Between the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4 with ANC comes out ahead in weight per bud, while the AirPods Pro 3 wins on battery — buds and battery — with case. Overall, the AirPods 4 with ANC scores 58.3 and the AirPods Pro 3 scores 69.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The AirPods Pro 3 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 11.2 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the AirPods 4 with ANC if you care most about weight per bud. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight per bud.
Pick the AirPods Pro 3 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. Its strongest claims are battery — buds, battery — with case, driver size, among others.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, spatial audio, multipoint, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the AirPods Pro 3 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC wins
- ▲Weight per bud — 1.00 g less. 4.3 vs 5.3.
Why Apple - AirPods Pro 3 wins
- ▲Battery — buds — 60.00% more. 8 h vs 5 h.
- ▲Battery — with case — 50.00% more. 30 h vs 20 h.
- ▲Driver size — 10.00% more. 11 mm vs 10 mm.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IP54).
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | openlead | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 4.3 glead | 5.3 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54 | IP57lead |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 10 mm | 11 mmlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 5 h | 8 hlead |
| Battery — with case | 20 h | 30 hlead |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Apple - AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | AAC,SBC | AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | false |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods 4 with ANC or AirPods Pro 3?+
AirPods Pro 3 lasts 8h per charge vs 5h.
Do AirPods 4 with ANC or AirPods Pro 3 support multipoint?+
Neither supports multipoint.
Which has ANC, AirPods 4 with ANC or AirPods Pro 3?+
Both have active noise cancellation.
Spec-level deep dives
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