Bluetooth 5.3
Codec support AAC, SBC
Active noise-cancelling? Yes
Eartips Yes (XXS, XS, S, M, L sizes)
Spatial Audio? Yes
Battery life 8 hours (with ANC on); total 24 hours (with charging case)
Earbuds weight 5.55g (per earbud)
Charging case weight 44g
Bluetooth 5.3
Codec support AAC, SBC
Active noise-cancelling? Yes
Eartips No
Spatial Audio? Yes
Battery life 4 hours (with ANC on); total 30 hours (with charging case)
Earbuds weight 4.3g (per earbud)
Charging case weight 34.7g
The flagship AirPods Pro 3 passed through our test rooms with flying colours earlier this year, improving upon their five-star predecessors across the crucial elements of sound and noise-cancelling, while still retaining that seamless Apple iOS experience and coming packed with solid features.
But how do Apple’s new wireless earbuds compare with the standard AirPods 4 with ANC? While not getting full marks like its Pro siblings, the fourth-gen standard AirPods with active noise cancellation are an appealing option, especially if you aren't keen on designs with eartips and don't need all the fancy extra features.
For those trying to choose between the two sets of AirPods, what are the differences, and which is the better option for your needs? We've compared the two earbuds extensively to find out.
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: price
The AirPods 4 with ANC launched at £179 / $179 / AU$299 – but you can currently find them at a discount, even outside of big sales periods. In the UK, you can snap them up for £149 at the time of writing, while those in the USA can buy them for as low as $129-$150.
The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's new flagships, of course, so you can expect to pay a higher price than for the AirPods 4 with ANC. The Pro 3 officially cost £219 / $249 / AU$429 – for the US, that's the same price as the outgoing AirPods Pro 2, but it's slightly more expensive for those in Australia.
It's much better news for those in the UK, as the launch price is £30 cheaper than their predecessors, and you can even nab the Pro 3 for £199 now at some retailers.
**Winner: AirPods 4 with ANC**
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: design & comfort
The AirPods 4 stick with the long-running standard AirPods design of having no eartips. While they still have that iconic white ‘toothbrush head’ look, they opt for a more 'open' design wherein the ear pieces sit outside the ear canal rather than fitting snugly inside.
It's a design that works rather well for most people, although there are still some on our review team who struggle to get a secure fit with these 'open' buds. Those of us who find a comfortable fit praise the updated shape and form of the fourth-gen AirPods, finding that they nestle into our ears securely and unobtrusively despite their lack of ear tips. They are also impressively light at just 4.3g each, meaning we almost forget we are wearing them during our tests.
The AirPods Pro 3 are set to be a different kettle of carp. The flagship buds still feature a bud-and-stem design, but these have eartips that burrow into the ear canal to offer a better seal – both for sound and noise-cancelling.
You get five eartip sizes in the box, coming in XXS (new), XS, S, M and L options. There's no XL tip size, something we feel is a bit of an omission for those of us with larger ear canals, but that's a small grumble.
Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 been reshaped to be better-fitting, analysing 10,000 3D ear scans to offer a more optimised fit. In reality, this means the eartips' nozzle now rotates inwards, and the contour of the area where the stem meets the buds protrudes a little. This again delivered varying levels of fit for our reviews team: it worked great for some, but felt a little less snug for others. We would always recommend checking they fit securely in your ears before buying.
Once they do, however, there are no problems, with the new foam-infused eartips offering a better fit overall and greater passive noise-cancellation. The Pro 3 are smaller than before, and the 5.55g weight is still comfortably light, even if the buds are more obviously present than with the AirPods 4.
Both pairs feature on-bud controls that work intuitively and instantly. Pinching the stems on both AirPods lets you control music playback, accept or reject/end a call and summon Siri. You can also long-press the stems to change the noise-cancelling modes.
With the AirPods Pro 3, the buds feature an additional touch-capacitive layer whereby you can swipe up or down to change volume – something you can't do with the AirPods 4 with ANC.
