True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
86Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs JBL Live 4: 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
JBL Live 4
78Great
$200
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 Pro 3
- JBL Live 4
HearWiki score
86
78
Sound
8.6
9.0
Noise cancelling
9.3
7.5
Battery
7.3
8.5
Calls
7.4
6.8
Value
8.3
7.8
Price (USD)
$180
$200
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3Live 4
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $200
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 78
- Released
- 2025
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- -
- Driver type
- dynamic
- -
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- -
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Battery life
- 8 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- touch
- -
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- -
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- -
- Case weight
- 44 g
- -
- Water resistance
- IP57
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Microphones
- 3
- 6
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- MEMS
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver top-tier active noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a well-balanced sound profile. They offer a robust feature set including adaptive ANC, wireless charging, and IP57 water resistance, though their higher price and somewhat finicky fit may give some buyers pause. Overall, they stand out as a polished, high-performance option for iOS users willing to invest in a premium experience.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality in noisy environments
- Pro:Strong battery life with the charging case
- Con:Fit can be finicky and may lose seal easily
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Only supports AAC codec
JBL Live 4
The JBL Live 4 line offers true wireless earbuds in three form factors—Buds, Beam, and Flex—all equipped with high-resolution audio and upgraded active noise cancellation. A standout feature is the Smart Charging Case, which now sports a larger display and refreshed interface. Call performance is boosted by six microphones with wind resistance and AI-driven noise reduction for clearer conversations.
- Pro:Six-mic setup with wind protection for crisp calls
- Pro:Advanced ANC helps block ambient noise
- Pro:Smart case adds a bigger screen and new UI
- Con:Premium price around $200
- Con:Multiple styles may create choice confusion
- Con:Case screen adds bulk compared to simpler designs
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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