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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
$140 $180 Save $40The Galaxy Buds 3 are Samsung’s all-around earbuds, equipped with all the features you’d expect in a pair of high-end earbuds — just not quite to the level of their more expensive siblings. You still get 11mm dynamic drivers, ANC, and impressive battery life, but you get it at less than 3/4 of the price.
Pros- Balanced, bass-friendly sound quality
- Secure and comfortable fit
- Easy to control
- Great companion app
Cons- Lackluster battery life
- ANC is just so-so
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Apple AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation)
Apple’s AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation) bring conversational awareness and decent, but not perfect, noise cancellation implementation in a less-expensive package than Apple’s AirPods Pro lineup. They’re rated for 30 hours of uptime with its topped-up USB-C charging case. And these pods can automatically drop the sound of whatever you’re listening to when you, or someone near you, starts talking.
Pros- Class-leading ANC
- Great sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Earbuds and case are IP54 rated
Cons- Weak battery life
- Volume has to be controlled by host device
- Customization is only for iOS users
Two of the top brands for truly wireless earbuds are Samsung and Apple. The former is best known for its Galaxy phones, which have been on shelves for several years now. The latter has a grand reputation for its AirPods lineup, a range of in-ear and open-air buds that plays best with other Apple hardware.
But if we had to choose between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 or Apple AirPods 4, which pair of active noise-canceling (ANC) earbuds would we go with? That’s not the most straightforward question to answer.
Both the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 are terrific TWS buds that fit well, sound nice, and last for several hours on a full charge, so what sets these two models apart? As they say, “the devil is in the details,” so today, we’re going to compare the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Apple AirPods 4 to help you decide which is best for your ears (or for the ears of someone you love).
Price, availability, and specifications
It’s a draw!
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are $180 and come in silver and white colorways. You can pick up a pair on Amazon, but they’re also available through major retailers like Best Buy and Target and directly through Samsung. The Galaxy Buds 3 can often be found on sale, too.
The Apple AirPods 4 are available with or without active noise-canceling. The model with ANC costs $180, while the version without ANC is $130. Only sold in white, you’ll be able to get the AirPods 4 through Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, and other retailers.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Apple AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation) Battery Life 5 hours, 6 hours (ANC off); 24 hours with case, 30 hours (ANC off) 4 hours, 5 hours (ANC off); 20 hours with case, 30 hours (ANC off) Noise Cancellation Yes Yes Microphones 3 mics + VPU (DNN + Personalized Beamforming) Dual beamforming IP rating IP57 (buds only) IP54 Charging Wireless, USB-C fast charging USB-C, Qi‑certified wireless charging Dimensions and weight (earbuds) 18.2mm x 20.3mm x 31.9mm 30.2mm x 18.3mm x 18.1mm (4.3 grams) Dimensions and weight (case) 58.9mm x 48.7mm x 24.4mm 50.1mm x 46.2mm x 21.2mm (34.7 grams) Price $180 $180 Spatial Audio 360 Audio Yes
Read Our Review
The Galaxy Buds 3 are one step below flagship, but *this* close to Samsung’s best
Near-premium features without breaking your budget
Read Our Review
Design, fit, and controls
Everything is starting to look the same
Samsung went with a radical redesign for the Galaxy Buds 3 lineup, ditching the in-ear concept for glossy stemmed buds and a tip-less design. The Buds 3 are lightweight and comfortable enough to wear for hours (as our reviewer did) and are IP57-rated to boot, making them great for hitting the gym or going for a trail run.
And while it’s been noted that Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds look a lot like Apple’s AirPods, colorful accents and integrated LEDs on each Galaxy 3 Bud are unique, cosmetic flourishes.
The Apple AirPods 4 look a lot like the AirPods 3 that came before them and are similar to the Galaxy Buds 3 in shape and size. Unlike the AirPods Pro, the AirPods 4 don’t use silicone ear tips, which means the earbuds won’t form as tight of a seal in your ear canal. This also means that the AirPods 4 are unable to deliver as strong of an ANC experience as you’d get with the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods 4 are about as light and cozy as the Galaxy Buds 3 for longer wear sessions, even if the tip-less design may feel a bit too loose for some folks. And both the AirPods 4 buds and charging case are IP54 rated.
Controls for both the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 are relegated to the stems of the earbuds. Simply grab and click once, twice, three times, or pinch and hold for a range of playback commands and other controls. It is worth mentioning that the AirPods 4 do not have dedicated volume controls (the host device adjusts volume).
Sound and call quality
Surprising performance from open-air buds
The Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 are midrange models from Samsung and Apple, though neither set of buds delivers “midrange” sound quality. With audio trending closer to “premium” or “flagship,” both the Buds 3 and AirPods 4 deliver a balanced signature out of the box, with a little extra kick in the bass department for warmth and belly.
