AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3: Which should you buy in 2026?

Go to the 9to5Mac home page Switch site 9to5Toys 9to5Google Logo 9to5Google Electrek Drone DJ Logo DroneDJ Space Explored About Privacy Toggle social menu Toggle dark mode Search for: Submit Toggle search form Forums Store Podcasts Apple@Work Happy Hour 9to5Mac Daily Overtime iPhone iPhone Mac Mac MacBook Pro MacBook Air iMac Mac mini Mac Studio Mac Pro iPad iPad Pro iPad Air iPad mini iPad iPadOS Watch Apple Watch Apple Watch Ultra Apple Health Apple Watch SE Vision Vision Pro visionOS Music and TV Apple Music AirPods HomePod Apple TV Guides Reviews How Tos AAPL Apple Store Apple Arcade Apple Card Apple Silicon Apple One Apple Fitness+ CarPlay Siri HomeKit Toggle dark mode AirPods AirPods Pro AirPods Pro 3 AirPods 4 AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 3: Which should you buy in 2026? Zac Hall | Aug 20 2026 - 11:28 am PT 0 Comments Choosing between AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 was already mostly a question of fit, features, and price. Apple is also developing camera-equipped AirPods with Visual Intelligence, but they are not expected to arrive until 2027 at the soonest. That could make waiting an awfully long proposition.

AirPods 4 use an open-ear design, making them easy to recommend if you dislike ear tips. Our AirPods 4 review found the redesigned shape comfortable without sacrificing everyday convenience.

The $129 model includes Apple’s H2 chip, Personalized Spatial Audio, and up to five hours of listening. However, it lacks ANC, Transparency mode, and wireless charging.

The $179 model adds useful noise cancellation without plugging your ears, plus Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and a wireless charging case with a Find My speaker.

The open design still lets in more environmental sound, making its ANC less effective on airplanes and public transportation.

AirPods Pro 3 cost $249 from Apple, although Amazon regularly discounts them. Their foam-infused tips provide stronger bass and considerably better noise cancellation. Apple rates them for up to eight hours with ANC, compared with four hours for AirPods 4 with ANC.

They can measure heart rate during workouts and support Apple’s Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features. Our AirPods Pro 3 review found their workout heart-rate readings largely consistent with Apple Watch data.

Meanwhile, iOS 27 adds Custom EQ across both models, while AirPods Pro 3 gain extra benefits from their heart-rate sensor and newer charging case.

This week, AirPods with Visual Intelligence leaked in a video hidden inside the macOS Tahoe 26.7 Release Candidate. It appears to show someone asking Siri to remember a book using Visual Intelligence and camera-equipped AirPods. That raised the possibility of an imminent launch.

However, later follow-up says otherwise. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that camera-equipped AirPods remain on track for 2027. The B790 model shown in the video was reportedly a modified AirPods Pro 3 design that recently dropped off Apple’s 2026 roadmap. Apple continues developing a newer B798 generation.

Buy the $129 AirPods 4 if price matters most and you do not need noise cancellation. Choose AirPods 4 with ANC if you strongly prefer an open fit.

For everyone else, AirPods Pro 3 remain the best purchase, especially when Amazon discounts them close to the price of AirPods 4 with ANC. They offer stronger noise cancellation, longer battery life, heart-rate sensing, and Apple’s hearing-health features.

Waiting is only sensible if Visual Intelligence sounds essential. Anyone who needs replacements now could spend more than a year missing stronger ANC, better battery life, and other practical benefits while waiting for an unannounced feature.

Otherwise, buy for the needs you have today. Current discounted AirPods already cover what most buyers actually need, and a future camera model will probably cost more or spend its first months much closer to full price.

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Zac Hall is a Senior Editor, covering Apple, apps, and AI. He joined 9to5Mac in 2013.