How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired, low-latency gaming headset you can wear for a full session without ever thinking about a battery, choose audio Technica ATH-G1; if you need true wireless freedom with adaptive noise cancelling and modern hi-res Bluetooth codecs, choose EarFun Air Pro 4.
• audio Technica ATH-G1 — biggest strength: 45 mm dynamic drivers with a very high 1,300 mW max input, a detachable boom mic, and a genuinely wired signal path.
• audio Technica ATH-G1 — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, needs a 3.5 mm TRRS or separate mic/headphone jacks, and its rated frequency range stops at 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
• EarFun Air Pro 4 — biggest strength: adaptive hybrid ANC up to 50 dB, Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless and LDAC, and up to 52 hours of total playtime with the case.
• EarFun Air Pro 4 — biggest trade-off: it is a wireless in-ear bud, so it depends on Bluetooth 5.4, a charging case, and a paired device rather than a plug-and-play cable.
• Pick the ATH-G1 if you sit at a desk, console, or gaming laptop and want one headset that also doubles as a studio-style wired headphone.
• Pick the Air Pro 4 if you move between phone, laptop, and travel and want noise cancelling plus multipoint in your pocket.
The ATH-G1 is built around a pair of specially tuned 45 mm dynamic drivers, and Audio-Technica rates the max input at 1,300 mW. That headroom number matters more than it sounds: a headset that can absorb a lot of input power before distorting gives you clean, composed sound when game audio spikes — explosions, engine roars, a crowded firefight — without the whole mix collapsing. The impedance sits at 45 ohms with 98 dB sensitivity, which is an easy load for a controller, a laptop jack, or a dedicated DAC/amp. Frequency response is quoted at 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, so it's a full-range listening headphone rather than a bass-boosted gaming toy.
The physical design is the other half of the story. It's an over-ear, closed-back, plastic-bodied headset weighing about 10.24 ounces, with a 6.6-foot attached cable that carries an inline volume control and a mic mute switch — one-hand operation, no menu diving. The boom mic detaches, and once it's off you're left with what is effectively a studio-quality wired headphone for music, editing, or just listening. Earpads and the headband detach for replacement, which is a real longevity feature on a wired headset that will see years of use. It connects to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, gaming laptops, PCs, and anything else with a standard 3.5 mm TRRS headset jack or separate mic and headphone jacks. A Y-shaped adapter is included for devices that split those signals.
Who should buy it: console and PC gamers who want a wired, no-battery, no-pairing headset with a boom mic they can remove; anyone who wants one set of headphones for both gaming and critical listening; and people who value replaceable pads and headband over sealed-in consumable design.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, active noise cancelling for a commute, or in-ear portability. The ATH-G1 is a desk-and-couch tool, not a pocket companion.
The Air Pro 4 is a completely different animal: a true-wireless in-ear bud with adaptive hybrid active noise cancelling rated up to 50 dB, driven by adaptive ANC technology and QuietSmart 3.0. The "adaptive" part is the interesting bit — the buds automatically detect your ear canal shape to tune the cancellation to your ears rather than applying one fixed profile. That's the kind of feature that matters in the real world, because ANC performance varies wildly depending on how well a bud seals your particular ear.
On the audio side, it runs a Qualcomm QCC3091 SoC with Snapdragon Sound certification, aptX Lossless, LDAC, LE Audio, and LC3 codec support, plus Hi-Res Audio certification. In plain terms: if your phone or player supports those higher-bitrate codecs, the Air Pro 4 can take advantage of them, and the 10 mm dynamic drivers with 32 ohm impedance and 120 dB sensitivity are easy to drive from a phone. Latency is quoted at 50 ms, which is low enough for casual video and mobile gaming, though a wired headset will always be tighter. Frequency response is listed at 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, and the top of the range is quoted out to 40 kHz.
