Head to head

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC vs Moondrop Kato

Both scored on the same six factors, priced on what you actually pay including delivery, and each claim linked to the source it came from. Prototype data — prices and retailer stock are a fixed demo snapshot from 28 July 2026, not a live feed.

Verdict

The Moondrop Kato wins on both score and price.

Across these 2 earbuds, the Moondrop Kato has both the highest Worth Score (7.7) and the best score per euro at 189,00 €. That is unusual — normally you trade one for the other. Its weak point is heavier in the ear than plastic rivals.

Best overallMoondrop Kato — Highest Worth Score here at 7.7, 0.6 ahead of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC. Best for keeping one set for years.

CheapestApple AirPods 4 with ANC — 179,00 € — the entry point here. Open fit limits how much ANC can do

Side by side

Add a third product →

The value of a comparison is the differences.

Comparison of Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, Moondrop Kato
What matters	Apple AirPods 4 with ANCAppleMedium confidence	Moondrop KatoMoondropMedium confidence
Worth Score	7.1	7.7 (best in this comparison)
Best price	179,00 € (best in this comparison)	189,00 €
Price fairness	6.9	7.9 (best in this comparison)
Build quality	7.8	8.0 (best in this comparison)
Performance	7.6	8.7 (best in this comparison)
Longevity	7.4	8.2 (best in this comparison)
Repairability	2.2	7.4 (best in this comparison)
Support & warranty	9.0 (best in this comparison)	3.6
Battery (ANC on)	4 h	—
Noise cancelling	Good for an open fit	Passive isolation only
Water resistance	IP54	—
Codecs	AAC, SBC	—
Case charging	USB-C + wireless	—
Best for	People who cannot stand in-ear tips · iPhone owners · Awareness of surroundings while cancelling noise	Keeping one set for years · Swappable nozzles to tune the treble · Metal build at a sane price
Avoid if	You want maximum isolation · You are on Android	You want the cheapest good option · You need a mic
Main drawback	Open fit limits how much ANC can do	Heavier in the ear than plastic rivals

1 identical row hidden. They are the same for every product here, so they cannot help you choose.

What each score is based on

5 published sources between them

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

AirPods 4 Repair HelpiFixit · informs repairability
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation reviewSoundGuys · informs performance, price fairness
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation Truly Wireless ReviewRTINGS · informs performance, build quality

Moondrop Kato

Moondrop KatoIn-Ear Fidelity · informs performance
Moondrop Kato ReviewRTINGS · informs performance, build quality

Confidence is computed from those lists, not asserted: Apple AirPods 4 with ANC is medium on 3, Moondrop Kato is medium on 2. A factor with nothing behind it says so on the product page rather than borrowing a citation that does not speak to it.

Also compare

All earbuds we cover →

Prototype. Prototype data — prices and retailer stock are a fixed demo snapshot from 28 July 2026, not a live feed. Prices are the cheapest delivered price we recorded — 179,00 € and 189,00 € — not a live quote. How we score products.