In the case of the Galaxy Buds 3, we tested with the in-app equalizer set to Balanced and streamed music via Tidal (at maximum audio quality). From one genre to the next, the Buds 3 sounded fantastic and did an excellent job at building out a wide soundstage. At times, it seemed that vocals and sibilants (the crash of cymbals) would get a little muddied, but you’ll also be able to pop into the Wearables app to adjust the EQ.
As for the AirPods 4, Apple’s fourth generation buds have still got it! Another great choice for bass lovers, the AirPods 4 default signature does a great job with low and midrange frequencies. While some vocal details can take a hit, we thought the earbuds sounded bold and balanced. Those using an iPhone or iPad with the AirPods 4 can head into Accessibility settings to toggle between EQ presets, but there’s no dedicated app for sound customization.
Related
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 and 3 Pro come with an Apple-inspired design and a price tag to match
But these are more than just AirPods lookalikes
We thought the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 were solid options for taking phone calls. Our speaking voices and those of our test callers were clear and loud enough. At times, though, Samsung’s ANC system would distort human voices.
The Galaxy Buds 3 run on Bluetooth 5.4 and support the SBC, AAC, Samsung Seamless, and Bluetooth Low-Energy. The AirPods 4 use Bluetooth 5.3 and Apple’s H2 chip and support the SBC and AAC codecs. Both pairs of earbuds have a spatial audio feature, too.
Noise-canceling
Apple ANC is hard to beat
We’re starting to see more and more open-air buds loaded up with noise-canceling tech. While ANC works best with a deep, in-ear seal from an ear tip, earbud manufacturers like Samsung and Apple are getting better at integrating noise cancellation on all levels.
Both the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 do a solid job at canceling out unwanted noise, especially low-end tones like bus and plane engines, construction, and workplace chatter. While the occasional loud sound may find its way into your ears now and then, you’ll hear far fewer intrusions overall with ANC enabled. Overall, Apple’s ANC is a bit stronger than Samsung’s noise-canceling tech.
Related
The Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 are able to enter transparency mode, too, which amplifies the sounds of the world around you. The AirPods 4 also have an Adaptive Audio feature that automatically adjusts ANC and Transparency as you go, as well as a Conversation Awareness feature that pauses media and turns on transparency when you start talking.
Do keep in mind that ANC isn’t a never-ending miracle. Considering both sets of buds are working with open-air designs, both the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 will have a difficult time blocking out certain sounds, especially if the annoyance isn’t 100% constant.
Battery life
Neither is very good
Samsung claims that the Galaxy Buds 3 should last up to five hours with ANC enabled, with an extra 19 hours of playback provided by a fully charged case, which can be charged via USB-C or with a Qi wireless accessory.
Apple claims the AirPods 4 should last up to four hours on a full charge, with an extra 20 hours of playback provided by a topped-off case, which can be charged via USB-C or with Qi wireless accessories.
Even though ANC, volume level, and other settings are all responsible for depleting battery life, we wish the Galaxy Buds 3 and AirPods 4 would last another two or three hours on a full charge.
Software
Samsung wins this one
Many wireless earbuds and headphones are supported by a companion app that allows you to customize sound profiles, controls, noise-canceling, and other settings. Unfortunately, neither Samsung nor Apple is very open-armed when it comes to hardware support.
Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app is only available for Android devices, and the AirPods 4 offers limited customization through iOS only. This means there’s not even an app that Android device owners can download to customize a pair of AirPods. This is why a lot of Samsung device owners will stick with Samsung earbuds and vice versa for Apple gear.
In this case, though, we’re going to give a point to Samsung for consolidating its customization and settings dashboard into a self-contained, Android-friendly app. The app is also packed with great features, including a nine-band graphic EQ, ANC toggling, and head-tracking audio.
Which is right for you?
We’re going with Samsung
While the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are not as good as the AirPods 4 when it comes to noise-canceling, it’s hard to get any pair of open-air, ANC-equipped buds to sound good. And ANC aside, the Galaxy Buds 3 sound incredible and are supported by an intuitive, feature-packed companion app.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
We had high hopes for the Galaxy Buds 3 and Samsung didn’t disappoint. Expect a secure and comfortable earbud experience, complete with awesome sound quality, decent ANC, and a solid price.
The Apple AirPods 4 are a great option, too, but you’ll be best served by these earbuds if you own an iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device. We do wish the battery life was better and that there were more customization options, though.
Apple AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation)
The latest open-air buds from Apple are sold with and without ANC. The AirPods 4 are also very comfortable and are great for listening to music and taking calls. They also offer superior noise-canceling to the Galaxy Buds 3.
