Prakhar Khanna/CNET/AmazonEditor’s word Oct. 18: We up to date this text to mirror the discharge of the AirPods Pro 3.Apple’s fourth technology of its authentic true-wireless earbuds follows the identical design language as their predecessors however provides a bunch of recent options — some borrowed straight from the costlier AirPods Pro 2, which have now been succeeded by the AirPods Pro 3. The AirPods 4 stay Apple’s solely earbuds to launch in two variants: a $129 entry-level mannequin and a $179 AirPods 4 with ANC, each of which are sometimes discounted on Amazon. I’ve been utilizing the step-up $179 model, and I’m stunned by how good the ANC is for an open-ear design, agreeing with CNET audio knowledgeable David Carnoy, who referred to as it “the best noise canceling I’ve experienced with a set of open earbuds” in his full assessment of the AirPod 4 with Active Noise Canceling. If you are an AirPods 3 consumer and questioning how the AirPods 4 stack up in opposition to your present mannequin, learn on as I discover the important thing variations between these two earbuds. And for these contemplating upgrading from the AirPods Pro 2 to the AirPods Pro 3, we have now an article that compares these two fashions and presents some shopping for recommendation. Read extra: Best wi-fi earbuds of 2025 David Carnoy/CNET Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)Headphone Type Wireless earbudsMultipoint NoNoise Canceling NoBattery Life Rated as much as 6 hours Like
Significantly improved sound with higher bass and battery life
Performance when making calls is superb
Robust function set for Apple customers, together with spatial audio
Don’t like
May not match ears as securely as AirPods Pro
Open design permits sound to leak out and in
With the arrival of the AirPods 4, Apple is phasing out each the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2. As a consequence, you might even see some good reductions on the third-generation AirPods as they exit the market. Slightly bigger than the AirPods 4, they’ve higher battery life than their successor and their case has wi-fi charging (solely the step-up AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation have wi-fi charging). But with improved sound high quality and Apple’s extra superior H2 chip, the AirPods 4 — even the entry-level mannequin — is superior to the AirPods 3.Since they’re open earbuds, they let some sound in, so that they’re not so good as the AirPods Pro 2 for each listening and making calls in noisy environments. But they do a pleasant job lowering background noise throughout calls and selecting up your voice clearly. Read our Apple AirPods 3 assessment.
David Carnoy/CNET Like
More compact design for a cushty, safe match with out eartips
Excellent lively noice canceling that reduce down aircraft engine noise ranges by about 40%, spectacular for an open earbud
Improved sound with new acoustic structure, amp and driver angle to raised direct sound into your ears
Powerful H2 chip allows Adaptive EQ (customized spatial audio) and glorious voice-calling efficiency
Case has wi-fi charging and speaker for Find My
Don’t like
Battery life could possibly be a bit of higher
Noise-canceling is not pretty much as good as AirPods Pro 2’s with ear ideas
If you are in search of fundamental AirPods, the usual AirPods 4 ($129) actually have their attraction and will value nearer to $100 throughout flash gross sales. They will not be fairly as low cost or as small because the AirPods 2, however they sound quite a bit higher and have much more options.Ultimately, nonetheless, the AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation are merely extra particular. They’re the primary open buds I’ve tried to have lively noise canceling that really works. That makes them the primary noise-canceling earbuds for individuals who do not like having eartips jammed of their ears. That’s fairly cool and value the additional $50 in the event you can afford it. Read our AirPods 4 with ANC assessment.
AirPods 4 function an improved design From left to proper: AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 buds with their corresponding case above them. David Carnoy/CNETThe AirPods 4 are barely smaller than the AirPods 3 however bigger than the AirPods 2. Each earbud weighs the identical 4.3 grams, so any added or upgraded tech would not translate into additional bulk in your ears. While all ears are formed in another way, Apple hopes the brand new design is a greater match for a wider vary of individuals.They match me higher than the AirPods 3, however I could not get them to suit in addition to silicone tip earbuds. However, if an open-ear design has labored higher for you previously, these ought to match simply high-quality — and even higher. I’ve associates who’ve upgraded to the AirPods 4, they usually say the brand new product suits them higher.The AirPods 3 are IPX4-rated for sweat and splash resistance. In comparability, the AirPods 4 are extra sturdy. They are rated for mud resistance alongside sweat and splash resistance, with an IP54 score.The two AirPods 4 fashions have noticeable variations amongst themselves, too. The $179 variant helps charging with a Qi charging pad and the Apple Watch charging puck. So, when you have an Apple Watch and like your AirPods to cost with the identical puck, you will have to spend $50 greater than the bottom asking worth. If you do, you additionally get a speaker within the case — just like the AirPods Pro 2, so you may observe them with sound utilizing Find My.Unlike the AirPods 3, there is not any bodily button on the AirPods 4 charging case anymore. If you wish to pair them to non-Apple gadgets, you could double-tap on the entrance of the case close to the LED to provoke pairing (that is additionally the case for the AirPods Pro 3). Similarly, a reset will be initiated by three double-taps.Upgraded H2 chip presents higher sound high quality AirPods 4 with ANC Prakhar Khanna/CNETApple’s new upgrades are threefold to enhance the sound high quality on the AirPods 4. First, they function an upgraded H2 chip with Bluetooth 5.3, in comparison with the H1 chip with Bluetooth 5.0 discovered on the AirPods 3. Second, they’ve a brand new acoustic structure and amp. Third, the drivers are positioned at a special approach to level into your ears. When in contrast, the AirPods 4 have barely improved treble and bass over the AirPods 3. They sound a bit of cleaner, and there is extra depth and fullness throughout genres. It’s not AirPods Pro 2 high quality, but it surely’s higher than earlier than. The sound high quality hole between non-Pro and Pro fashions has