Apple EarPods (USB-C) vs Apple AirPods 4
Quick take: The Apple EarPods (USB-C) costs $82 less.
Which one to buy
Both use the same hard-shell, tipless idea, so if the EarPods have always fallen out of your ears, the AirPods 4's redesign likely won't change that, and neither has tips to save it. The difference is $17 versus $99, and a cable.
The AirPods 4 add wireless freedom and Apple's switching across iPhone, iPad and Mac. They also bring Personalized Spatial Audio and an H2 chip whose Voice Isolation owners say makes coffee-shop calls sound clean. Battery runs 5 hours per bud and 30 with the case, and long-term owners report minimal capacity loss after a year. Owners also say the reshaped shell stays put better than the old AirPods 3, which is an argument for the AirPods if fit has been marginal for you.
The EarPods' advantages are wired ones. There's nothing to charge or pair, there's no latency, and the USB-C plug has a small DAC that plays lossless audio on any USB-C phone or laptop, including Android and Windows, where the inline controls still work. The AirPods 4 lose most of their features on Android. The EarPods' wired mic gets a lot of owner love too, and they're cheap enough to leave a spare in every bag.
Neither isolates at all and neither has an EQ. The AirPods 4 are IP54, while the EarPods have no rating. If you're buying the AirPods for the iPhone conveniences, owners repeatedly say to look at the ANC version as well, because the base model drops ANC and wireless charging.
Apple EarPods (USB-C)
For a dependable call headset or backup that works on any USB-C device, never needs charging, and costs little enough to lose.
Apple AirPods 4
Best if you're on iPhone and want to stop dealing with cables for everyday listening and calls.
| Spec | Apple EarPods (USB-C) | Apple AirPods 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$17 | ~$99 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wired & Studio | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | — | 5 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | 30 hrs |
| Quick Charge | — | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | — | 4.3 g |
| Water Resistance | — | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Apple EarPods (USB-C)
- ✓Built-in DAC in the USB-C plug drives full volume
- ✓Inline mic beats most Bluetooth buds for calls
- ✓Seventeen dollars — effectively disposable without guilt
- ✓No tips to fuss with or lose
- ✓Open fit keeps traffic and coworkers audible
- ✓Works with any USB-C phone, iPad, or laptop
- ✗Bass is thin unless they happen to fit
- ✗Zero isolation on buses and planes
- ✗One-size fit is love-it-or-hate-it
- ✗Cable longevity is fine, not endless
- ✗USB-C only — older iPhones and jacks excluded
Apple AirPods 4
- ✓Same H2 chip and call quality as the ANC version
- ✓Featherweight 4.3g open fit stays comfortable for hours
- ✓30-hour total battery with the case
- ✓Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking
- ✓IP54 dust and splash resistance
- ✓5-minute charge buys an hour
- ✗No ANC or Transparency — the ANC version costs little more
- ✗Case is USB-C only; no wireless charging or Find My speaker
- ✗Measurably leaner sub-bass than the ANC version
- ✗Fit lottery — hard plastic shape either fits you or it doesn't
- ✗AAC only, no EQ, feature-poor on Android
Apple EarPods (USB-C) vs Apple AirPods 4: common questions
Do the AirPods 4 fit better than the EarPods?▾
Possibly. Owners say the AirPods 4's reshaped shell stays put better than the AirPods 3. Both are one-size hard plastic with no tips, though, so if neither style has ever stayed in, neither will fix it.
Is the EarPods' wired mic or the AirPods 4's Voice Isolation better for calls?▾
Both are strong. EarPods owners praise the wired mic for beating many Bluetooth buds, and AirPods 4 owners say Voice Isolation hides coffee-shop noise. The EarPods have the edge for reliability, since there's no pairing or battery to fail mid-meeting.
Should an Android user pick the EarPods (USB-C) or the AirPods 4?▾
The EarPods. Plugged into USB-C, they work fully on Android, inline controls included. The AirPods 4 connect over AAC but lose spatial audio, automatic switching, Find My and even battery readouts.