Cheap price or the most high-end version?

AirPods 4 is great for basic calling and entertainment needs, while AirPods Pro 3 is for professionals with extremely deep bass.

If you are using an iPhone and want to buy a new pair of headphones in 2026, surely AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 will be the two names that give you the most “headache”.

On one side is the standard line with extremely accessible prices, on the other side is the “ultimate boss” with a series of health care technologies.

I have had the opportunity to experience both, from going to work, going to the gym to long flights and these are the most practical shares to know which “team” I belong to.

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Design and feeling of wearing: Differences from “earplugs”

The biggest difference that can be seen immediately is the design. AirPods 4 still retains the Open-fit design (no rubber buttons), feels extremely light, wearing it feels like you’re not wearing it.

For those who have sensitive ear canals or hate the feeling of stuffiness, this is “true love”. In contrast, AirPods Pro 3 uses foam-infused silicone earplugs for extremely strong grip.

I tried jogging and high-intensity gym workouts, the AirPods Pro 3 version almost “sticks” to my ears, while the AirPods 4 version sometimes makes me a little worried that it will fall during vigorous exercise.

Noise and Sound Cancellation: “Private World” versus “Freedom”

If you often travel by bus, plane or work at a cafe, AirPods Pro 3 will be your hero. The active noise cancellation (ANC) capability on the Pro 3 version is truly amazing, it eliminates up to 90% of environmental noise, creating an absolutely quiet space to enjoy music with deep and powerful bass.

With AirPods 4, due to the open design, you will hear everything around you. In return, the sound of AirPods 4 is very clear, suitable for listening to podcasts or making phone calls in quiet environments.

A series of smart features

This year, Apple turned AirPods Pro 3 into a true health care device. The device integrates a heart rate sensor, hearing support and especially the Live Translation feature, which is extremely cool when traveling abroad.

AirPods 4, although more “modest”, still possesses a powerful H2 chip, supports spatial audio (Spatial Audio) and the ability to interact with Siri by nodding or shaking the head is very interesting. If you need an “all-in-one” multi-function device, the Pro 3 is completely worth the difference.

Battery and charging: The Pro version still has the absolute advantage

Regarding battery life, AirPods Pro 3 allows me to listen to music continuously for nearly 9 hours (when ANC is turned on), an extremely impressive number. The Pro 3’s charging box also integrates a U2 chip to help accurately search through the Find My application and supports all types of chargers from USB-C, MagSafe to even Apple Watch chargers.

AirPods 4 stops at more than 6 hours of use and the standard charging box only supports USB-C wire charging. For those of you who often forget to charge the battery like me, the flexibility of the Pro 3 version is a huge plus.

Conclusion: Which version should I spend money on?

After a week of experience, I came to this simple conclusion: Choose AirPods 4 if you like the feeling of comfortable wearing, don’t like rubber buttons, mainly use it for calling, light entertainment and want to save money (the price is only about half that of the Pro version).

On the contrary, AirPods Pro 3 will be suitable for those who need absolute noise cancellation to work, love strong bass sound, regularly exercise or want to experience the latest health monitoring and translation features.