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AirPods Pro 1 vs AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 3 vs AirPods 4: which one should you choose?

Femke2 DECEMBER 2025
On a city street, a person wears sunglasses, a scarf, and an earbud, holding a phone and a paper cup.

Looking for wireless Apple earbuds but not sure which ones are best for you? Compare the AirPods Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3 and AirPods 4 to find out which earbuds meet your needs and preferences. The main differences between the AirPods are the way you wear them and whether they have ANC. You wear AirPods Pro as in-ear earbuds: they seal off your ears and feature noise cancellation. You wear the standard AirPods as earbuds: they sit loosely in your ears, don’t seal your ears off and (often) don’t have ANC.

AirPods Pro 1, Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4: a detailed comparison

A person with short black hair wears a light-gray blazer and white shirt, smiling and holding a black smartphone. She has earbuds. Background shows gray walls.

The first-generation AirPods came onto the market at the end of 2019 and were followed up in 2022 by the AirPods Pro 2. In 2024, the AirPods 4 were released, with one version featuring noise cancellation and another without. In September 2025, the AirPods Pro 3 followed. But which of these 4 original Apple earbuds should you choose? We compare the design, battery life, noise-cancelling quality, which earbuds support Apple Intelligence, the level of water resistance and the price of the four AirPods models.

View all AirPods
Property nameAirPods Pro 1AirPods Pro 2AirPods Pro 3AirPods 4
Way of wearing

In-ear

In-ear

In-ear

Earbud

Chip

H1

H2

H2

H2

Total battery life

28.5 hours

30 hours

24 hours

30 hours

Noise cancellation
Available
Available
Available

1 model with noise cancellation

Water resistant
Unavailable

Rain and sweat resistant

Rain and sweat resistant

Rain and sweat resistant

How do the AirPods Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3 and 4 differ in design?

Two white in‑ear AirPods Pro 2 on the left, two AirPods Pro 4 on the right, clean minimal product image.

When you compare the designs of the AirPods, it immediately stands out that the AirPods Pro 1, Pro 2 and Pro 3 are in-ears, whereas the AirPods 4 use an earbud design. In general, in-ear earbuds sit deeper in your ear than earbuds, which means you hear more of your music, more bass tones and less ambient noise. Another thing you’ll notice is that the stems of the AirPods Pro 1, Pro 2 and Pro 3 are shorter than those of the AirPods 4. So, are there no similarities at all between the AirPods Pro (1, 2 and 3) and the AirPods 4? There are. All of these earbuds are only available in white.

View the AirPods 4

How long does the battery of the different AirPods last?

The battery life of the AirPods determines how long you can use the wireless earbuds without having to put them on charge. Here, we distinguish between the battery life of the earbuds themselves and that of the charging case. Add these together and you’ll know how long you can listen to a Spotify playlist or binge your favourite podcast series.

Property nameAirPods Pro 1AirPods Pro 2AirPods Pro 3AirPods 4
Battery life earbuds

4.5 hours

6 hours

8 hours

5 hours (4 hours with ANC)

Battery life charging case

24 hours

24 hours

24 hours

30 hours (20 hours with ANC)

Total battery life

28.5 hours

30 hours

32 hours

35 hours (24 hours with ANC)

Which AirPods have noise cancellation (ANC)?

A single white wireless earbud is centered on a black background surrounded by white specks.

The AirPods Pro 1, 2 and 3 sit deep in your ears thanks to their in-ear design, which means they block out more of what’s happening around you. On top of that, these earbuds feature active noise cancellation (ANC), a technology that ensures you no longer hear background noise from outside. This is ideal if you’re on a busy train, or if you simply want to shut yourself off from your surroundings for a while. AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 are equipped with Apple’s H2 chip. This is the successor to the H1 chip used in the AirPods Pro 1. The H2 chip is more powerful than its predecessor and therefore filters ambient noise slightly better. It also delivers improved sound quality. The new AirPods 4 also have the H2 chip and come in 2 versions: one without noise cancellation and one with noise cancellation.

What is noise cancellation?
White in-ear AirPods Pro 3 float side by side on a pale backdrop, sleek modern wireless earphones.

The difference between the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 lies in the strength of the ANC and the battery life when you switch ANC on. The AirPods 4 have an earbud design and therefore seal off your ears less effectively than the in-ear AirPods Pro 3. Some people appreciate this open fit, while others prefer more isolation. The better seal of the AirPods Pro 3 enhances the noise cancellation compared with the AirPods 4 and also ensures that the battery lasts a bit longer when you use active noise cancelling. Do you mainly want to filter out as much sound as possible, but don’t mind hearing a bit of ambient noise now and then? In that case, the AirPods 4 provide enough ANC.

What is noise cancellation?

Are the AirPods water resistant?

The AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3 and AirPods 4 have an IPX4 rating. This means these earbuds can easily handle a bit of water. Caught in a heavy rain shower while walking or cycling, or do you sweat a lot during workouts? That’s no problem at all for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4. However, more extensive contact with water is less desirable for these 3 Apple earbuds. So don’t accidentally drop them in the sink while doing the dishes, and don’t wear them in the shower either. The AirPods Pro 1 are not water-resistant at all. If you’re wearing these earbuds and it suddenly starts pouring, it’s better to take them out and put them safely in the charging case to prevent stuttering or crackling sounds in your AirPods.

Which AirPods work with Apple Intelligence?

An iPhone displays its home screen as a pairing pop-up for AirPods Pro, with the white charging case in front.

Several Apple AirPods models (AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3) are compatible with Apple Intelligence, but whether you can actually use it also depends on the Apple device you’re using. Your iPhone, iPad or Mac has to support Apple Intelligence, and your AirPods need to be running the latest firmware. So always check first whether your device is compatible and whether your AirPods are up to date. If your AirPods aren’t updated, you may not be able to connect them properly and you won’t be able to use Apple Intelligence.

Do the AirPods differ a lot in price?

A woman with wet hair runs through rain wearing white AirPods Pro, intense focused expression, energetic outdoor mood.

The AirPods Pro models are more expensive than the standard AirPods because they offer powerful ANC, additional features and different fit options. New releases usually come with a higher price tag than previous generations, while the price of older generations tends to drop over time. Check our website for the current AirPods prices.

Which AirPods suit you?

Two separate white AirPods lie beside a closed charging case on a plain yellow background, simple and modern composition.

Do you already have an idea which Apple AirPods best match your needs? Not all models are still available (brand new), but below we recommend which AirPods are most suitable for different usage situations.

  • AirPods with noise cancellation: AirPods Pro 1, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4 with ANC.
  • AirPods with the most powerful noise cancellation: AirPods Pro 3.
  • Best AirPods if you don’t need noise cancellation: AirPods 4.
  • AirPods with a comfortable fit and good sound quality: AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4.
  • Best AirPods for sports: AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3.
  • AirPods with the longest total battery life: AirPods 4 (AirPods Pro 3 comes close).
  • AirPods at the lowest price: AirPods Pro 1.

If you're from Belgium, read the article Compare Apple Airpods on MediaMarkt Belgium.

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