No — AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 cases are NOT the same
The AirPods 3 case is 4.3mm wider (54.4mm vs 50.1mm). Cases are not interchangeable in either direction.
Are AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 Cases the Same? (2026)
No. Despite both being in the standard AirPods line, the AirPods 3 (2021) and AirPods 4 (2024) have different charging case dimensions. The most significant difference is the width: the AirPods 3 case is 54.4mm wide while the AirPods 4 case is 50.1mm wide — a 4.3mm gap that makes cases incompatible.
Side-by-Side Dimensions
AirPods (3rd Gen)Wider
AirPods 4Narrower & Current
Key Differences
Height Diff
0.2mm
Width Diff
4.3mm
Depth Diff
0.2mm
Why They Don't Fit
The 4.3mm width difference is the main issue. The AirPods 4 adopted a completely redesigned, more compact case shape that also switched from Lightning to USB-C. Even though the height is nearly the same, the width gap is far too large for any stretch or tolerance in protective cases.
- An AirPods 3 case on AirPods 4: too loose, won't grip the narrower case
- An AirPods 4 case on AirPods 3: too tight, won't fit over the wider case
- The charging port also changed (Lightning to USB-C), so port cutouts won't align
Good News: AirPods 4 & AirPods 4 ANC Are Interchangeable
If you have AirPods 4, the standard and ANC models have identical external case dimensions (46.2 × 50.1 × 21.2mm). One protective case fits both.
Cases for AirPods 3
Shop on Amazon →Cases for AirPods 4
Shop on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Are AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 cases the same?
No. The AirPods 3 case is 54.4mm wide while the AirPods 4 case is 50.1mm wide — a 4.3mm difference. They are not interchangeable.
Can I use an AirPods 3 case on AirPods 4?
No. The AirPods 3 case is 4.3mm wider than the AirPods 4, so a Gen 3 protective case will be too loose on Gen 4.
Can I use an AirPods 4 case on AirPods 3?
No. The AirPods 4 case is 4.3mm narrower than the AirPods 3, so a Gen 4 protective case will be too small for Gen 3.
Do AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 ANC use the same case?
Yes. Both the standard AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with ANC have identical external dimensions (46.2 x 50.1 x 21.2mm). Protective cases are interchangeable between these two models.
What changed between AirPods 3 and AirPods 4?
The AirPods 4 (2024) has a redesigned, more compact charging case. It switched from Lightning to USB-C and is 4.3mm narrower than the AirPods 3 (2021).