AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3: Which Apple Earbuds Deserve Your Money?

Based on expert reviews from SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, and real user experiences from Reddit and Apple Community forums

The short answer: The AirPods Pro 3 are the clear winner for anyone serious about audio quality, noise cancellation, or fitness tracking. With 8 hours of battery (double the AirPods 4), 4x better ANC, and exclusive health features like heart rate monitoring, the $70 premium pays for itself. The AirPods 4 only make sense if you genuinely hate in-ear tips. Get AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon for $199 →

The Fighters

	AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
Price	$179 on Amazon	$199 on Amazon
Best For	Open-ear comfort lovers	Audio quality and noise cancellation
ANC Effectiveness	~20dB reduction	90% reduction (4x better)
Battery (ANC)	4 hours	8 hours
Fit Type	Open-ear, one-size	In-ear, 5 tip sizes
Heart Rate	No	Yes (clinical-grade)

AirPods 4 with charging case on white background

The Death Match: 6 Rounds, 1 Winner

We're scoring each round from 1-10. Higher score wins the round. Let's fight!

Round 1: Sound Quality

The AirPods Pro 3 deliver a fuller, more immersive sound thanks to their sealed design and what Apple calls a "multiport acoustic architecture." SoundGuys calls them "close to perfect," praising their deeper bass, wider soundstage, and clearer vocals.

The AirPods 4? Physics works against them. Their open-ear design means serious bass roll-off in the sub-bass region. SoundGuys describes them as "too thin sounding, with little in the way of sub-bass or very high-end detail." If you're into EDM, hip-hop, or anything bass-heavy, you'll notice the difference immediately.

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
6/10	9/10

Round 1 Winner: AirPods Pro 3 — The sealed fit and new acoustic architecture deliver noticeably fuller sound.

Score after Round 1: AirPods 4 6 | AirPods Pro 3 9

Round 2: Active Noise Cancellation

This isn't close. The AirPods Pro 3 remove up to 4x more noise than the AirPods 4, according to Apple's own specs. In lab testing, the Pro 3 reduced ambient noise by up to 90%, especially in low-frequency ranges like airplane engines or subway rumble.

The AirPods 4's ANC is admirable for an unsealed design—SoundGuys measured about 20dB of noise reduction in mids and highs. But they struggle hard with low-end rumble. One NYC subway commuter on MacRumors Forums put it bluntly: regular AirPods were "completely unusable on the subway—completely drowned out. The Pros were fantastic."

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
5/10	10/10

Round 2 Winner: AirPods Pro 3 — If silence is a priority, the Pro 3s win hands down.

Score after Round 2: AirPods 4 11 | AirPods Pro 3 19

Round 3: Comfort and Fit

Here's where the AirPods 4 fight back. Their open-ear design feels "barely there"—no silicone tips creating pressure or ear fatigue. For people who find in-ear buds uncomfortable, this is a genuine advantage.

But it's a double-edged sword. BGR reports users complaining that AirPods 4 "constantly fall out of their ears or need frequent readjustment." The one-size-fits-all approach is hit or miss.

The AirPods Pro 3 now offer 5 tip sizes including XXS, and the new foam-infused silicone tips provide a more secure fit. However, Headphones.com notes the redesign "digs into your ear where the old model did not," with some users reporting soreness after a few hours.

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
7/10	7/10

Round 3 Winner: Tie — Both have trade-offs. Open-ear is less fatiguing but less secure; in-ear seals better but can cause pressure.

Score after Round 3: AirPods 4 18 | AirPods Pro 3 26

AirPods Pro 3 product shot showing earbuds and case

Round 4: Battery Life

The numbers don't lie:

AirPods Pro 3: 8 hours with ANC (10 hours with Transparency mode)
AirPods 4 (ANC): 4 hours with ANC

That's double the listening time per charge. Tom's Guide reviewers complained the AirPods 4 "never seem to last long enough for a train trip or full work day." Real-world testing from CharJenPro found the Pro 3 "regularly lasting between eight and nine hours."

One caveat: the Pro 3's case holds 24 hours total vs. 30 hours on the Pro 2. Still leagues ahead of the AirPods 4's 20 hours total.

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
5/10	9/10

Round 4 Winner: AirPods Pro 3 — Double the battery life per charge is a massive real-world advantage.

