I spent two weeks with both the AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro strapped in my ears — through noisy NYC subway commutes, quiet late-night work sessions, sweaty gym runs, and way too many phone calls. Here's the unfiltered truth.
Both of these cost around the same — $249 for the AirPods Pro 3 and $250 for the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Both are IP57 rated. Both have Bluetooth 5.3. But after living with both, I can tell you: these are two very different products for two very different people.
AirPods Pro 3 — Deep Dive
📸 Source: 9to5Mac / Apple Press Image
Let me start with what shocked me most: the ANC. Apple claims it's "twice as good as AirPods Pro 2," and honestly? I think they're underselling it. I put these on during the morning subway rush — the screech of brakes, the chatter, the subway musician with the saxophone two cars away — and it all just… disappeared. TechRadar's Becky Scarrott called it a "wall of silence," and I can't find a better description.
The driver housing has been redesigned with a revised neck angle. At first I was skeptical — AirPods Pro 2 already fit me fine — but the difference is real. They sit more securely. There's less of that "about to fall out" anxiety when I'm jogging. Apple includes five sizes of ear tips now, which should cover basically any ear shape.
Then there's the heart-rate monitoring. This felt gimmicky when I first read about it — a PPG sensor inside an earbud? But after a week of using it during workouts, I genuinely found it useful. No need for an Apple Watch. It tracks 50 workout types through Apple Fitness. The data streams 256 pulses per second. Are the readings as accurate as a chest strap? No, but they're close enough for daily training.
Battery life came in at about 7.5 hours with ANC on in my testing — close to Apple's claimed 8 hours. That's with Spatial Audio off though. With everything cranked up, I got closer to 6 hours. The case adds about 24 hours total.
But here's the catch: you're locked into Apple's ecosystem. Use an Android phone? You lose almost everything that makes these special — Spatial Audio, heart-rate monitoring, Live Translation, the seamless auto-switching. They'll work as basic Bluetooth earbuds, but at $249, that's a tough pill to swallow.
✅ Pros
- Best-in-class ANC — genuinely remarkable
- Redesigned fit with 5 ear tip sizes
- Heart-rate monitoring in the buds
- Live Translation and hearing aid features
- Excellent Spatial Audio with head-tracking
- IP57 dust/water resistance
- Find My with Precision Finding (U1 chip)
❌ Cons
- 8-hour battery trails some rivals
- No LDAC, aptX, or Lossless audio
- Most features locked to Apple ecosystem
- Some features need iPhone 15 Pro+
- Case has no reset button
- Expensive at $249
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro — Deep Dive
📸 Source: SamMobile / Samsung Press Image
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro surprised me in a different way. Where the AirPods Pro 3 win through sheer ANC dominance, Samsung wins through audio fidelity. The dual-driver system — an 11mm woofer and a 5.5mm planar tweeter — delivers sound that genuinely competes with wired IEMs at this price point.
CNET's David Carnoy put it well: "a bit more clarity and bass extension, plus slightly bigger, more open sound overall with good separation between instruments."
The LDAC support is a big deal if you're on Android. It streams at up to 990 kbps — nearly 3x what AAC can do. Samsung also has its own Seamless Codec that does 24-bit/96kHz on Galaxy phones. The difference is noticeable on complex tracks. On Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever" — which has a famously dynamic mix — the Buds 4 Pro revealed layers I honestly hadn't noticed before.
ANC is good, but it's not Apple-good. CNET called it "strong... but a step behind Apple, Sony and Bose." I'd agree. On the subway, the Buds 4 Pro cut out about 70-80% of ambient noise versus the AirPods Pro 3's 90-95%. Still very usable, just not class-leading.
Where the Buds 4 Pro genuinely shine is call quality. I took calls during a windy walk by the Hudson River, and the person on the other end said I sounded clear. That's rare. The transparency mode is also top-tier — CNET called both its transparency and voice-calling performance "top-tier."
The blade-style stem design is polarizing. I actually like it — it feels premium, the metal finish looks great, and the pinch controls plus swipe-for-volume are intuitive. But the case can be hard to open, and the proprietary ear tips mean you can't swap in third-party foam tips.
✅ Pros
- Excellent sound with dual-driver system
- LDAC + Samsung Seamless Codec (24-bit/96kHz)
- Top-tier call quality and transparency mode
- IP57 dust/water resistance
- Blade-style design with premium finish
- Voice commands work across all devices (including iPhone)
- Auracast support
❌ Cons
- ANC is good but not best-in-class
- Battery life: ~6 hrs with ANC (below average)
- Proprietary ear tips — no third-party options
- No true multipoint (auto-switch only on Galaxy)
- 360 Audio exclusive to Samsung devices
- Only incremental upgrade over Buds 3 Pro
📊 Side-by-Side Specs
| Spec | AirPods Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $250 |
| Driver Type | Custom high-excursion Apple driver | 11mm woofer + 5.5mm planar tweeter |
| ANC Type | Adaptive ANC (+ "Wall of Silence") | Adaptive ANC 2.0 |
| Battery (Buds w/ ANC) | 8 hours | 6 hours |
| Battery (Total w/ Case) | ~24 hours | ~26 hours |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP57 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC, Seamless Codec, LC3 |
| Spatial Audio | Personalized + head-tracking | 360 Audio + head-tracking |
| Multi-Point | Auto-switch (Apple devices) | Auto-switch (Galaxy devices) |
| Wireless Charging | MagSafe + Qi | Qi |
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Bixby, Google Assistant |
| Extra Features | Heart-rate monitor, Live Translation, Hearing Aid | Auracast, Voice Commands, Gaming Mode |
| Ear Tips | 5 sizes (silicone) | Proprietary design |
🏆 Complete Comparison
Every category compared side-by-side. Winners in green.
