A Detailed Comparison of AirPods 4, AirPods Pro

AirPods 4, AirPods Pro, one flagship, and two models, how would an average consumer decide which ones are best for them? Isn’t it a question that needs a detailed analysis of the features, good, and bads of both devices? So, you can spend your money on earbuds that tick all your boxes? Worry no more because if you want to get your hands on premium AirPods, read this article to make an informed decision and buy a device that fits your needs the best. 

Tech Specs 

Specs	AirPods 4	AirPods Pro
Style	In-canal	In-canal
Wireless	Yes	Yes
True Wireless	Yes	Yes
Connectivity	Yes	Yes
Water-Resistant	Yes	Yes
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	Yes
Battery Life	4 hours with ANC enabled	5 hours

Design 

Let’s first talk about the design and build quality. AirPods 4 has an open design but is well-built and premium than its predecessors. The stem is a little shorter, and the head is more structured to fit the ear. Although I prefer earbuds with ear tips, Apple has done a good job of making the open-ear earbuds comfy. Still, some of you might find the design rigid and loose because they are not used to tip-less earbuds. 

However, Apple has put an enormous effort into making these AirPods restful. Apple says that they have used over 50 million data points and thousands of ear samples to come up with the most comfortable design. 

On the contrary, AirPods Pro come with a tip design so they fit better while doing physical activity. Their stem is also shorter, but the head is a bit large. However, it didn’t bother me that much, and I was comfortable while using the Pro because of its lightweight construction.

Moreover, you will get three tips with AirPods Pro to ensure you get the best fit. Although the medium size is supposed to fit most people, they could not pass the “Ear Tip Fit” test on my ear. 

You can test your tips by going into the AirPods Pro’s menu on your iPhone, where you will listen to music for 5 seconds with medium-sized ear tips. If the system detects a leakage, you will be prompted to try bigger or smaller tips. In my case, the smaller ones gave the “Good Singal” green. 

This feature truly enhances the noise-canceling ability of AirPods Pro and keeps them in the top charts of best wireless earbuds even after years of launch. Both AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 4 are water/sweat resistant, so you don’t have to worry about losing them to sweat while working in the gym. 

Charging Case

One of my favorite things about 4th-generation AirPods is its charging case. It is tiny but robust. The polished white finish feels premium and fits into the pocket without feeling like a burden. Another great feature of the AirPods 4 noise canceling model case is its “Find My Functionality.” So, if you ever forget the device in your office or a cafe, you can easily track it out. 

Similarly, the charging case of AirPods Pro (1st gen) is also portable and revamped to provide USB-C. In case you lose your AirPods, you will be able to find them via U1 chip in the case. 

Controls

The AirPods Pro’s controls are located in the stem, and they are pretty responsive. You can squeeze either of the stems to pause or play music and answer calls. Moreover, double squeeze skips the track forward and triple squeeze skips back, and a long switch will cycle through noise-canceling modes. 

Apple AirPods 4 also functions like previous models: pinch the stem for playback tracks, reject or answer calls, and launch Siri. Long-squeezing the stem changes the noise modes, but there is nothing on the buds to control volume. 

This can be frustrating because every time you want to increase or decrease the volume, you will need to use your phone or summon Siri to do so. You might have to wait for another AirPods model to get this simple but useful feature. 

As far as responsiveness is concerned, AirPods 4 are way better than AirPods Pro. However, I find both these controls tricky to use, especially when I am working out. I mean, I often reject calls when I want to answer, and the volume adjustment is just frustrating. 

Sound Quality 

The sound quality of the AirPods Pro original is decent. As I prefer natural balanced sounds that do not shock the ear, I prefer AirPods Pro over many of the heavy bass devices. The AirPods Pro provides warm sound, so you will like the audio profile of any genre you listen to. The midrange is well-balanced, and vocals and instruments come out with adequate detail. 

iPhone AirPods 4th generation also sounds splendid. Obviously, it is the latest device, so it comes with improved features. There is a low-distortion driver and a high-dynamic range amplifier; these two specs, with the H2 Chip, make the audio exceptionally great. 

The sound profile is more engaging, rich, and impactful. However, there is a kind of sibilance in the high-end. This hissing can be very annoying. It won’t be a huge issue for most people, but those who understand the sonics better will definitely note it. 

Noise Canceling

The noise-canceling ability of AirPods Pro is solid. There are two microphones on the outside and inside to detect and block noises. The noise-canceling mechanism also works better in Pro because of its tip design, which provides a physical barrier from surrounding sounds. 

Apple claimed that the noise-canceling is adjusted 200 times per second. Well, the system works but does not completely isolate you from everything outside. 

When I wear this earbud in the office, I am aware of the chatters happening nearby. However, when I am traveling, it successfully blocks the bus engine noises. There is also a Transparency mode that lets the surrounding sound come in.

The noise-canceling in iPhone AirPods 4 is also good, but it’s not exceptional. I don’t think any tip-less earbud can provide enough noise isolation, so I do not rate these wireless earbuds noise-canceling machines. 

For me, anything that comes with ear tips and covers the ear canal does a better job of blocking unwanted noises. For instance, I am a huge fan of AirPods Pro (2nd gen). However, the noise-canceling model of AirPods Gen 4 did impress me. 

The noise canceling is nothing exceptional, but it is efficient in keeping the irritating sounds at bay when I am working at home or working out at the gym. The adaptive and transparency modes also work fine, but I did notice a little lower sound quality when these modes were on. 

Battery Life

The AirPods Pro’s battery life is 5 hours, which is a standard for most wireless earbuds. I used it continuously while listening to music, watching Netflix, and talking to a friend over call, and it provides a runtime of around 5 hours. The case extends the battery life to 19 hours. If your battery’s juice runs out, pop it back in the case for 5 minutes and get an hour of charge. 

However, the new AirPods 4 are a little disappointing because their battery life is only 4 hours. The time extends with a charging case, and the battery life can go up to 30 hours (as claimed by Apple). However, if you use the earbuds with ANC on, the overall time gets reduced to 20 hours. 

You can still get an hour of listening by just popping the earbuds 5 minutes back in the case, but this drains the case battery even faster, so the battery experience is nothing impressive. 

Bottom Line

AirPods 4, AirPods Pro, or any other device, you will always have to compromise on a few features. AirPods 4 is the newer device with many improved functions, while AirPods Pro is still better at canceling noise and has a longer run time. Therefore, no matter which device you buy, you will have to consider their pros and cons. 

FAQs

1. What is the price of AirPods Pro? 

AirPods Pro’s price varies with the model. You can buy Pro Gen 2 for $249, while the newer AirPods 4 are available for $179. 

2. Is AirPods Pro worth buying? 

Yes, AirPods Pro are worth buying. They have a premium in-canal tip design and natural sound profile, which allow you to enjoy all types of music. Also, The noise canceling works pretty well. 

3. When did AirPods 4 come out? 

AirPods 4 was released in 2024. It came out along with AirPods Max and was available for pre-order on September 20. 

4. Are AirPods 4 Worth It? 

If you have been using AirPods for years, you will like AirPods 4. However, you might find the battery time and noise canceling a bit underwhelming than AirPods Pro 2.  

5. Does Apple AirPods 4 fit better? 

Yes, for an open-ear design, they do fit pretty well. Apple has really put an effort into the overall shape of the earbuds. However, if you are used to tip-based AirPods, you might find them a little loose, especially during physical activity.