shrunk.There isn’t any ANC on AirPods 3, however the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC provides the lively noise cancelation function to Apple’s most inexpensive earbuds lineup. They have the identical variety of microphones because the AirPods Pro 2 to allow ANC and some different options.In his AirPods 4 assessment, David Carnoy was “really impressed with the noise canceling. The reality is that it’s not that great compared with what you get with the AirPods Pro 2 [and now the AirPods Pro 3] … but that it works at all and is reasonably effective is kind of wild.”On most open earbuds, you may’t actually hear a distinction between ANC on and off modes. But the brand new AirPods 4 with ANC can muffle the ambient sound round you to a sure diploma. Apple says their noise canceling matches that of the unique AirPods Pro and is half pretty much as good because the AirPods Pro 2’s noise canceling (meaning it is solely 25% pretty much as good because the AirPods Pro 3’s noise canceling, which is 2X pretty much as good because the AirPods Pro 2’s noise canceling, in response to Apple). That stated, it is sturdy sufficient that can assist you hear your music higher in noisy environments. It can drown out low frequencies like aircraft engine noise very nicely.Added options and upgraded controls The AirPods 4 are rated for as much as 5 hours of battery life with noise canceling off. David Carnoy/CNETThe AirPods 4 with ANC add a bunch of recent options for a similar worth as what the AirPods 3 as soon as value. The further microphones not solely allow ANC but in addition comfort options like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.The latter works like Sony’s Speak-to-Chat function; it pauses the music and allows transparency mode as quickly because it detects that you simply’re talking. If you prefer to sing alongside to songs, it is higher to maintain it turned off. That stated, it is a neat function that allows you to have conversations with out bodily taking off your earbuds.Both AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 (together with the ANC variant) help customized spatial audio (with head monitoring) for music, fast pairing, auto-switching for Apple gadgets, and always-on Siri. The AirPods 4 can set off Siri with each “Siri” and “Hey Siri” wake phrases, whereas AirPods 3 help solely “Hey Siri.”You can spend $50 much less on the AirPods 4 and get a number of new options over the AirPods 3. Both AirPods 4 fashions have new power sensors within the stems with pinch controls to manage playback. However, there is not any swipe gesture help but. Both of them additionally help Siri Interactions, the place you may work together with Siri utilizing gestures. For occasion, if you obtain a name, Siri will announce the caller’s identify and ask if you wish to reply the decision. You can then nod your head for sure or shake it for no to reply or decline the decision, respectively.All of those options include one slight compromise — battery life. The AirPods 3 are rated to ship six hours of steady listening on one cost, whereas the brand new AirPods 4 are rated to last as long as 5 hours per cost. The case nonetheless delivers the identical 30 hours of further battery life, regardless of being smaller than earlier than.AirPods 3 vs. AirPods 4: It’s time to improve AirPods 4 earbuds Prakhar Khanna/CNETIf you are available in the market for a brand new pair of open earbuds, the AirPods 4 are a wonderful selection — even when you have the last-gen AirPods 3. You get higher sound high quality with the H2 chip, a smaller case, extra options like Siri Interactions and dirt resistance, all for $50 lower than the AirPods 3’s $179 launch worth. However, they depart off wi-fi charging and solely high up by way of the USB-C port.The $179 AirPods 4 with ANC at the moment provide the very best noise cancellation in a pair of open earbuds. Plus, you get further options like Qi wi-fi charging (you too can cost them on an Apple Watch charging puck), a speaker contained in the case for Find My, Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and extra. Both AirPods 4 fashions are improve over the AirPods 3, regardless of the marginally decrease battery life.Read extra: Best AirPods offers proper now AirPods 3 vs. AirPods 4 spec comparisonAirPods 3AirPods 4AirPods 4 with ANCWeight (every earbud)0.15 ounce (4.28 grams)0.15 ounce (4.3 grams)0.15 ounce (4.3 grams)Weight (case)1.34 ounces (37.91 grams)1.14 ounces (32.3 grams)1.22 ounces (34.7 grams)Water resistantIPX4IP54IP54SensorsSkin-detect sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometerSpeech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensorOptical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer,Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensorOptical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer,Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensorMicrophonesDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneDual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphoneChipH1H2H2ConectivityBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Active Noise Cancelation,Transparency modeNoNoYesConversation Awareness,Adaptive AudioNoNoYesVoice Isolation,Personalized volumeNoYesYesBattery lifeUp to 6 hours+30 hours with caseUp to 5 hours+30 hours with caseUp to 5 hours+30 hours with caseWire in fieldYesNoNoLaunch Price$179$129$179AirPods 3 vs. AirPods 4: FAQsWhich AirPods are higher, 3 or 4?The AirPods 4 are higher by way of each sound high quality and options. You get an upgraded H2 chip for cleaner sound, upgraded power contact controls, a brand new mannequin with the very best ANC on open earbuds, and options like Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio, and so on. The AirPods 4 are objectively higher than the AirPods 3.Are the brand new AirPods 4 price it?If you are in search of open earbuds, each the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC are simply among the many high open earbuds. At their listing costs, they’re a bit of expensive, however they go on sale pretty usually on Amazon, the place it can save you $10 to $20 on them, generally a bit of extra. Which model of AirPods is greatest?The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s present flagship mannequin and are the very best AirPods general. They provide glorious sound high quality and top-notch ANC efficiency for underneath $250. That stated, in the event you do not like having silicone ear ideas jammed in yours, the AirPods 4 with ANC are your greatest guess proper now. You can discover extra choices in our Best AirPods for 2025 information.