At Apple Event, Apple launched two new AirPods: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. If you’re wondering whether to upgrade from your AirPods 3 or which model to buy, this comparison will help you decide.
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AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Specifications
Here are all the differences between AirPods 4 and AirPods 3.
| AirPods 4 | AirPods 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | H2 Headphone Chip | H1 Headphone Chip |
| ANC Features | Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness | IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistant |
| Other features | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | Two case options: Lightning and MagSafe |
| Siri Features | Hey Siri and Siri Interactions | Hey Siri |
| Charging Case | USB-C, Speaker for Find My, Wireless charging support | Two case options: Lightning and Magsafe |
| AirPods Battery | Up to 5 hours Up to 4 hours with ANC enabled | Up to 6 hours Up to 5 hours with Spatial Audio enabled |
| Charging case battery | Up to 30 hours | Up to 30 hours |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Microphone | Dual beamforming microphones Inward-facing microphone | Dual beamforming microphones Inward-facing microphone |
| Sensors | Optical in-ear sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor | Skin-detect sensor, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Force sensor |
| Weight | AirPods: 4.3 gram Charging case: 34.7 gram | AirPods: 4.28 gram Charging case: 37.91 gram |
| Water Resistance | IP54 dust, sweat and water resistant | IPX4 sweat and water resistance |
| Price | $129- Regular $179- ANC | $169- Lightning case $179- MagSafe case |
AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Price
AirPods 4 start at $129 (₹10,900 in India), while the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179 (₹14,900 in India). They will go on sale on September 20. To recall, AirPods 3 originally launched at $179 (₹18,500 in India).
This time, the standard AirPods 4 is more affordable, and you can pay $50 extra for ANC if you want it.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Design
AirPods 4 have a similar open-ear design to AirPods 3 with neither model including ear tips. I say “similar” and not “the same” because they have a slightly shorter stem and a more rounded and ergonomic shape, aiming for improved comfort and a better fit in the ear.
Apple has used advanced modeling tools, like 3D photogrammetry and laser topography, to precisely map and analyze thousands of ear shapes and over 50 million individual data points to design these. It says “AirPods 4 are the most comfortable headphones Apple has ever created with an open-ear design.”
The AirPods 4 charging case looks the same as the AirPods 3 charging case but gets USB-C support and wireless charging as standard for both models. There’s a speaker too so you can ring to find it like the AirPods Pro (2nd gen). And it is smaller than ever and weighs about 4 grams less. The AirPods themselves, however, weigh almost the same.
Lastly, the AirPods 4 are IP54 rated for dust, sweat, and water resistance. The older AirPods 3 are simply sweat and water-resistant with IPX4 rating.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Features
Similarities:
Both AirPods 4 and AirPods 3 offer Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Hey Siri support, Automatic switching between Apple devices, and Adaptive EQ. They also share the same microphone and sensor array: Dual beamforming microphones, an Inward-facing microphone, a Motion-detecting accelerometer, a Speech-detecting accelerometer, and a Force sensor for touch gestures.
Differences:
The AirPods 4 feature newer Bluetooth 5.3, while the AirPods 3 use Bluetooth 5.0. They are powered by the new H2 chip, which enables Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the $179 variant. Along with ANC, you also get features like:
- Transparency mode – which enhances outside sounds to keep you aware of your surroundings.
- Adaptive Audio – which automatically reduces noise as your environment changes.
- Conversation Awareness – automatically reduces volume and enhances transparency when you start chatting with someone.
- Voice isolation – which enables clearer call quality in different environments.
One potential downgrade is the use of an optical in-ear sensor in the AirPods 4 instead of the skin-detect sensor found in the AirPods 3. Skin-detect sensors generally offer better accuracy in distinguishing between skin and other surfaces, which can lead to fewer accidental pauses. However, the impact of this change may be minimal in real-world use.
Finally, AirPods 4 support Siri Interactions, allowing you to respond to Siri announcements with a simple nod or head shake, which could be a game-changer if you use Siri frequently.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Sound
While we are yet to test the AirPods 4 and how they sound, they do feature an entirely new acoustic architecture, a low-distortion driver, and a high dynamic range amplifier.
Thanks to the H2 chip, AirPods 4 also support low wireless audio latency and enhanced voice quality when chatting with teammates and other players, including support for 16-bit, 48kHz audio.
These improvements should make them sound even better than the AirPods 3, which are already very good-sounding AirPods with a clear, balanced sound signature, featuring clear mids and crisp highs, and are enjoyable and suitable for everyday listening.
AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Battery Life and Charging
AirPods 4 can give you up to 5 hours of listening time on one charge, which falls to 4 hours when using Noise Cancellation. The charging case will give you another up to 30 hours (or 24 hours of listening with ANC).
This USB-C case can be charged with a wire or wirelessly using an Apple Watch charger or a Qi wireless charger. And as mentioned already, it includes a speaker for Apple’s Find My feature.
On the other hand, AirPods 3 have a slightly longer listening time of up to 6 hours on one charge and up to 5 hours with Spatial Audio enabled. The charging case adds another 30 hours roughly. You can either buy the Lightning case or spend more and get the MagSafe version.
AirPods 4 Do Seem a Worthy Choice
The AirPods 4 offer exceptional value, especially for those in the Apple ecosystem. They come at a lower price than the AirPods 3 (for the non-ANC model) or the same price (for the ANC model).
Key upgrades include Active Noise Cancellation with features like Conversational Awareness, Voice Isolation for Calls, and Siri Interactions. You also get improved audio quality, even for gaming, a smaller, lighter case with a Find My speaker, and a more comfortable design.
While the battery life might be slightly lower than the previous generation, and the effectiveness of the Active Noise Cancellation remains to be seen, considering the open-ear design, the combination of improved features, enhanced audio, and a comfortable fit at a competitive price point does make the AirPods 4 a worthy choice!
