AirPods 4 vs Beats Studio Buds
Choosing between Apple and Beats often comes down to a specific pair of products. In the everyday wireless earbuds class, that pair is the AirPods 4 and the Beats Studio Buds. This isn’t a case of one being simply better. The AirPods 4 leads in battery & charging, the Beats Studio Buds in sound & noise cancelling, and both leads are real.
At a glance
- Sound & Noise Cancelling Beats Studio Buds wins
- Battery & Charging AirPods 4 wins
- Features & Connectivity Tie
- Price AirPods 4 wins
- Sound & Noise Cancelling0.0
- Battery & Charging4.1
- Sound & Noise Cancelling10.0
- Battery & Charging1.1
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Beats Studio Buds has active noise cancelling
Whether it matters depends on your habits, but only one of these two gives you active noise cancelling: the Beats Studio Buds. Without ANC, the AirPods 4 relies on its fit alone to block out sound.
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The AirPods 4 has 15 h more total battery with the case
When it comes to battery (with case), the AirPods 4 wins comfortably with 30 h against 15 h. Total battery with the case tells you how long you can go before plugging anything in.
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The AirPods 4 has a 0.03 oz lighter build
It’s a lopsided result (0.15 oz for the AirPods 4, 0.18 oz for the Beats Studio Buds) and one of the main reasons to choose between them. Fit and pressure matter as much as weight, but a lighter build is a good starting point for comfort.
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The AirPods 4 has a tougher IP54 rating
Not a big gap, but a consistent one. The AirPods 4’s IP54 beats the Beats Studio Buds’s IPX4. A higher water resistance rating gives more protection against sweat and rain during workouts.
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The Beats Studio Buds has a transparency mode
Missing features are easy to overlook when you buy and hard to live without later. The AirPods 4 skips this one. The Beats Studio Buds offers transparency mode, which also makes walking near traffic safer.
Design & Size
Weight-conscious buyers will note the AirPods 4’s 0.03 oz advantage.
Fit & Build
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Open-fit earbuds with stem (no ear tips) | In-ear (stemless) |
| Water resistance | IP54 (winner) | IPX4 |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.15 oz (winner) | 0.18 oz |
| Case weight | 1.14 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Sound & Noise Cancelling
Beats Studio Buds leads
The sound & noise cancelling numbers point firmly in one direction: toward the Beats Studio Buds. The Beats Studio Buds pulls ahead with active noise cancelling. On a flight or a busy commute, the Beats Studio Buds’s noise cancelling lets you listen at lower volumes. Weighing only sound & noise cancelling, the Beats Studio Buds comes out ahead.
Active noise cancelling
AirPods 4: no Beats Studio Buds: yes Active noise cancelling reduces constant background noise like engines, trains and office hum.
Transparency mode
AirPods 4: no Beats Studio Buds: yes A transparency mode lets outside sound in, so you can hear announcements or chat briefly without taking them off.
Battery & Charging
AirPods 4 leads
Here the AirPods 4 opens up one of its biggest leads in the comparison. The AirPods 4 adds 15 h more total battery with the case. The AirPods 4’s case holds more extra charge, which is handy on trips. The battery & charging verdict goes to the AirPods 4.
Battery (with case)
AirPods 4: 30 h Beats Studio Buds: 15 h A bigger total means fewer case charges per week, a small but real convenience.
Features & Connectivity
Too close to call
This area ends level; whatever separates these two, it isn’t features & connectivity. On features & connectivity alone, you can’t go far wrong with either.
Full Specifications
Sound & Noise Cancelling
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Driver size | N/A (not specified) | 0.32 in |
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes (winner) |
| Transparency mode | No | Yes (winner) |
| Spatial audio | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | N/A (not specified) |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (single charge)Manufacturer rating, ANC on where available | 5 h | 5 h |
| Battery (with case)Manufacturer rating | 30 h (winner) | 15 h Least total battery |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
Features & Connectivity
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 (Apple H2 chip) | Bluetooth 5.2, Class 1 |
| Heart-rate sensing | No | No |
| Controls | Force sensor on stem | Physical button on each earbud |
Fit & Build
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Open-fit earbuds with stem (no ear tips) | In-ear (stemless) |
| Water resistance | IP54 (winner) | IPX4 |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.15 oz (winner) | 0.18 oz |
| Case weight | 1.14 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | AirPods 4 | Beats Studio Buds |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $129 (winner) Lowest price in class | $150 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
At launch, the difference was a modest $21, with the AirPods 4 slightly more affordable. Both have their wins, which makes the AirPods 4’s $21 lower launch price more meaningful.
Launch prices (US) as of September 2024. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the AirPods 4 if…
- you want more total battery with the case (30 h vs 15 h)
- you want the lighter fit (0.15 oz vs 0.18 oz)
- you want the tougher water resistance rating (IP54 vs IPX4)
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($21 less)
Choose the Beats Studio Buds if…
- you want active noise cancelling
- you like hearing announcements and traffic without taking them off
- you’re comfortable with how Beats does things
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the AirPods 4 or the Beats Studio Buds?
The AirPods 4 offers better value, saving $21 compared with the Beats Studio Buds.
Which has better battery life, the AirPods 4 or the Beats Studio Buds?
The official battery figures don’t separate them; the AirPods 4 and the Beats Studio Buds land in almost the same place.
Is the AirPods 4 cheaper than the Beats Studio Buds?
The AirPods 4 is the cheaper option, launching at $21 less than the Beats Studio Buds (launch prices as of September 2024).
Which weighs less, the AirPods 4 or the Beats Studio Buds?
Going by the official figures, the AirPods 4 weighs 0.03 oz less than the Beats Studio Buds.
Executive Summary
The AirPods 4 and the Beats Studio Buds are aimed at each other, and I think the gaps between them are more interesting than the headlines. What tips it for me is that the AirPods 4 has 15 h more total battery with the case. Beyond that, a 0.03 oz lighter build gives the AirPods 4 another edge. The Beats Studio Buds does have a strong card to play: active noise cancelling.
Your priorities do the choosing here: battery & charging points to the AirPods 4, sound & noise cancelling to the Beats Studio Buds.
My pick: the AirPods 4, and I’d only stretch to the Beats Studio Buds if $21 truly doesn’t matter to you.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.