Beats Studio Buds + vs Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
vs
Quick take: The Beats Studio Buds + costs $19 less; the Beats Studio Buds + lasts longer per charge (6 hrs).
| Spec | Beats Studio Buds + | Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $119 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (6,000) | 4.5★ (21,000) |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 6 hrs | 4 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 36 hrs | 20 hrs |
| Quick Charge | Fast Fuel: 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 g | 4.3 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Beats Studio Buds +
- ✓Native one-touch pairing on both iPhone and Android
- ✓Find My on iOS, Find My Device on Android
- ✓Genuinely natural transparency mode
- ✓Fast Fuel adds an hour in five minutes
- ✓Spatial audio works with Apple Music
- ✓Frequent $100 sales far below the $170 list
- ✗ANC weaker than a Space A40 at half the price
- ✗No multipoint, wireless charging, wear detection, or EQ
- ✗36-hour case total assumes ANC off
- ✗Intermittent dropout complaints drag the 4.1-star average
- ✗Early units hit by a left-bud drain issue
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