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.
Perguntas Frequentes
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
Equipe de Pesquisa de Produtos · VersusMatrix
A equipe editorial da VersusMatrix avalia produtos usando nosso motor de pontuação impulsionado por IA, combinado com pesquisa prática em especificações, avaliações de usuários e benchmarks de especialistas. Nosso objetivo é fornecer comparações objetivas e baseadas em dados para ajudar os consumidores a tomar decisões de compra mais inteligentes.