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How do AirPods Pro 3 compare to AirPods 4 with ANC?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: March 4th, 2026

2 min read

Last Updated: March 4th, 2026

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Apple makes two earbuds with noise cancellation now. Here's how to decide between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC.

The $70 Question

AirPods 4 with ANC give you a lot of features for $179. AirPods Pro 3 cost $70 more. Is it worth it?

The Biggest Difference: How They Fit

AirPods Pro 3 have silicone tips that go into your ear canal. They seal, which means better noise blocking and they stay put during workouts.

AirPods 4 use the classic AirPods shape. No ear tips, nothing in your ear canal. Many people find this more comfortable for all-day wear, especially if ear tips bother you.

Noise Cancellation: No Contest

This is where the Pro 3 really earns its premium. They block up to 4x more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. Part of that is better ANC technology, and part is that the ear tips provide passive blocking that the open design can't match.

If you commute on loud public transit or work in a noisy office, Pro 3 makes a noticeable difference.

Battery Math

Pro 3 gives you 8 hours with ANC on. AirPods 4 with ANC gets 4 hours.

But here's a twist: AirPods 4's case holds more total charge (30 hours vs 24 hours for Pro 3).

What Only Pro 3 Has

Heart rate tracking during workouts
Hearing aid feature (FDA-approved)
Swipe volume control on the stem
Better water resistance (IP57 vs IP54)
Better Find My tracking
More ear tip sizes

What Both Have

Live Translation
Spatial Audio with head tracking
Adaptive Audio
Transparency mode
Seamless device switching

Quick Decision Guide

Get AirPods 4 with ANC if you don't love ear tips, want good noise cancellation without needing the best, and prefer to save $70.

Get AirPods Pro 3 if you want maximum noise blocking, plan to work out with them, or want the health features.

Compare prices for both models.

Lowest at Amazon

$219.99 at Amazon

Lowest at any Popular Retailer

$219.99 at Amazon

How we researched this

Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from 1 retailers, and a look at hundreds of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.