AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 ANC (240 days later)
Pro 3 are the technical powerhouse with stronger ANC, deeper bass, longer battery and swipe volume. AirPods 4 ANC win for comfort, natural transparency and a tiny case I carry everywhere.
By James · Picky Audio
· 6 min read
QUICK TAKE
If you’re torn on AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4 ANC: get Pro 3 for the clearly stronger noise cancelling, deeper bass and more immersive sound, longer battery, swipe volume, and extras like a heart‑rate sensor and hearing aid features. Pick AirPods 4 ANC if you want the comfort of a half‑in‑ear fit, rock‑solid stability on long calls and workouts, a more natural transparency, and a tiny case that lives in your pocket.
Battery with ANC on is 8 hours on Pro 3 vs 4 hours on 4 ANC (totals 24h vs 20h). Sound is close, but Pro 3 still win on bass and immersion. Day to day, I reach for 4 ANC more because they’re simply more comfortable for me.
| AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods 4 ANC | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort and fit | Comfortable with the hybrid tips, but with larger tips they slowly budge out when I speak (fit varies by ear). | No eartip seal and more comfortable for me; they don’t budge on long calls and I’ve had fewer earwax issues. |
| Secure fit for workouts | I still use them when I want stronger ANC, but I do need occasional readjustments. | One of my most used for weights and running; occasional reseat, but minimal body‑borne noise. |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 hours per charge. | 4 hours per charge. |
| Total battery life | 24 hours. | 20 hours. |
| Case size and portability | Larger case. | Tiny, thin case I carry everywhere. |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Far superior; at least twice as strong to my ears and much better with low‑frequency rumble (planes, buses). | Surprisingly strong for a half‑in‑ear; great at background chatter and store music, but struggles more with low frequencies. |
| Transparency / Adaptive Audio | Excellent transparency; Adaptive Audio blend is stronger here. | Same Adaptive Audio; more natural transparency thanks to the open fit. I use this mode most. |
| Sound quality | More immersive with deeper, richer bass and slightly better instrument separation. | Best sound I’ve heard from a half‑in‑ear; bass is good but doesn’t go as low, mids a touch more forward, crisp treble, similar stage. |
| Controls | Squeeze controls plus swipe for volume. | Squeeze controls only; no volume swipe (Siri/Adaptive Volume are workarounds). |
| Extra features | Heart‑rate sensor in each earbud, hearing aid features, and a hearing test I’ve actually used. | Fewer extras. |
| Call quality | Usually quite close to 4 ANC in my tests. | Usually quite close, and they stay planted during long calls. |
Which AirPods are more comfortable and secure?
For me, the AirPods 4 ANC win comfort. Not having to shove a tip into my ear canal is just nicer, and they don’t budge during long calls. I’ve also had fewer earwax issues using them. The Pro 3 are still comfortable, but with the largest tips (which I use for maximum ANC) they slowly creep out as I speak, so I’m readjusting more often. Fit is personal though—some ears will prefer the seal of tips and the ability to mix sizes per ear.
For workouts, I often grab the 4 ANC. The open fit means far less body‑borne noise from footsteps and breathing. I still readjust either set here and there, but if I want the strongest ANC at the gym, I’ll use the Pro 3.
How strong is the ANC on each?
AirPods Pro 3 are still the ANC champs—at least twice as strong to my ears—and they handle low‑frequency rumble far better. The 4 ANC surprised me though: for a half‑in‑ear design, their ANC is impressive, especially for background chatter and store music. On planes and buses, Pro 3 are the clear pick; in shops or the gym, 4 ANC bring the noise down enough that I don’t have to crank volume.
What about transparency and Adaptive Audio?
Both use Apple’s Adaptive Audio (a blend of transparency and ANC that kicks in automatically). I lean on this mode most with 4 ANC. Thanks to the open fit, transparency sounds more natural on 4 ANC, while Pro 3’s sealed fit still delivers top‑tier electronic transparency and the adaptive blend is stronger overall.
Sound quality differences
Apple clearly tunes these to be similar, but the seal gives Pro 3 a clear edge in immersion. Bass hits deeper and richer, and instrument separation is a touch better. The 4 ANC aren’t far off: bass is still satisfying, mids are a bit more forward, treble is crisp, and the stage feels similar. For bass‑first listening, go Pro 3; for casual listening with an open feel, 4 ANC hold their own and are the best‑sounding half‑in‑ear buds I’ve tested.
Battery life and the case
With ANC on, Pro 3 get 8 hours vs 4 hours on 4 ANC. Total battery is close at 24 hours vs 20 hours. In day‑to‑day use I just notice charging the 4 ANC more often. The curveball: the 4 ANC case is tiny and thin, so I carry them everywhere—and that alone has saved me countless times.
Controls and extra features
I really miss volume swipe on the 4 ANC. Pro 3 have squeeze plus swipe for volume; 4 ANC are squeeze‑only. You can lean on Siri or Adaptive Volume, but I still want manual control. Feature‑wise, Pro 3 stack extras: heart‑rate sensors in each bud, a hearing aid feature, and a hearing test I’ve actually used during a scare with sudden hearing loss. If you’ll use those, it’s a big value add.
SpinFit Aura Fine tips for AirPods Pro 3 (sponsor)
I tried SpinFit’s Aura Fine silicone tips on Pro 3. Compared to Apple’s stock tips, they grip better and pivot more, which gave me a noticeably more stable fit and a slightly lighter in‑ear feel. They snap on like stock and the silicone separates for easy cleaning. SpinFit says they can enrich sound; in my ears, sound stayed essentially the same as stock (which I like). Expect roughly a 10% drop in ANC strength versus the stock hybrid tips, and there are six sizes matched to Apple’s sizing.
Call quality
Call quality between the two is usually quite close in my tests. The practical difference I notice is stability: the 4 ANC don’t creep out during long calls, which makes them easier to live with for hour‑long conversations.
THE VERDICT
If I had to pick one, I’d go AirPods Pro 3 for the superior features: stronger ANC, deeper bass, longer battery, swipe volume and those extra health/hearing tools. That said, I still reach for AirPods 4 ANC most days because they’re just more comfortable for me, sound great for an open design, and the tiny case means they’re always with me.
If you hate sealed tips or want a casual, carry‑everywhere pair, AirPods 4 ANC are easy to recommend. If you want the best ANC, immersive bass and full controls for flights, commuting or the loudest gyms, AirPods Pro 3 are the one. Stay picky.
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