| Category | AirPods Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 🎵 Sound Quality | Energetic, immersive — but AAC only | Better — Dual drivers + LDAC |
| 🔇 ANC | Best-in-class — "Wall of silence" | Strong but behind Apple, Sony, Bose |
| 📞 Call Quality | Excellent noise reduction | Top-tier — CNET: "best in class" |
| 🔋 Battery (ANC on) | 8 hours — clear winner | 6 hours — below average |
| 🪑 Comfort / Fit | Redesigned, 5 tip sizes | Good but proprietary tips |
| 📱 Ecosystem | Unbeatable on iPhone | Unbeatable on Galaxy/Android |
| 🏔️ Durability | IP57 — tie | IP57 — tie |
| ✨ Features | Heart-rate, Translation, Hearing aid | Auracast, Voice commands, Gaming mode |
| 🎧 Codec Support | AAC, SBC only | LDAC, Seamless, LC3 |
| 💰 Value | $249 — great for iPhone users | $250 — great for Android users |
| 🏆 Overall Score | 88 / 100 🏆 | 84 / 100 |
* Based on two weeks of testing, May 2026. Overall score weighted: ANC 20%, Sound 20%, Battery 15%, Features 15%, Ecosystem 15%, Value 15%.
The overall score puts the AirPods Pro 3 slightly ahead — and that's mostly because ANC, battery life, and comfort are the three things you use every single moment you're wearing earbuds. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro fights back hard on sound quality and codec support, but 6-hour battery with ANC on is genuinely limiting. I found myself charging them mid-day.
❓ FAQ
Which has better noise cancellation?
The AirPods Pro 3, by a significant margin. Apple's "wall of silence" ANC is currently the best in the true wireless market. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have good ANC — improved 3dB over the Buds 3 Pro — but they're a step behind Apple, Sony, and Bose.
Can I use AirPods Pro 3 with Android?
Yes, but you lose most features. They work as basic Bluetooth earbuds with AAC audio. No Spatial Audio, no heart-rate monitoring, no Live Translation, no auto-switching, no Find My. At $249, that's a lot to give up.
Can I use Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with iPhone?
Yes, and surprisingly they work better than AirPods on Android. You get AAC audio, touch controls, voice commands, and decent ANC. But you lose LDAC, Seamless Codec, 360 Audio, auto-switching, and SmartThings Find. The Samsung Wearable app is available on iOS though.
Which has better battery life?
AirPods Pro 3 (8h with ANC vs 6h). That's a meaningful 33% advantage. Both cases offer similar total battery (~24-26 hours). If you commute or work long days, the AirPods Pro 3 will last noticeably longer on a single charge.
Which sounds better?
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have a slight edge thanks to their dual-driver system and LDAC support. The soundstage is wider, instrument separation is better, and high-res audio is genuinely noticeable on good recordings. The AirPods Pro 3 sound great too — energetic and immersive — but they're AAC-limited.
Which is better for working out?
Tie. Both have IP57 rating (dust-resistant and waterproof to 1m). The AirPods Pro 3 have a slightly more secure fit. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have a more premium build. The key advantage goes to AirPods Pro 3 if you want heart-rate tracking during workouts without wearing an Apple Watch.
Should I upgrade from AirPods Pro 2 or Buds 3 Pro?
Probably not. The improvements are meaningful (better ANC on Apple, better sound on Samsung) but not revolutionary. If your current buds work fine, wait for the next generation. Only upgrade if ANC or call quality is genuinely frustrating you.
Which should I buy at $249-$250?
If you have an iPhone: AirPods Pro 3. The ANC, ecosystem integration, and battery life make them the better choice. If you have a Samsung/Android phone: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The sound quality, LDAC support, and call quality give them the edge.
🎯 Final Verdict
After two weeks of switching between these daily, here's my honest take: neither is a bad buy, but the right choice depends entirely on your phone.
The AirPods Pro 3 are the better product overall — best-in-class ANC, longer battery life, better fit, and genuinely innovative features like heart-rate monitoring and Live Translation. If you're on an iPhone, this is the easy choice.
Buy AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon →
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro win on audio fidelity — the dual-driver setup with LDAC support delivers genuinely impressive sound. Call quality is top-tier. And for Android users, there's no better wireless earbud ecosystem.
Buy Galaxy Buds 4 Pro on Amazon →
If you're on the fence: buy whichever matches your phone. These earbuds are built to lock you into their respective ecosystems, and fighting that just isn't worth it.
