AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2: these are the biggest differences

The AirPods 4 also feature noise cancellation for the first time, but how do they fare in a head-to-head comparison against the AirPods Pro 2?

AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2

Apple has updated the AirPods for the first time in years. There are now two new models, one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without. That noise cancellation used to be exclusive to the AirPods Pro, but no longer. We list all the differences between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2.

Active noise cancellation

The higher-end new AirPods 4 do have Active Noise Cancellation, but you shouldn’t expect the same level of noise cancellation as the AirPods Pro. Apple says that the AirPods Pro cancel out about twice as much noise as the AirPods 4. We haven’t had a chance to test it ourselves, but according to Apple’s tech specs, the AirPods 4 offer about the same noise cancellation as the original, first-generation AirPods Pro.

Both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 are powered by the H2 chip, which supports Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and Call Detection. These features intelligently turn active noise cancellation on and off, adapting it to your current environment. The cheaper model doesn’t have active noise cancellation at all.

Charging case

A more subtle difference in the series is the functionality of the charging case. The cheaper AirPods 4 come with the most basic USB-C charging case, which doesn’t even support wireless charging.

The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation come with a USB-C charging case that also supports wireless charging via Qi chargers or the Apple Watch charger. The case also has a built-in speaker for the Find My feature.

However, the AirPods Pro have the most advanced charging case, with MagSafe support (meaning it can magnetically align with MagSafe chargers automatically). The AirPods Pro case also has a lanyard loop, which the AirPods 4 cases don’t have.

Battery life

The AirPods 4 without noise cancellation have the same battery life as the AirPods 3. That’s up to 5 hours of listening time on a full charge. With active noise cancellation turned on, battery life drops to 4 hours of listening time. That’s a notable difference from the AirPods Pro, which get up to 6 hours with noise cancellation turned on.

If long battery life is important to you, the AirPods 4 might not be for you. The charging case on all models can charge the earbuds about six times, giving you a total of 30 hours of listening time.

Price

The cheaper AirPods 4 cost €149. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation cost €199. AirPods Pro 2 are available from Apple for €249, though you can often find them cheaper elsewhere. Below are the best deals on the new AirPods 4.

Compared to the AirPods 4, you’ll pay about $50 more for noise cancellation and a better charging case. The AirPods Pro 2 are $100 more expensive and have an in-ear design, better battery life, support swipe gestures to adjust volume, and have a MagSafe charging case. The AirPods Pro 2 also come with a USB-C cable. With the AirPods 4, you’ll need to provide your own cable.

Conclusion: AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2

Overall, the new AirPods 4 with noise cancellation are a great option for anyone who wants wireless earbuds but doesn’t like the feel of in-ear buds. It’s a nice middle ground in terms of features, including some degree of noise cancellation for loud environments. For $199, it’s a pretty good deal.

The AirPods Pro 2 still have the upper hand, though, with best-in-class noise cancellation, longer battery life, and a touch sensor on the stem for adjusting the volume – albeit for an additional $50 (around £49). The new Hearing Check, Hearing Aid, and Loud Noise Reduction features will also be exclusive to the AirPods Pro when they launch later this year.