If you like to take your AirPods with you on your travels or accompany your workouts, it's worth noting that the Pro 3's IP57 dust- and water-resistance beats the IP54 certification of the AirPods 4 with ANC.
That ‘7’ means protection against full immersion for 30 minutes in water up to 3ft (1m) deep, which should give you peace of mind if your buds ever drop into the swimming pool or, heaven forbid, the toilet.
Both earbuds' charging cases feature a USB-C port, a small LED indicator and can emit sounds to warn you of low battery or when trying to find them. The AirPods 4's case is considerably smaller than the Pro 3's, though both are slim enough to be pocketable. The Pro 3's case features a new Ultra Wideband (U2) chip that offers better, longer-range precision in finding them if you misplace your AirPods.
For many, whether you prefer no eartips or very much require the eartips will be the deciding factor here: both AirPods are easy to use, comfortable and do their job well, just make sure you're happy with the fit for your ears.
**Winner: Draw**
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: noise-cancelling quality
As you might have twigged, both earbyds offer active noise cancelling, but in slightly different formats. It's unusual to find noise-cancelling with open earbuds without eartips, but we found that the AirPods 4 with ANC do an impressive job of blocking out enough noise so your music is heard clearly, while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.
The AirPods 4 with ANC actually use the same microphones as the Pro 2 model, and do a great job at reducing low-level frequency noises – engine rumbles, exhaust fans, some traffic noise.
We said in our review: "It’s a nice halfway point between being able to hear your surroundings while not being overwhelmed by those environmental noises that stop you from hearing voices on podcasts or lyrics clearly.”
Some noises, such as people talking or high-pitched sounds you might get from roadworks, will still come through, as these are open designs – but it works just enough to reduce those frequencies that tend to drown out the music, while keeping you aware of your surroundings.
The AirPods Pro 3, on the other hand, talk a seriously big game, claiming to offer twice as effective noise-cancelling over the outgoing Pro 2, despite still using the same H2 chip. This is thanks to upgraded eartips, new ultra-low-noise microphones and advanced computational audio.
The Pro 3 offer a step-up in ANC performance across the frequency range, and they are the ones to pick if you really want to block out external noise entirely. They're able to quieten down all kinds of noise, from airplane engine noise to general chatter in the office.
We said in our review: "During our daily commutes, we found environmental noises – the passing of cars, sudden bursts of roadworks, and the general hubbub of excited Christmas shoppers – were quietened down further, leaving us to focus clearly on the music being played. Sudden loud spikes in noise are handled well, too, without ever distracting us."
It's undoubtedly a more powerful effect than the Pro 2 and even more so than the AirPods 4 with ANC – but it still manages to deliver it in a natural, airy way that we like for daily use.
In terms of ANC modes, both offer Adaptive Audio that adjusts the noise-cancelling levels in real-time depending on external noise, as well as a Transparency mode for hearing more of your surroundings. Both are easy to use and feel naturally deployed. But if it's the best ANC effect you're after, there's only one choice.
**Winner: AirPods Pro 3**
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: features
Both pairs of AirPods share many features, especially when it comes to iOS-only elements, but the AirPods Pro 3 offer a step up as the flagship pair.
For starters, both the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods 4 with ANC pack Apple's latest H2 chip that offers a smooth experience in daily use and seamless connection to your iOS device. Both sets pair easily enough with Android devices too, but you won't get any of the extra features beyond basic Bluetooth, ANC and controls.
They both offer the standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, with Apple in no hurry to adopt any higher-res codecs such as aptX or LDAC.
Both sets offer Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking with compatible Apple devices, and have the handy Conversation Awareness mode, which drops playback volume automatically when it detects you are speaking.
Additionally, the new real-time Live Translation feature is available for both AirPods 4 and Pro 3 models, which is handy as it requires two compatible AirPods to fully work. You'll need to ensure you're using an Apple Intelligence-powered iPhone (16 and onwards) and be running on the latest iOS 26 software for the feature to work.
