AirPods 4 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared

Apple's modular AirPods connection progressive sound cancellation for an further $50, bringing them person to the AirPods Pro than ever before. But aft a important update to the AirPods Pro this fall, which should you choose?


The AirPods Pro 3 determination a small person to the AirPods 4, adopting a somewhat smaller charging case, hidden LED indicator, and capacitive pairing button, but the instrumentality besides adds caller high-end features specified arsenic bosom complaint monitoring, on with importantly improved progressive noice cancellation and amended earbud artillery life.

Apple past twelvemonth introduced a large update for its modular AirPods, with the earbuds gaining a much refined plan for improved comfort, H2 chip, dust, sweat, and h2o resistance, 5GHz connectivity, a vent strategy for unit equalization, Personalized Volume, Voice Isolation, a USB-C port, and "Siri" bid enactment – conscionable similar the AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods Pro 3‌. For an further $50, the similarities with the AirPods Pro spell adjacent further with progressive sound cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, enactment for Apple Watch chargers, and a talker successful the lawsuit for Find My.

Should you see purchasing 1 of the ‌AirPods 4‌ models, oregon bash you request the higher-end ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, which merchantability for $249? Our usher helps to reply the question of however to determine which of these sets of AirPods is champion for you.



‌AirPods 4‌
(2024)
‌AirPods 4‌ With ANC
(2024)
‌AirPods Pro 3‌
(2025)

Open-ear fit	Open-ear fit	In-ear acceptable with silicone/foam receptor tips (five size options)
Optical in-ear sensors	Optical in-ear sensors	Skin-detect sensors
Force sensor controls	Force sensor controls	Force sensor and interaction controls for measurement adjustment
	Active sound cancellation	Up to 4x much effectual progressive sound cancellation
	Transparency mode	Transparency mode
	Adaptive Audio	Adaptive Audio
	Conversation Awareness	Conversation Awareness
		Conversation Boost
		Loud Sound Reduction
		Hearing Protection
		Hearing Test
		Hearing Aid
		Live Translation
		Heart complaint sensing during workouts
2.4GHz connectivity	2.4GHz connectivity	2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity
		Lossless audio with Vision Pro
IP54 dust, sweat, and h2o resistance	IP54 dust, sweat, and h2o resistance	IP57 dust, sweat, and h2o resistance
Up to 5 hours of listening clip with a azygous charge	Up to 5 hours of listening clip with a azygous charge	Up to 8 hours of listening clip connected a azygous charge
30 hours of full listening clip with ANC utilizing charging case	30 hours of full listening clip with ANC utilizing charging case	24 hours of full listening clip with ANC utilizing charging case
Compact charging case	Compact charging case	Wider charging case
		Lanyard loop
	Speaker successful charging lawsuit for ‌Find My‌	Speaker successful charging lawsuit for ‌Find My‌
		U2 spot for Precision Finding
Charging Case compatible with USB-C only	Charging Case compatible with Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C	Charging Case compatible with MagSafe chargers, Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C
$129	$179	$249

The modular AirPods are present precise akin to the AirPods Pro, offering astir each of the aforesaid cardinal features astatine a little terms point. As a result, the ‌AirPods 4‌ should beryllium the default prime for astir prospective buyers. If you person AirPods Max, which already connection ANC, and are looking for an further brace of headphones to usage portion moving retired oregon connected the go, the ‌AirPods 4‌ are besides a bully complementary choice.

You should lone bargain the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ if you are blessed with its in-ear fit, which provides amended dependable prime and progressive sound cancellation, but tin go somewhat uncomfortable and fatiguing during prolonged periods of use. While the ‌AirPods 4‌ present connection ANC, it is not arsenic effectual arsenic that of the AirPods Pro owed to the deficiency of an in-ear fit, truthful if noice cancellation is your main priority, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are inactive the champion prime – they present 4x amended sound cancellation than the modular AirPods.

In summation to amended dependable prime and ANC, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ besides connection somewhat longer earbud artillery life, Live Translation, Conversation Boost, interaction controls for volume, ‌MagSafe‌ charger compatibility, Precision Finding with the U2 chip, and a lanyard loop, arsenic good arsenic proceeding protection, testing, and assistance features. The astir important caller diagnostic with the latest procreation is bosom complaint monitoring during workouts, which provides an fantabulous enactment erstwhile not wearing an Apple Watch. Many users volition beryllium capable to warrant the further $70 to get the AirPods Pro arsenic a result.

The ‌AirPods 4‌ are inactive a coagulated enactment for astir mean customers and volition beryllium amended for those who bash not similar the AirPods Pro's in-ear silicone tips.

AirPods Pro often spot hefty discounts connected Amazon and different third-party retailers, truthful stepping up to the Pro mentation whitethorn beryllium much worthy it if you tin instrumentality vantage of 1 of those deals. The modular AirPods besides often spot coagulated discounts, truthful it is ever worthy seeking the champion terms using our Deals roundup.
This article, "AirPods 4 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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