![\"AirPods](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AirPods-4-vs-Pro-2-Thumb-1.jpg\")
The AirPods Pro 3<\/a> move slightly closer to the AirPods 4<\/a>, adopting a hidden LED indicator and capacitive pairing button, but the device also adds new high-end features such as heart rate monitoring, along with significantly improved active noice cancellation and better earbud battery life.<\/p>\n
Apple last year introduced a major update for its standard AirPods, with the earbuds gaining a more refined design for improved comfort, H2 chip, dust, sweat, and water resistance, 5GHz connectivity, a vent system for pressure equalization, Personalized Volume, Voice Isolation, a USB-C port, and “Siri<\/a>” command support \u2013 just like the AirPods Pro 2 and \u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c. For an additional $50, the similarities with the AirPods Pro go even further with active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, support for Apple Watch chargers, and a speaker in the case for Find My<\/a>.<\/p>\n Should you consider purchasing one of the \u200cAirPods 4\u200c models, or do you need the higher-end \u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c, which sell for $249? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.<\/p>\n \u200cAirPods 4\u200c Open-ear fit Optical in-ear sensors Force sensor controls Active noise cancellation Transparency mode Adaptive Audio Conversation Awareness Conversation Boost<\/p>\n Loud Sound Reduction<\/p>\n Hearing Protection<\/p>\n Hearing Test<\/p>\n Hearing Aid<\/p>\n Live Translation Heart rate sensing during workouts<\/p>\n 2.4GHz connectivity Lossless audio with Vision Pro<\/p>\n IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistance Up to 5 hours of listening time with a single charge 30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case Compact charging case Lanyard loop<\/p>\n Speaker in charging case for \u200cFind My\u200c U2 chip for Precision Finding<\/p>\n Charging Case compatible with USB-C only $129 The standard AirPods are now very similar to the AirPods Pro, offering almost all of the same key features at a lower price point. As a result, the \u200cAirPods 4\u200c should be the default choice for most prospective buyers. If you have AirPods Max<\/a>, which already offer ANC, and are looking for an additional pair of headphones to use while working out or on the go, the \u200cAirPods 4\u200c are also a good complementary choice.<\/p>\n You should only buy the \u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c if you are happy with its in-ear fit, which provides better sound quality and active noise cancellation, but can become somewhat uncomfortable and fatiguing during prolonged periods of use. While the \u200cAirPods 4\u200c now offer ANC, it is not as effective as that of the AirPods Pro due to the lack of an in-ear fit, so if noice cancellation is your main priority, the \u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c are still the best choice \u2013 they deliver 4x better noise cancellation than the standard AirPods.li<\/p>\n In addition to better sound quality and ANC, the \u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c also offer slightly longer earbud battery life, Conversation Boost, touch controls for volume, \u200cMagSafe\u200c charger compatibility, Precision Finding with the U2 chip, and a lanyard loop, as well as hearing protection, testing, and aid features. The most significant new feature with the latest generation is heart rate monitoring during workouts, which provides an excellent option when not wearing an Apple Watch. Many users will be able to justify the additional $70 to get the AirPods Pro as a result. <\/p>\n The \u200cAirPods 4\u200c are still a solid option for most average customers and will be better for those who do not like the AirPods Pro’s in-ear silicone tips. <\/p>\n AirPods Pro frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the Pro version may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. The standard AirPods also often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apple’s standard AirPods offer active noise cancellation for an additional $50, bringing them closer to the AirPods Pro…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":160137,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[48417,48418,20638,59,86,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-160136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-airpods","9":"tag-airpods-pro","10":"tag-buyer","11":"tag-gb","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
(2024)
\n\u200cAirPods 4\u200c With ANC
(2024)
\n\u200cAirPods Pro 3\u200c
(2025)<\/p>\n
\nOpen-ear fit
\nIn-ear fit with silicone\/foam ear tips (five size options)<\/p>\n
\nOptical in-ear sensors
\nSkin-detect sensors<\/p>\n
\nForce sensor controls
\nForce sensor and touch controls for volume adjustment<\/p>\n
\nUp to 4x more effective active noise cancellation<\/p>\n
\nTransparency mode<\/p>\n
\nAdaptive Audio<\/p>\n
\nConversation Awareness<\/p>\n
\nLive Translation<\/p>\n
\n2.4GHz connectivity
\n2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity<\/p>\n
\nIP54 dust, sweat, and water resistance
\nIP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance<\/p>\n
\nUp to 5 hours of listening time with a single charge
\nUp to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge<\/p>\n
\n30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case
\n24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case<\/p>\n
\nCompact charging case
\nWider charging case<\/p>\n
\nSpeaker in charging case for \u200cFind My\u200c<\/p>\n
\nCharging Case compatible with Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C
\nCharging Case compatible with MagSafe<\/a> chargers, Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C<\/p>\n
\n$179
\n$249<\/p>\n