Last Updated: April 13, 2022

Travelpro Maxlite 3 vs 4 – What Is The Difference?

PRODUCT COMPARISON

Maxlite 3

  • 21 inch Spinner: 6.5 lbs
  • 22 inch Spinner: 6.3 lbs
  • 25 inch Spinner: 7.4 lbs
  • 26 inch Spinner: 7.6 lbs
  • 29 inch Spinner: 9.0 lbs
  • Carry On Spinner: 7.0 lbs
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Maxlite 4

  • 21 inch Spinner: 5.9 lbs
  • 22 inch Spinner: 6.0 lbs
  • 25 inch Spinner: 7.8 lbs
  • 26 inch Spinner: 7.6 lbs
  • 29 inch Spinner: 8.6 lbs
  • Carry On Spinner: 5.7 lbs
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Travelpro has been producing super affordable and lightweight luggage for years. And don’t forget they were the ones that invented the rolling luggage we all know and love.

Every few years they update their popular Maxlite series adding a few features and making the luggage even lighter.

In this post, I am going to compare the Maxlite 3 vs 4 to show you what the major feature changes are and how the weights and sizes of the various options in the range compare. And if you want the even newer version, you can head straight to my Maxlite 5 review, hot off the press.

Let’s jump right into it…

What's New With The Maxlite 4?

The big question with a new luggage series is always “what’s the main differences?”.

The Maxlite 4 series brings a couple of things to the table. The most important of which is weight…

The Maxlite 4 Lighter Than Ever

Always an important part of travel luggage – weight. You can check the weight comparison above.

We all have luggage weight restrictions from airlines and sometimes they are hard to meet. And if your luggage is heavy to start with, it makes it even worse.

So, the Travelpro team has aimed to make this series lighter than ever. And give or take one of the models, that seems to be the case (in fact, I am wondering if the weight increase on the 25 inches isn’t a typo on their website!).

Most of the new models are about half a pound lighter. So they must have made some significant changes to get that much weight loss!

Here is the breakdown of the older Maxlite 3 vs 4 (at least all the ones I could find – given the Maxlite 3 is not sold so much anymore).

Easier To Grab Bottom Handle

TravelPro Maxlite 4 - Bottom Handle

When you stow your luggage in the overhead bins, often it is hard to grab because the top handle is at the other end.

Travelpro has always had a bottom handle, but when it is not easy to grab it might as well not be there. So, this time, they made a handle that is always there for you.

More Stylish Exterior

travelpro maxlite 4 series

Things start to look old with time. Not only because they wear out, but also because fashion changes.

So, the Travelpro guys have updated the Maxlite series with a few subtle design changes that make the luggage look more modern and up to date.

Maxlite 4 Hardside Cases

One of the “must-have” features all hard suitcases have these days (including the Delsey and Samsonites) is a TSA-approved lock.

A New TSA Compatible Integrate Lock – Hardside ONLY

We all know what a pain it is to get inspected by the TSA at the airport.

Even worse is when you get your luggage at the carousel only to find they have cut your lock just to get inside.

So, having TSA compatible locks is a must these days and the Travelpro Maxlite Hardside series has them built right in!

The rest of the features on the Travelpro Maxlite Hardsides are pretty similar, only with hardsides you don’t get external pockets, so you have to put everything inside.

But, you do get way more protection, with the material being super-durable, as well as pretty darn light.

You just have to decide which kind of case you prefer :>

The Standard Maxlite Features

Ignoring any weight and feature differences, the Travelpro Maxlite series is a great mid-level set of luggage for anyone not wanting to fork out a fortune on a Samsonite.

They provide a tonne of great features on both models including:

A Flexible Packing System

Travelpro Maxlite Interior

The Travelpro Maxlite series is designed to help you pack your things easily and flexibly.

The main compartment has a full-length zipper so you can completely open the lid and pack with ease. There are also two compression straps to help secure your luggage in the bottom and/or compress it to give you more space.

On the inner side is a zippered flap for you to store those small and less findable things like jewelry, cables, or other valuables.

And the top flap has space for those more wrinkle-prone items so you can keep those safe on the top.

Quality Spinner or Roller Wheels

The Travelpro team knows that your wheels have to last, so they have built some quality, lightweight and quiet wheels that are going to last.

They rotate 360 degrees on the spinner models allowing you to easily move around and change direction. You can also tip those and use them on two wheels, which I like to do when the going gets tough (gravel, cobbles, etc). Another reason to love the spinners!

Enough Handles to Suit Every Situation

Travelpro Maxlite Handles

You never know how your luggage is going to come off the carousel, and when you insert it into the overhead bins, sometimes you forget to leave the handle facing out!

Travelpro Maxlites cases all come with both a top and bottom handle to solve this problem. They also have a side handle, so you can lift the case more easily on stairs.

And of course, no modern suitcase is complete without a telescopic handle on the topic. This one comes out to two lengths to suit tall and less tall (aka short) people like me :>

Other Handy Features

Of course, that is not all that comes with this suitcase. There are also a bunch of other handy features worth a mention.

First, there are the corner and back protectors to help keep your case looking like new for longer.

On top of that, there is a luggage id tag on the back that is out of the way and easy to use.

There is also a one-inch expander zipper on the top of the case to give you more room in case you have over-packed.

And last but not least is the front pocket for throwing your last-minute items, documents, or magazines.

Should You Buy The Maxlite 3 or 4

travelpro maxlite 3 vs maxlite 4

The simple answer here is that it comes down to price.

With the only big difference between them being the half-pound or so of weight, that is not a big enough difference to pay more.

The Maxlite 4 is a newer model and will generally cost you a little more.

However, I just looked on Amazon, and most were all super-discounted. Some even way less than Maxlite 3’s you can find on Amazon or other online stores.

So, check the prices on Amazon for both the Maxlite 3 and the Maxlite 4 in the models you are looking at and see how they compare.