True Wireless
Apple AirPods 4 ANC
80Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods 4 ANC vs Apple AirPods Pro 3: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.
True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 5 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods 4 ANC
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
HearWiki score
80
86
Sound
7.6
8.6
Noise cancelling
6.7
9.3
Battery
5.9
7.3
Calls
7.9
7.4
Value
7.1
8.3
Price (USD)
$180
$180
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Apple AirPods 4 ANC (2024). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Apple AirPods Pro 3 adds Multipoint pairing and Water resistance IP57 against IP54.
- AirPods 4 ANC2024
- AirPods Pro 320251 yr newer
What differsAirPods 4 ANCAirPods Pro 3
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IP54
- IP57
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, Top codec, ANC type, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods 4 ANCAirPods Pro 3
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 80
- 86
- Released
- 2024
- 2025
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 11 mm dynamic
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 11 mm
- 10.7 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- -
- 110 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint pairing
- No
- Yes
- Battery life
- 4 h
- 8 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 4 h
- 8 h
- Battery incl. case
- 20 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- both
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Siri
- Weight
- 4.3 g
- 5.5 g
- Case weight
- 34.7 g
- 44 g
- Water resistance
- IP54
- IP57
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 3
- Microphone type
- -
- beamforming
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods 4 ANC
The Apple AirPods 4 ANC deliver adaptive noise cancellation and a balanced, bass-improved sound in a compact, IP54-rated design. They offer solid performance for Apple users, with a comfortable fit for active use, though battery life is on the shorter side and multipoint is absent.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:Improved bass response and overall clarity
- Pro:Comfortable, stable fit for workouts
- Con:Battery life is limited to 4 hours per charge
- Con:No multipoint Bluetooth connection
- Con:ANC is decent but not class-leading
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a comfortable, secure fit. They deliver clear calls, robust battery life, and a balanced sound profile, all wrapped in an IP57-rated design that handles water and dust. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and wireless charging, they offer a polished experience for Apple and non-Apple users alike.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality with beamforming mics
- Pro:Strong battery life of 8 hours with ANC on
- Con:Fit may be tricky for some ears
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Limited codec support (SBC, AAC only)
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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