AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3

As part of the iPhone 16 launch at the “Glowtime” event, Apple introduced an update to its AirPods lineup. The perfect companion for the iPhone, the AirPods update brings the product lineup to its fourth generation.

This time, the big news is the ability to add active noise cancellation to the AirPods. This feature is best associated with the premium AirPods Pro range, this is the first time it appears in Apple’s non-Pro earbuds range.

Of course, the new model offers other changes compared to its predecessor.

The third-generation AirPods continue to use Apple’s well-known design, an earbud with a long stem. At 1.21 inches by 0.75 inches by 0.76 inches, they fit snugly in the ear but are highly visible to others thanks to that stem.

The white housings are betrayed only by the black side and rear vents, as well as the oval mesh for the tip inside your ear canal.

For the new models, Apple has kept the same design, but with extremely minor changes. At 1.19 inches long, 0.72 inches wide, and 0.71 inches thick, the new earbuds are slightly smaller than the old ones.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: The design of the AirPods 4 hasn’t changed much.

Weighing in at 0.15 ounces, each third-generation AirPod is lightweight, a weight matched by the fourth-generation version. However, since they don’t feature silicone eartips like the AirPods Pro, you’ll need to be careful that they don’t fall out of your ear canal.

The third-generation version had an IPX4 rating for both the AirPods and the case, meaning they could withstand sweat and the occasional rain. Apple has since upgraded everything to IP54, which adds dust resistance.

Powered by the H1 headphone chip, the third-generation AirPods feature a custom high-excursion driver and a high-dynamic-range amplifier. Both were designed by Apple for improved audio quality over previous editions.

The fourth-generation models have been upgraded to use Apple’s more powerful H2 chip, which is used to drive the new features. Apple has also updated the acoustic architecture and added a new low-distortion driver and a high-dynamic-range amplifier.

For the third generation, Apple has also included an adaptive EQ, as well as custom spatial audio. The latter also benefits from dynamic head tracking, which allows users to enjoy a more 3D audio experience.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Design elements are virtually identical.

The AirPods 4 without ANC also include a custom volume feature, as well as voice isolation. The latter can be used to improve the quality of speech picked up by its microphones, so you can sound clearer to other people on a phone call.

The ANC-equipped version of the AirPods 4 also comes with active noise cancellation, unsurprisingly. This is the same feature that the AirPods Pro get, but this time in the open-ear design.

In addition to the ANC function, the Transparency function allows users to be more aware of their surroundings by integrating ambient sound. The Adaptive Audio function automatically switches between the two states, depending on the detected environmental conditions.

Added to this is the Conversation Awareness feature, which can automatically reduce the volume of media when other people are talking to the user.

Apple uses a pair of beamforming microphones as well as an inward-facing microphone in its third- and fourth-generation models.

The third-generation AirPods connect via Bluetooth 5.0 with automatic device switching. A somewhat aging wireless connectivity choice, but one that works well enough for the task.

Apple knew this wouldn’t be enough for the fourth generation, so newer models use Bluetooth 5.3 instead.

A skin detection sensor is used, along with a force sensor, a motion detection accelerometer, and a speech detection accelerometer, to handle interactions in the third-generation model. This mainly focuses on taps and holds, with different combinations used to answer calls and handle media playback.

For the fourth generation, the skin detection sensor is replaced by an in-ear optical sensor. The result is ultimately the same, namely determining whether the user is actually wearing the headphones.

The third generation offered the “Hey Siri” feature for hands-free control. A long press on a stem could also summon the digital assistant without the voice prompt.

Fourth-generation users can do the same things with Siri, but they can now ditch the “Hey” part of the prompt. They also get Siri Interactions, a feature that lets you nod to answer a question from Siri, such as whether to answer an incoming call.

Apple sold the AirPods 3 with two different case choices. The Lightning Charging Case features a Lightning connection, while the MagSafe Charging Case also adds wireless charging capabilities.

Both AirPods 3 cases measured 1.83 inches long, 2.14 inches wide, and 0.84 inches deep. They also both weighed 1.34 ounces.

The AirPods 4 come in two different cases, depending on whether you opted for the base model or the ANC model. Both have the same dimensions, at 1.82 inches long, 1.97 inches wide, and 0.83 inches thick, making them slightly smaller than the third-generation cases.

AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: AirPods 4 with ANC case support Qi, but no MagSafe magnets.

The newer cases are also lighter, at 1.14 ounces for the non-ANC case, 1.22 ounces for the ANC-equipped model.

The weight difference is largely due to connectivity. The non-ANC version charges via USB-C, while the ANC case uses USB-C or Qi-certified chargers.

The ANC-equipped version even has a built-in speaker, making it easier to find using Find My.

As for battery life, the AirPods Gen 3 offer up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge, 5 hours with Spatial Audio enabled. You can also get about four hours of talk time.

The Gen 4 offers up to 5 hours of battery life on a single charge without any use of ANC features, and four hours with. Both variants can manage up to 4.5 hours of talk time with ANC off.

Paired with the charging case’s battery, AirPods 3 can enjoy up to 30 hours of total listening time.

The AirPods 4 can also get up to 30 hours of listening time when paired with their cases, but that time drops to 20 hours if you use the ANC features.

Placing the third-gen earbuds in the case for five minutes gave them about an hour of listening time. That’s about the same for the Gen 4 models.

There are several ways to see how the AirPods 4 have improved over the AirPods 3.

For starters, the base AirPods 4 offer what could be described as an AirPods 3-style feature set. There are few truly significant changes at play, save for audio improvements and USB-C on the case.

The real benefit of the base AirPods 4 model is that they offer significant savings. The AirPods 3 cost $179 at launch, while the base AirPods 4 cost just $129.

That’s a $50 savings over a newer model with fairly comparable features.

Then there are the AirPods 4 which include ANC and Transparency in the package. That brings the price down to $179, bringing it back into price parity with the AirPods 3 without ANC.

So consumers can choose between the considerably cheaper and slightly improved AirPods 4, or pay the same price and get the AirPods 4 with ANC.

The AirPods 4 with ANC might just be the best deal in the entire AirPods hardware lineup. You get the features of the AirPods Pro in a device that’s almost on par with them, but has the key features you’d expect from the premium option.

Indeed, AirPods 3 owners might be more drawn to the ANC-equipped AirPods 4 as their next upgrade. Especially if they offer the key benefit of the AirPods Pro, but without spending $70 more.

Apple resellers, including Amazon and B&H, sell both AirPods 4 and AirPods 3.