Score after Round 4: AirPods 4 23 | AirPods Pro 3 35

Round 5: Features and Controls

The AirPods Pro 3 have exclusive features the AirPods 4 simply can't match:

Heart Rate Monitoring: DC Rainmaker tested clinical-grade accuracy (±2 BPM vs. a Polar H10 chest strap). Macworld called the accuracy "mind-blowing."

FDA-Approved Hearing Aid: For mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the Pro 3 can function as clinical-grade hearing aids. Prescription alternatives cost $2,000-$7,000.

Live Translation: Real-time conversation translation built-in.

Volume Control: The Pro 3's stem swipe for volume is genuinely useful. MacRumors Forums users called the missing volume control on AirPods 4 "the most disappointing thing by far."

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
6/10	10/10

Round 5 Winner: AirPods Pro 3 — Heart rate, hearing aid, translation, and stem volume control give the Pros a commanding feature advantage.

Score after Round 5: AirPods 4 29 | AirPods Pro 3 45

Round 6: Value for Money

At $179 (AirPods 4 ANC) vs. $249 (AirPods Pro 3 MSRP), the Pro 3 costs $70 more. But here's the thing: the Pro 3 is currently on sale for $199 at Best Buy—MacRumors reports this is a record low for 2026.

At $199 vs. $179, you're paying just $20 more for: - Double the battery life - 4x better ANC - Heart rate monitoring - Hearing aid capabilities - Volume stem controls - Significantly better sound

The AirPods 4 only make sense at their sale price of $112 for the base model (no ANC)—and only if you genuinely can't stand in-ear tips.

AirPods 4 (ANC)	AirPods Pro 3
6/10	9/10

Round 6 Winner: AirPods Pro 3 — At current sale prices, the extra $20 gets you dramatically more capability.

Person listening to music with wireless earbuds outdoors

Final Score

Product	Total Score	Verdict
AirPods Pro 3	54/60	WINNER
AirPods 4 (ANC)	35/60

The Winner: AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 dominate this comparison in nearly every category that matters. With 8 hours of battery life, class-leading ANC that blocks 90% of ambient noise, clinical-grade health features, and noticeably better sound quality, the extra $20-70 over the AirPods 4 is money well spent.

The AirPods 4 aren't bad earbuds—the open-ear design is genuinely comfortable for some people, and having any ANC in that form factor is impressive. But the physics of an unsealed design limit what they can achieve in sound quality and noise cancellation.

SoundGuys summed up the Pro 3 as "close to perfect." That's not hyperbole—they're Apple's most capable earbuds ever, and the current $199 sale price makes them an even easier recommendation.

Ready to buy the winner? Get AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon for $199 →

When the Loser Actually Wins

AirPods 4 aren't right for everyone, but they're the better choice if:

You genuinely hate in-ear tips: Some people find silicone tips uncomfortable no matter what size. The AirPods 4's open design eliminates this entirely.
You need situational awareness: The open design lets you hear your surroundings naturally—useful for running outdoors or working in a shared office.
You're on a tight budget: The base AirPods 4 at $112 (on sale) are solid earbuds without ANC if you mainly listen in quiet environments.
Android is your primary device: Both work with Android, but neither works great. At least the AirPods 4 are cheaper for a compromised experience.

AirPods 4 might be right for you: Check price on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Person commuting with wireless earbuds

Are AirPods Pro 3 worth the extra money over AirPods 4?

Yes, especially at current sale prices. For just $20 more ($199 vs $179), you get double the battery life, 4x better noise cancellation, health monitoring features, and noticeably better sound quality. The only reason to choose AirPods 4 is if you genuinely can't tolerate in-ear tips.

Do AirPods Pro 3 have any known issues?

Some units have reported a static/hissing noise when ANC is active. Apple has been replacing affected units. The redesign also fits deeper in the ear, which some users find less comfortable than the Pro 2.

How accurate is the AirPods Pro 3 heart rate monitor?

Very accurate. DC Rainmaker's testing showed clinical-grade accuracy at ±2 BPM compared to a Polar H10 chest strap during HIIT, running, and cycling. Accuracy depends on fit—loose earbuds will give unreliable readings.

Can I use AirPods Pro 3 as hearing aids?

Yes, but only for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The FDA-approved hearing aid feature includes Conversation Boost and customizable amplification based on Apple's built-in hearing test. It's not a replacement for prescription hearing aids for severe hearing loss, but at $249 vs. $2,000-$7,000, it's a compelling option for those who qualify.