Another new feature that lets you take a photo from a distance by just pressing the stems is also available on both 'Pods.
What are the other differences, then? Well, battery life is one area of deviation, with the Pro 3 offering eight hours on a single charge with ANC on, which is considerably better than the measly four hours you get on the fourth-gen AirPods.
Combined with the charging case, the AirPods Pro 3 boast up to 24 hours total listening time, beating the 20 hours in total of the AirPods 4 with ANC.
For health and fitness fanatics, the Pro 3 have some further tricks up their sleeve, offering new heart-rate sensors in the buds that can be used with Apple's Fitness tracker app. You also get Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection features in the flagship model, which are useful.
The Pro 3 go bigger on features than the AirPods 4 with ANC, and the better battery life and extra health features will likely be enough to convince people to spend more on the Pro model. However, if those features aren't that important to you, we remain impressed that Apple continues to update its standard earbuds to keep them in line with its latest innovations.
**Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 3**
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: sound quality
Apple has promised rather a lot from its latest flagship earbuds in the sound department. The Pro 3 feature a completely new “multiport acoustic architecture”, boasting more precise airflow control, deeper bass, a wider soundstage and even clearer, more vivid vocals than the five-star Pro 2.
Its Adaptive EQ feature, which uses an inward-facing mic to optimise the sound to your ear, has also been updated.
Put altogether, it results in a sound that is clearer, more detailed, more spacious and more dynamic than the Pro 2. The sonic signature remains consistent – a balanced, cohesive presentation that delivers detail and voices in a natural, sweet way.
That well-judged balance combines with more power and punch to deliver heavy metal tracks with satisfying slam and attack, while sparser songs are given the space and openness to deliver their more contemplative tone in a nuanced manner.
Voices on songs and on podcasts are fleshed out and sound natural, with personality and emotion coming through with clarity and immediacy.
We said in our review: "No matter what track or genre we play through them, the AirPods Pro 3 handle it all with panache and care, with a snappy, propulsive sense of rhythm that keeps our attention rapt." They're brilliant at dynamics as well, and keep us hooked to the music.
The Pro 3 are a fun listen, and while not the most transparent or neutral model in its premium market space, they deliver a performance that knits together music well so that its core message is enjoyed fully.
The Pro 3's sealed design will naturally deliver a better overall sound – especially when it comes to punch, dynamics and bass performance – than the open AirPods 4 design. Despite this, however, we hear much of that same Apple sonic character: clear, detailed, nimble and a noticeable talent for bringing vocals to the fore.
The AirPods 4 deliver a bigger, more substantial and more open presentation than their flat-sounding third-gen antecedents, serving up more space between voices and instruments while digging out more detail and textural depth.
There is considerably more energy and warmth that comes through, and we noted that "their snappy, agile and clean performance is easy to enjoy" for their price and type.
While the highs are controlled, we feel they could do "with even greater punch, intensity and subtlety to the dynamic ebbs and flows". In comparison, the AirPods Pro 3 are far more authoritative, dig deeper in terms of textural insight, sound more powerful and punchy, and simply deliver a more complete, confident performance.
**Winner: AirPods Pro 3**
AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 with ANC: verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 flagships are the clear winner if you want the best, most complete Apple wireless earbuds experience. They sound better, their active noise-cancellation is more effective, the battery life is longer, and they have extra features that befit their flagship status and higher price tag.
At times, the difference in price between the two comes much lower than £/$50, so it might make long-term sense to part with the extra cash for the Pro 3 and get the full experience.
However, for those that don't need 'the best' at everything and much prefer an open earbud design, then the AirPods 4 with ANC are a solid choice for iOS users. They are updated with latest features and blend their sound and ANC talents with situational awareness in a comfortable, satisfying manner.
**Overall winner: Apple AirPods Pro 3**
MORE:
Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review
And our Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods Pro 2: what are the differences?
