Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Which Earbuds Win?
Two flagship earbuds, two ecosystems and one price. Which pair to pick comes down to the phone in your pocket.
Both the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro arrived as their makers' flagship earbuds, both cost around 250 euros at launch, and both chase the same buyer: someone who wants top-tier noise cancelling, clean sound and tight phone integration. The catch is that each pair is built around its own ecosystem, so the right answer usually comes down to the phone in your pocket.
Design and fit
Apple kept the familiar stem-and-tip shape but reworked the fit, adding a new XXS ear tip for five sizes from XXS to L. The seal is tighter and the buds stay put during running or workouts. Samsung moved to a more compact in-ear design with a shorter stem, and at 5.1 g per bud they sit lightly in the ear. Both carry an IP57 rating, meaning they shrug off dust and survive a brief dunk in water.
Sound
This is where Samsung pushes ahead. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro use a two-way system — an 11 mm woofer paired with a 5.5 mm planar tweeter — for a bassier, more detailed sound that reviewers rate a touch above Apple's. Paired with a recent Galaxy phone, they also unlock Samsung's SSC codec for 24-bit/96 kHz hi-res playback. The AirPods Pro 3 run a single custom driver tuned for balance; the sound is cleaner and more spacious, if less punchy in the low end.
Noise cancelling
Apple takes this round. The AirPods Pro 3 cancel roughly twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and cut around 90% of outside sound — the best in-ear ANC currently available. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are no slouch, with Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 muting about 84% of ambient noise, but on a plane or a busy street Apple pulls further ahead.
Battery and connection
The AirPods Pro 3 last around 8 hours with ANC on — a big jump over the last generation — but the case holds a more modest 24 hours total. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro manage about 6 hours per charge yet stretch to roughly 26 hours with the case, so total stamina is close. Both use the latest Bluetooth, though hi-res streaming on the Samsung buds only works with Galaxy devices.
Extra features
The AirPods Pro 3 add a genuinely new trick: a built-in heart-rate sensor that tracks over 50 workout types, plus hearing-test tools. Both pairs now offer live translation, but only when paired with a supported phone. Samsung leans on head gestures — a nod or shake to answer or reject calls — and deep Galaxy integration.
Price and value
At Baltic shops the AirPods Pro 3 start from around 192 euros, while the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro can be found from about 158 euros, making Samsung the cheaper way in. See more wireless earbuds to compare current deals.
Verdict
If you carry an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 3 are the easy pick: unbeaten noise cancelling, seamless pairing and health tracking no rival matches. If your phone is a Galaxy — or any Android — the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro give you richer sound, hi-res audio and a lower price. Buy for your ecosystem, and neither will disappoint.
