge off planes despite no seal
- ✗4-hour ANC battery is bottom of the class
- ✗Fit lottery — hard plastic shape hasn't changed
- ✗Bass depends entirely on how they sit in your ears
- ✗Physics caps ANC well below the sealed Pro 3
- ✗AAC only, no EQ app — Apple as usual