The practical package is where it pulls ahead for daily life. Up to 11 hours on a single charge, extended to 52 hours total with the USB-C case, and a 10-minute quick charge that adds up to 2 hours. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint lets it hold two devices at once — laptop and phone, say — with Google Fast Pair on Android and Auracast broadcast support for shared or assistive listening. Six microphones with AI algorithms and Qualcomm cVc 8.0 handle calls, and the companion app lets you build a custom EQ sound profile. It's IP-rated for daily use as an in-ear, and EarFun backs it with an 18-month warranty.
Who should buy it: commuters, travelers, students, and remote workers who want one pair of buds for calls, music, and noise blocking; Android users who want Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless; and anyone who refuses to be tethered to a desk.
Who should skip it: competitive gamers who need a wired boom mic and zero-latency audio, and anyone who dislikes in-ear fit or charging cases.
• Best for gaming and voice chat → audio Technica ATH-G1. The detachable boom mic, wired 3.5 mm connection, and inline mute switch are purpose-built for it.
• Best for noise cancelling → EarFun Air Pro 4. Adaptive hybrid ANC rated up to 50 dB is the headline feature, and it self-adjusts to your ear canal.
• Best for battery life → EarFun Air Pro 4. Up to 11 hours per charge and 52 hours with the case, versus a wired headset that never needs charging.
• Best for hi-res codec support → EarFun Air Pro 4. aptX Lossless, LDAC, LE Audio, and LC3 are all on board via Snapdragon Sound.
• Best for raw driver headroom → audio Technica ATH-G1. 45 mm drivers with a 1,300 mW max input is serious capacity for a gaming headset.
• Best for portability → EarFun Air Pro 4. In-ear buds and a small case versus an over-ear headset with a 6.6-foot attached cable.
• Best for repairability and long-term ownership → audio Technica ATH-G1. Detachable earpads and headband mean you can refresh it instead of replacing it.
• Best for switching between two devices → EarFun Air Pro 4. Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint covers that natively; the ATH-G1 needs a physical jack.
In my opinion, these two barely compete for the same buyer, which is exactly why the choice is easy once you're honest about how you listen. If your audio life happens at a desk or in front of a console — and you want a boom mic, zero latency, no charging, and a headset you can repair — I'd buy the audio Technica ATH-G1. If your audio life happens on the move, on a phone, in a noisy office or a plane, I'd buy the EarFun Air Pro 4 for the ANC, the codec support, and the 52-hour case. Neither is a compromise pick; they're just built for different rooms. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your setup, because that's the number that should break a tie.
what is aptx adaptive headphones
aptX Adaptive is a Qualcomm Bluetooth audio codec that dynamically adjusts bitrate and latency depending on what you're doing — higher quality for music, lower latency for video and gaming. It sits between standard aptX and the lossless tier. Of the two products here, only the EarFun Air Pro 4 is a wireless Bluetooth earbud with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and aptX-family codec support, including aptX Lossless; the audio Technica ATH-G1 is wired and uses no Bluetooth codec at all.
For competitive gaming and voice chat, yes, in my opinion. The ATH-G1 gives you a detachable boom mic, a 6.6-foot wired connection with inline volume and mute, and no Bluetooth latency to worry about. The Air Pro 4 quotes 50 ms of audio latency, which is fine for casual mobile play but looser than a cable. The trade-off is that the ATH-G1 has no ANC and no wireless freedom.
The EarFun Air Pro 4, without question — it's the only one of the two with active noise cancelling, and it's adaptive hybrid ANC rated up to 50 dB using QuietSmart 3.0. The audio Technica ATH-G1 is a closed-back over-ear design, so it blocks some sound passively through its sealed earcups, but it has no active noise cancelling system.
Yes. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint lets it pair with two devices at once, so a laptop and a phone can both stay connected, and six microphones with AI algorithms and Qualcomm cVc 8.0 are aimed at call clarity. For serious competitive play, though, its 50 ms latency is a step behind the ATH-G1's wired connection.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: BASN Bsinger PRO in-Ear vs Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, Mackie CR3.5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M20x: Studio Monitor, Audio-Technica ATH-M40x vs HIFIXAUDIO Kiwi Ears Halcyon