Nothing Ear (a)
LDAC · Transparent design · $99
AirPods Pro 4
H3 · Adaptive ANC · Real-time translation
AirPods Pro 4 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Nothing Ear (a) lands at 85 and AirPods Pro 4 at 94. That puts AirPods Pro 4 ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Nothing Ear (a) if…
- ✓Amazing value at $99
- ✓LDAC support
- ✓Great sound for price
Pick AirPods Pro 4 if…
- ✓H3 chip doubles ANC performance
- ✓Real-time Live Translate
- ✓Improved fit/heart-rate sensor
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testFeatures
AirPods Pro 4Compared on the features sub-score
AirPods Pro 4 leads on features (98 vs 88).
Sound
AirPods Pro 4Compared on the sound sub-score
AirPods Pro 4 leads on sound (92 vs 88).
Comfort
AirPods Pro 4Compared on the comfort sub-score
AirPods Pro 4 leads on comfort (94 vs 86).
Value for money
Nothing Ear (a)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Nothing Ear (a) more score per dollar ($99 vs $279).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Nothing Ear (a) | AirPods Pro 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 11 mm dynamic | — |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | — |
| Battery | 5.5 h (ANC) / 24.5 h case | ▲ 6 h (ANC) / 35 h case |
| Water rating | IP54 | IP57 |
| Chip | — | H3 |
| Connectivity | — | BT 5.4 |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
Nothing Ear (a)
- +Amazing value at $99
- +LDAC support
- +Great sound for price
- −ANC trails flagships
- −App required for full customization
- −Build is plasticky
AirPods Pro 4
- +H3 chip doubles ANC performance
- +Real-time Live Translate
- +Improved fit/heart-rate sensor
- −Pricier than AirPods Pro 3
- −Android compatibility limited
- −Battery ~6h still
FAQ: Nothing Ear (a) vs AirPods Pro 4
Which is better, Nothing Ear (a) or AirPods Pro 4? +
AirPods Pro 4 scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Nothing Ear (a) worth the price? +
At $99, Nothing Ear (a) delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in sound.
Is AirPods Pro 4 worth the price? +
At $279, AirPods Pro 4 delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in features.
Does Nothing Ear (a) or AirPods Pro 4 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for features, Nothing Ear (a) or AirPods Pro 4? +
AirPods Pro 4 — leads on features (98 vs 88). Compared on the features sub-score.
Which is better for sound, Nothing Ear (a) or AirPods Pro 4? +
AirPods Pro 4 — leads on sound (92 vs 88). Compared on the sound sub-score.