Comparison · Earbuds · Desk research
AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro 2
Quick Answer
AirPods 4 (2024) and AirPods Pro 2 are last-gen open-ear versus sealed, not the 2026 AirPods 5 vs Pro 3 hub. Apple Support 121203 (AirPods 4) lists H2, IP54, USB-C Charging Case, up to 5 hours listening and 30 hours with the case, 4.3g buds, 32.3g case, Bluetooth 5.3 — no Active Noise Cancellation row. Support 121204 (AirPods 4 with ANC) adds ANC, Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation footnotes, a USB-C case with speaker (34.7g), up to 4.
The verdict
AirPods 4 for open stems; Pro 2 for a silicone seal, ANC hour table, and Hearing Test / Hearing Aid rows
Why: Original P1 leftover pair. AirPods 4 is two Support pages: base 121203 (no ANC row; up to 5h / 30h with USB-C case) and AirPods 4 with ANC 121204 (ANC + Adaptive Audio + Transparency + Conversation Awareness; up to 4h ANC / 20h with case ANC). Both are H2, IP54, USB-C, year 2024. Pro 2 is the sealed H2 Pro with two case SKUs — Lightning MagSafe (111851) and USB-C MagSafe (111834) — up to 6h (5.5h Spatial + head tracking) / 30h with case, Hearing Test / Hearing Aid / Hearing Protection, tips. Do not collapse AirPods 4 ANC into Pro 2, or Lightning Pro 2 into USB-C.
Buy AirPods 4 if
You want open-ear H2 stems. Caption whether you mean base AirPods 4 (5h / 30h, no ANC row) or AirPods 4 with ANC (4h ANC / 20h case ANC).
Buy AirPods Pro 2 if
You want a sealed Pro 2 pair with silicone tips and the Hearing Test / Hearing Aid / Hearing Protection rows Apple already lists on Pro 2 Support.
Spec comparison
OEM rows only. AirPods 4 base = Support 121203. AirPods 4 with ANC = Support 121204. Pro 2 Lightning = 111851. USB-C Pro 2 = 111834.
| Spec | AirPods 4 (base / with ANC) | AirPods Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Year introduced | 2024 (both Support pages) | 2022 Lightning page; 2023 USB-C page |
| Fit | Open stem | Sealed silicone tips (XS–L on 111851) |
| Chip | H2 | H2; U1 in the MagSafe case (both Pro 2 pages) |
| ANC | Base: not listed. With ANC SKU: ANC, Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness | ANC, Transparency / Adaptive Transparency (Lightning page); Adaptive Audio on USB-C page |
| Hearing Test / Hearing Aid | Not on the 121203 / 121204 extract | Listed on 111851 (FDA / OS / age footnotes) |
| Battery — buds | Base: up to 5h. ANC SKU: up to 4h ANC / 5h noise control off | Up to 6h (5.5h Spatial + head tracking) |
| Battery — with case | Base: up to 30h. ANC SKU: up to 20h ANC / 30h noise control off | Up to 30h |
| IP | IP54 (both AirPods 4 pages) | IPX4 Lightning page; IP54 USB-C page |
| Case connector | USB-C (ANC SKU case has speaker) | Lightning MagSafe (111851) or USB-C MagSafe (111834) |
| Bud weight | 4.3g each | As printed on the Pro 2 Support page you cite |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Parallel, not a duplicate
AirPods 5 vs Pro 3 stays. AirPods 4 vs Pro 2 stays. People still type both.
Frequently asked questions
Does every AirPods 4 have ANC?
No. Support 121203 is AirPods 4 and does not list an Active Noise Cancellation row. Support 121204 is AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. Name the SKU.
Is AirPods 4 USB-C?
Yes on both 2024 Support pages. The charging case works with USB-C. Pro 2 still has a Lightning MagSafe SKU on 111851.
Is this AirPods 5?
No. AirPods 5 vs Pro 3 is /earbuds/airpods-5-vs-airpods-pro-3/. apple.com/airpods-4/specs/ now resolves as AirPods 5 specs — use the Support IDs above for AirPods 4.