AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Should You Upgrade?

AirPods (3rd generation) were released in October 2021. Three years later, AirPods 4 are here.

If you currently own AirPods 3, should you upgrade to Apple’s latest wireless over-ear headphones? There is one specific new feature that might encourage a sale, but here are all the differences to consider…

First of all, it’s worth pointing out that AirPods 4 come in two models, AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. The base model costs $129 at Apple, while the high-end model costs $179.

The AirPods 3 sold for $179, for reference. If you’re a current AirPods 3 owner, there’s probably no compelling reason to upgrade to the cheaper, $129 AirPod 4. However, the $179 model is attractive, because…

Noise cancellation

The main reason to consider purchasing AirPods 4 is the new active noise cancellation feature. Previously, to get ANC, you had to upgrade to AirPods Pro, with their silicone-tipped in-ear design. But now you can get surprisingly effective active noise cancellation with the AirPods 4. The ANC is powerful enough to significantly dampen, or completely silence, most outside noise. The intensity of the noise cancellation isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro, but it’s a huge step up from what was previously available in the base AirPods line, it that is to say nothing at all.

If you have use cases where you want to eliminate distractions and outside noise, the AirPods 4 make a very compelling case. You can read more about my experience testing the noise canceling capabilities here.

Best fit

The AirPods 4 have a new design for the earbuds themselves. The part that goes into your ear has a thinner shape with a more angular insert, compared to the rather large and bulbous design of the AirPods 3.

This means they seem to be a better fit for most people. The AirPods 3 redesign received some backlash as some people had trouble keeping them in their ears. AirPods 4 are much more accommodating. Fit is ultimately a personal matter, but anecdotally the fit of my AirPods 4 is both secure and comfortable. If you’ve used AirPods 1 or AirPods 2 before, the AirPods 4 are closer to that feeling than the controversial 3.

Dust resistance and redesigned housing

The AirPods 3 are said to be sweat and water resistant. But Apple is making a bigger claim with the AirPods 4. The AirPods 4 have an official IP54 rating, offering dust, sweat, and water resistance. This makes them formally resistant to water drops coming out, like if you were walking outside in the rain.

Additionally, AirPods 4 have a newly redesigned case. The case is physically smaller than the AirPods 3 case, making it even more compact. It also looks slightly more premium, with a hidden status indicator on the front that can only be seen when turned on. Functionally, the case now includes a USB-C port for convenient charging and a built-in speaker so you can play it if lost.

Newer chip and better sound quality

AirPods 3 are powered by the H1 chip. AirPods 4 are powered by the new H2 chip. This brings support for the latest AirPods features, like the ability to summon the voice assistant using the simpler wake word “Siri”, rather than “Hey Siri”. The H2 chip also enables features like Custom Volume, which intelligently adjusts sound levels based on your environment, and Voice Isolation for better microphone quality.

The H2 chip also helps deliver even better sound quality, combined with improved drivers nestled inside the AirPods. Although it’s a subtle improvement, the AirPods 4 offer better bass and clarity than the AirPods 3.

Two regressions to know

While the AirPods 4 are mostly better in every way, compared to the AirPods 3, there are a few downsides to consider.

First, the new smaller case is so small that it no longer attaches to MagSafe chargers. You can place it on a MagSafe charger and it will charge wirelessly, but it won’t attach magnetically. This means it will fall off the vertical cargo racks. The case is simply too small to magnetize to the MagSafe magnet ring.

Second, perhaps the biggest problem is that the battery life of the AirPods 4 is actually slightly worse than the AirPods 3. The AirPods 3 are rated for 5 hours of listening time on a single charge, with the active noise cancellation disabled. With active noise cancellation enabled, you can only expect around 4 hours of battery life.

Compared to AirPods 3, this is one to two hours less, as AirPods 3 could achieve 6 hours of continuous listening. However, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 offer the same listening time (around 30 hours) when allowing the earbuds to charge using the charging case.