AirPods 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Which Earbuds Win in 2026?
AirPods 4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the mid-tier earbuds from the two biggest consumer tech brands. We compare ANC, fit, sound, and platform integration.
Two Mid-Tier Champions
Apple AirPods 4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro target the same buyer: someone who wants quality wireless earbuds without paying the flagship premium of AirPods Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5. Both launched in 2024 at around $199-229 and represent the best value earbuds from their respective ecosystems.
The platform divide is central to this comparison — both earbuds work across devices but deliver their best experience on their native platforms.
Design and Fit
AirPods 4: Open-ear design with no silicone tips. The redesigned body fits more ear shapes than AirPods 3 based on user feedback. Extremely lightweight at 4.3g per earbud. IP54 splash resistance. The open-ear design means no seal — external sound always enters naturally, which some users prefer for awareness and others find limits isolation.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: In-ear design with silicone tips (S/M/L). Blade design with angular aesthetic. IP57 rating — more water resistant than AirPods 4. 5.5g per earbud. The wingtip fin provides additional stability during exercise.
Winner: Depends on preference. Open-ear (AirPods 4) for all-day passive awareness without activating transparency mode. In-ear (Buds 3 Pro) for better passive isolation and more secure sport fit.
Active Noise Cancellation
AirPods 4 with ANC: Apple H2 chip ANC in the open-ear design. Without a physical seal from ear tips, ANC effectiveness is inherently limited — the open design allows low-frequency noise to enter physically. ANC reduces ambient noise noticeably but cannot match in-ear sealed designs.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: In-ear seal plus ANC delivers stronger combined passive + active noise reduction. In RTings testing, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro reduces more total noise across all frequencies than AirPods 4 ANC.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for total noise reduction. The in-ear seal advantage is fundamental physics.
Sound Quality
AirPods 4: Balanced tuning with slightly elevated bass. Spatial Audio with Personalized head tracking on Apple devices. Clean, pleasant sound signature suited for most music genres.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: 10mm woofer + 5.3mm tweeter two-way driver system. Samsung 360 Audio spatial processing. SSC Hi-Fi codec for Samsung Galaxy phones (hi-res wireless audio). Sound quality is technically superior with the two-driver design delivering better separation between bass and treble.
Winner: Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for audio quality. Two-way driver design and SSC codec (with Samsung Galaxy phones) produce better fidelity than AirPods 4 single driver.
Platform Integration
AirPods 4 with iPhone/Apple ecosystem:
- Instant pairing by opening the case near iPhone
- Seamless automatic switching between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
- Personalized Spatial Audio (head scan via Face ID)
- Conversation Awareness (lowers audio when you speak)
- Find My network location
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with Samsung Galaxy phones:
- Auto Switch between Samsung devices
- Samsung Galaxy AI features (Live Translate for calls)
- SSC Hi-Fi lossless audio codec
- Galaxy Wearable app with detailed EQ controls
- Bixby voice assistant integration
Both work on opposite platforms: AirPods 4 connect to Android via Bluetooth (losing most integration features). Galaxy Buds 3 Pro connect to iPhone via Bluetooth (losing Samsung-specific features). Neither delivers ecosystem features cross-platform.
Battery Life
| Model | Per charge | With case | Charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods 4 | 5 hours (ANC on) | 30 hours | Lightning/MagSafe |
| Galaxy Buds 3 Pro | 6 hours (ANC on) | 26 hours | Wireless |
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has 1 more hour per charge; AirPods 4 has more total case capacity.
Price
- AirPods 4 (with ANC): $179
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: $229
AirPods 4 is $50 cheaper. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro justifies the premium with better ANC, better sound quality, and higher water resistance (IP57 vs IP54).
Final Verdict
Buy AirPods 4 if: You use iPhone and value seamless Apple integration. You prefer open-ear fit for passive awareness. You want the lower price.
Buy Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if: You use a Samsung Galaxy phone for SSC Hi-Fi audio. You need stronger ANC. You exercise and want IP57 and wingtip stability.
For full earbuds rankings, see Best Earbuds 2026.
Questions Fréquemment Posées
Are AirPods 4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro better?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro delivers better ANC, better sound quality from the two-driver system, and higher IP57 water resistance at $50 more. AirPods 4 provides better Apple ecosystem integration, open-ear design for passive awareness, and lower price. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wins on technical specs; AirPods 4 wins for iPhone users who value ecosystem features.
Do AirPods 4 have good noise cancellation?
AirPods 4 ANC is effective for an open-ear design but limited by the lack of a physical ear seal. In-ear earbuds with silicone tips provide more total noise reduction by combining passive isolation with ANC. AirPods 4 ANC is noticeably better than no ANC but weaker than AirPods Pro 2 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in total noise blocking.
Can Galaxy Buds 3 Pro work with iPhone?
Yes. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro connects to iPhone via standard Bluetooth. Basic features (ANC, transparency, basic EQ, playback controls) work on iPhone. Samsung-specific features (SSC Hi-Fi audio codec, Auto Switch between Samsung devices, Galaxy AI Live Translate, advanced EQ in Galaxy Wearable app) are unavailable on iPhone.
Which earbuds are better for exercise, AirPods 4 or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is better for exercise with IP57 water resistance (vs AirPods 4 IP54), in-ear silicone tips that seal against sweat ingress, and optional wingtip fins for a more secure fit during high-intensity movement. AirPods 4 are suitable for light workouts but the open-ear design without tips can loosen during vigorous exercise for some users.
VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Équipe de recherche produit · VersusMatrix
L'équipe éditoriale de VersusMatrix évalue les produits en utilisant notre moteur de notation alimenté par IA, combiné à des recherches pratiques sur les spécifications, les avis des utilisateurs et les benchmarks d'experts. Notre objectif est de fournir des comparaisons objectives et basées sur des données pour aider les consommateurs à prendre des décisions d'achat plus intelligentes.