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Apple Makes 3 Different Types of AirPods. Which Should You Buy?

We break down the key differences between the two AirPods 4 models and the newest AirPods Pro 3.

Three pairs of white wireless earbuds with their respective charging cases are arranged on a wooden surface. The earbuds on the left and center have a smooth, stem-like design, while the pair on the right has silicone ear tips for in-ear fit. The charging cases are rectangular with rounded edges and a horizontal indentation near the top.Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

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By Tucker Bowe

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As of September 2025, Apple sells three different wireless earbuds in its AirPod lineup.

The AirPods 4 are its entry-level wireless earbuds. The AirPods 4 with active noise-cancellation are its midrange offering. And the AirPods Pro 3 are its new flagship wireless earbuds. (Note: the AirPods Max, Apple’s over-ear headphones, are not included in this guide.)

Of course, Apple has stopped selling all of its older generation AirPods, most recently the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C), which was released in 2023.

That said, you can still buy older AirPods models that have been discontinued from third-party sites like Amazon. Some are still worth buying — including the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — as they support many of the newest features and can be deeply discounted.

When shopping for AirPods, they all share a number of common features. They all support quick iPhone pairing and hands-free Siri controls, for example.

But the more expensive models look and fit differently, and they have more premium features (such as wireless charging and active noise-cancellation). The more expensive models are going to sound better, too.

Which AirPods Does Apple Currently Sell?

Three white wireless earbud charging cases placed on a wooden surface with visible grain and knots. Two cases are square-shaped with rounded edges, and one is slightly larger and more rectangular with rounded edges.
Apple’s three current AirPods models, from left to right: AirPods 4, AirPods 4 (with ANC) and AirPods Pro 3.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

AirPods Pro 3

White wireless earbuds with silicone ear tips, placed inside an open white charging case with a small green indicator light on the front. The earbuds have black sensor areas and are marked with "L" and "R" for left and right.Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Specs

Release date September 2025
Charging port USB-C
Noise cancellation Yes
Does Apple currently sell? Yes

Pros

  • The best wireless earbuds that Apple makes
  • 2x more powerful active noise-cancellation than previous generation
  • Improved battery life and faster charging compared to previous generation
  • Supports hearing aid feature

Cons

  • The most expensive AirPods that Apple sells
  • Needs to be paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence for Live Translation

The AirPods Pro 3 are the most advanced wireless earbuds that Apple makes. Compared to the 2023-released AirPods Pro 2, these third-generation models share a lot in common — including being powered by the same H2 chip and supporting many of the same advanced features, including Personalized Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness and Live Translation (the latter needs to be paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence).

However, Apple has upgraded its newest AirPods Pro 3 in several impactful ways. It updated the design and fit, so they boost improved sound and have twice as good active noise-cancellation. They made them even more rugged, now with an IP57 rating. They also gave them longer battery life and support for faster charging.

Additionally, Apple integrated the AirPods Pro 3 with a heart rate sensor for workouts, which promises more accurate health data without the need for an Apple Watch. And the case features a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, so Precision Finding has 1.5x the range.

At $249, they are the same price as previous generations of AirPods Pro.

Close-up of a person's ear with a white wireless earbud inserted, showing the earbud's black speaker mesh and the person's light brown hair.
The AirPods Pro 3 have an updated design and 2x as powerful noise-cancellation compared to the 2023-released AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C).
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol
White wireless earbuds with an open charging case resting on a wooden surface, partially illuminated by sunlight.
The AirPods Pro 3 are the most advanced wireless earbuds that Apple currently sells.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

AirPods 4

AirPods 4 product imageApple

Apple AirPods 4

Specs

Release date September 2024
Charging port USB-C
Noise-cancellation No
Does Apple currently sell? Yes

Pros

  • The most affordable AirPods that Apple still sells
  • The smallest charging case of any AirPods

Cons

  • No active noise-cancellation or transparency mode
  • Charging case cannot wirelessly charge
  • Lacks premium features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness

The AirPods 4 are Apple’s current entry-level wireless earbuds. They have the same open-air design (no silicone ear tips) and sound exactly like the AirPods 4 with active noise-cancellation — both have the same H2 chip and internal acoustic architecture. They share some of the same higher-end features, such as Personalized Volume and support for spatial audio, too.

Given that they are Apple’s most affordable AirPods, there are some notable tradeoffs. Unlike the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3, the baseline AirPods 4 don’t have noise-cancellation or transparency modes. They don’t support premium features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness, either.

And the charging case doesn’t support wireless charging or have a built-in speaker (which is helpful when trying to locate it with Find My.)

AirPods 4 with No ANC
The AirPods 4 have a similar open-ear design as the AirPods 3 (now discontinued).
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol
AirPods 4 with no ANC
We need to label the AirPods 4 because they look identical to the ones with ANC.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

AirPods 4 with Active Noise-Cancellation

AirPods 4 with ANC product imageApple

Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise-Cancellation

Specs

Release date September 2024
Charging port USB-C
Noise-cancellation Yes
Does Apple currently sell? Yes

Pros

  • The most affordable AirPods with ANC
  • Support many of the same high-end features as AirPods Pro 3
  • The smallest charging case of any AirPods
  • Case supports wireless charging

Cons

  • Same sound quality as the higher-end AirPods 4
  • Noise-cancellation not as good as higher-end AirPods Pro

The AirPods 4 with Active Noise-Cancellation are Apple’s midrange wireless earbuds. They have the same open-air design and fit as the entry-level AirPods 4, as well as the exact same sound quality. However, the exact $50 gets you some notable upgrades.

As the name suggests, these midrange wireless earbuds have active noise-cancellation and transparency modes. They’re not on the level of AirPods Pro — Apple claims the ANC on these AirPods 4 is half as powerful — but in my experience, they’ve been pretty darn effective. They also share high-end features previously exclusive to the AirPods Pro, such as Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.

Finally, the charging case — the smallest of any AirPods — supports wireless charging and has a built-in speaker (for an easier Find My experience).

AirPods 4 ANC
The AirPods 4 with ANC fit similarly to the now-discontinued AirPods 3.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol
AirPods 4 with ANC
The AirPods 4 with ANC sound great, but the ANC definitely falls short of the AirPods Pro.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

The Discontinued AirPods (Still Worth Buying)

AirPods-Compared
In recent years, Apple has discontinued the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C and Lightning), AirPods 3, and AirPods (2nd-gen).
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen, USB-C)

airpodsApple

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen, USB-C)

Specs

Release date September 2023
Charging port USB-C
Noise-cancellation Yes
Does Apple currently sell? Yes

Pros

  • Very good noise-cancelling and transparency modes
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Advanced features such as personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive Transparency
  • Supports hearing aid feature

Cons

  • Still expensive and not as good as the AirPods Pro 3
  • No heart rate sensor
  • Needs to be paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence for Live Translation

The AirPods Pro (USB-C) are the same size, shape and design as the AirPods Pro 2 released in 2022, but they have a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning, as well as improved dust resistance (IP54 vs. IPX4).

Thanks to Apple’s H2 processing chip, these older AirPods Pro support many of the same features as the newest AirPods Pro 3, including support for Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume. They can also work as hearing aids and support Live Translation (when paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence).

However, these AirPods Pro 2 are a definite step down from the current AirPods Pro 3. They don’t have the same quality of sound and ANC. They don’t have as good battery life. And they lack more new-age features — for example, there’s no integrated heart-rate sensor.

AirPods Pro USB-C
The AirPods Pro with USB-C charging.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol
airpods comparison
The AirPods Pro with USB-C charging.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

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