AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are Apple's two noise-cancelling earbuds. The Pro 3 is the in-ear, sealed design with more features; AirPods 4 keeps an open-fit design while adding ANC.
Values come from Apple's AirPods compare page, re-read on 2026-11-02. Some rows on that page are not clearly labelled, so ambiguous values are omitted rather than guessed.
Key differences at a glance
- Battery: up to 8 hours (Pro 3) against up to 4 hours (AirPods 4 with ANC) with noise cancellation on.
- With case: up to 24 hours against up to 20 hours.
- Durability: IP57 against IP54.
- Health: heart-rate sensing is listed for AirPods Pro 3.
- Both use Apple's H2 chip and a USB-C charging case with a speaker; the Pro 3 case adds MagSafe and a lanyard loop.
Specification comparison
| Feature | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | H2 | H2 |
| ANC claim | Up to 2× more than original AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 with ANC | Up to 3× more than previous AirPods (Apple's footnote) |
| Earbud battery | Up to 8 h with ANC on | Up to 4 h with ANC on; 5 h with noise control off |
| With case | Up to 24 h with ANC on | Up to 20 h listening with ANC on |
| Water/dust | IP57 | IP54 |
| Case | MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C), lanyard loop, speaker | Wireless Charging Case (USB-C), speaker |
| Heart-rate sensing | Yes | Not stated |
| Weight (earbud / case) | 5.55 g / 43.99 g | 4.3 g / 34.7 g |
Shaded cells mean the cited sources did not state the value. We do not fill gaps from memory.
Fit and noise cancellation
The Pro 3 uses ear tips that seal the ear canal, which generally helps passive isolation and makes ANC more effective. AirPods 4 uses Apple's open design without tips, which many people find more comfortable but which cannot seal as well. Apple's ANC claims for each model use different baselines, so they cannot be compared directly.
Battery
Apple lists up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on for the Pro 3, double AirPods 4's 4 hours. With the case, the figures are 24 and 20 hours. For long flights or full workdays without a break, the Pro 3's longer single-charge time is the more useful figure.
Health, durability and case
The Pro 3 is IP57-rated against IP54 for AirPods 4, and Apple's page lists heart-rate sensing for the Pro 3. Its MagSafe case adds a lanyard loop. Apple's page also appears to list hearing health features for the Pro 3, but the column attribution is ambiguous, so we do not state them.
Who should buy which
Choose AirPods Pro 3 for longer battery life, better sealing, durability and fitness features. Choose AirPods 4 with ANC if you dislike ear tips and want lighter earbuds (4.3 g against 5.55 g each). Prices were not on the cited page.
Strengths and limitations
AirPods Pro 3
Strengths
- Longer battery, higher IP rating, heart-rate sensing and stronger ANC claim.
Limitations
- Heavier.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Strengths
- Lighter, with a smaller case.
Limitations
- Shorter battery and lower IP rating.
Pricing not verified
Prices change; check the vendor page.
Which should you choose?
- Fitness and durability: AirPods Pro 3 — IP57 and heart-rate sensing
- Lighter and cheaper-tier ANC: AirPods 4 with ANC — 4.3 g per bud (price not verified)
Our verdict
The Pro 3 leads on every cited line. Prices were not on the cited page, so value cannot be judged here.
Frequently asked questions
Do AirPods 4 with ANC seal the ear like AirPods Pro 3?
No. AirPods 4 keeps an open design without ear tips; AirPods Pro 3 uses tips that seal the ear canal.
Which has longer battery life?
AirPods Pro 3: up to 8 hours with ANC on, against up to 4 hours for AirPods 4 with ANC, per Apple.
Which is more water-resistant?
AirPods Pro 3 is rated IP57; AirPods 4 with ANC is rated IP54.
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How this was checked
Specifications compiled on 2026-11-02 from the sources below. The cited sources were re-opened and the key table values re-checked on 2026-11-02.
Apple AirPods compare page re-read on 2026-11-02; listed values matched, ambiguous rows omitted.
Disclosure: AYORAHUB did not hands-on test these products or services. Nothing on this page is a lab measurement, benchmark or review score; analysis explains what the cited specifications mean in practice.
- Apple's AirPods compare table did not map cleanly; ambiguous cells (spatial audio, hearing features for non-Pro) are omitted.
- Footnoted ANC claims compare to different baselines.
Sources
- AirPods – Compare Models — Apple (manufacturer/official)
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