AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Is it worth upgrading?

The AirPods 4 are the successors to the AirPods 3 from 2021 and we will tell you whether it is worth upgrading.

Is upgrading to the AirPods 4 worth it?

If you have the AirPods 3, you’re probably wondering whether you should upgrade to the AirPods 4. There’s one specific new feature that could encourage a switch, but for the sake of completeness, we’ll list all the differences for you.

To start, the AirPods 4 are available in two models: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The basic model costs at Apple 149 eurosfor the top model you are 199 euros lost. For comparison, the AirPods 3 were sold for 199 euros. If you have the AirPods 3, there is probably no reason to switch to the cheaper AirPods 4. However, the more expensive model is attractive.

Active Noise Cancellation

The main reason to upgrade to the AirPods 4 is the new Active Noise Cancellation feature. Previously, you had to switch to the AirPods Pro for ANC. But now you can buy the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

The ANC is powerful enough to significantly reduce most ambient noise. The noise cancellation may not be as good as the AirPods Pro, but at the same time it’s not bad at all. If you want to get rid of distractions and outside noise, the AirPods 4 are a great choice.

Better fit

The AirPods 4 have a new design. The part that goes into your ear has a slimmer shape with a more angular insert, compared to the rather large and bulbous design of AirPods 3. For most people, this shape seems to fit better. If you previously used the AirPods 1 or AirPods 2, the AirPods 4 are closer to that fit than the AirPods 3.

Dustproof and a newly designed case

The AirPods 3 are sweat and water resistant, but Apple makes a bigger claim with the AirPods 4. They have an official IP54 rating and are therefore resistant to dust, sweat and water. This makes them formally resistant to water droplets, such as when you walk outside in the rain.

In addition, the AirPods 4 have a newly designed case. The housing is smaller than that of the AirPods 3, so it fits better in your pocket. It also looks a little more luxurious, with a hidden status light on the front that’s only visible when it’s on. The case has a USB C port and an integrated speaker so you can make it beep if you lose it.

New chip and better sound quality

The AirPods 3 have an H1 chip and the AirPods 4 contains the newer H2 chip. The H2 chip enables features such as Personalized Volume, which intelligently adjusts the sound level based on your environment, and Voice Isolation for better microphone quality.

The H2 chip also ensures even better sound quality, in combination with improved drivers in the AirPods. While it’s a subtle improvement, AirPods 4 deliver better bass and clarity compared to AirPods 3. Possibly a reason to upgrade to the AirPods 4.

The AirPods 4 also have two disadvantages

While the AirPods 4 are better than the AirPods 3 in every way, there are also a few drawbacks that might keep you from upgrading to the AirPods 4.

First, the new, smaller case is so small that it no longer fits MagSafe chargers. You can place the case on a MagSafe charging mat and charge wirelessly that way. But the case is not held magnetically.

Secondly, the battery life of AirPods 4 is actually slightly worse than that of AirPods 3. The AirPods 4 have a battery life of 5 hours, with Active Noise Cancellation turned off. If Active Noise Cancellation is enabled, you can count on a battery life of about 4 hours. Compared to the AirPods 3, this is slightly worse, because with the AirPods 3 you can listen continuously for 6 hours.

The AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 offer the same listening time if you charge the earbuds with the charging case. In that case, you can get about 30 hours with both earplugs.

Buy AirPods 4

If you want to upgrade to the AirPods 4, check out the deals below to make sure you don’t pay too much!