When it comes to premium wireless earbuds in 2024, there's never been more choice - or more confusion. Today we'll compare Apple's AirPods 4 ($179.99) and Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($249.99), breaking down exactly what you get for your money and who should choose each option.
The wireless earbud market has come a long way since the first AirPods launched in 2016. Today's models pack impressive technology into tiny packages - from advanced noise cancellation to spatial audio (which creates a virtual surround sound experience) and smart features like automatic device switching.
Both these new models, released in early 2024, represent the latest advances. The AirPods 4 bring Apple's new H2 chip, while the Galaxy Buds3 Pro introduce Samsung's latest dual-driver design for improved sound quality.
The biggest factor in choosing between these earbuds isn't actually the earbuds themselves - it's which phones and devices you use. Here's why:
If you're using an iPhone, the AirPods 4 offer several exclusive features:
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro similarly excel with Samsung devices:
Here's where things get interesting. These earbuds take fundamentally different approaches to delivering sound:
The AirPods 4 use an open-ear design, meaning they sit in your ear without creating a seal. This offers:
The Buds3 Pro use a sealed design with replaceable tips:
For home theater use, the Buds3 Pro's sealed design and superior bass make them the better choice for movie watching. However, the AirPods 4's spatial audio implementation works exceptionally well with Apple TV+ content.
Both earbuds offer active noise cancellation (ANC), which uses microphones to detect and cancel out external sounds. However, their effectiveness differs:
Both sets of earbuds offer similar battery life, but with some key differences:
Both earbuds pack impressive technology, but focus on different areas:
At $179.99, the AirPods 4 are notably cheaper than the $249.99 Galaxy Buds3 Pro. However, value depends heavily on your usage:
After testing both extensively, here's my straightforward advice:
Remember, both are excellent products that represent the current state of the art in wireless earbuds. Your ecosystem and use case should guide your choice more than minor technical differences.
| Apple AirPods 4 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Price - Your starting investment | |
| $179.99 (ANC version) | $249.99 |
| Ecosystem Integration - Critical for features and convenience | |
| Seamless with Apple, limited Android support | Best with Samsung, good with all Android/iOS |
| Driver Setup - Determines sound quality potential | |
| Single driver design | Dual driver (10.5mm woofer + 6.1mm tweeter) |
| Battery Life with ANC - How long you can listen | |
| 5 hours buds, 30 hours with case | 6 hours buds, 24 hours with case |
| Water Resistance - Important for exercise or rain | |
| IPX4 (splash resistant) | IPX7 (full submersion ok) |
| Noise Cancellation - Affects usage in loud environments | |
| Good for open design, excels at voices | Better overall isolation, stronger ANC |
| Fit Style - Impacts comfort and sound isolation | |
| Open-ear (no tips, looser fit) | In-ear (multiple tip sizes, sealed) |
| Special Features - Extra value beyond basics | |
| Spatial Audio, Hey Siri, Find My | Real-time translation, 360 Audio, Gaming mode |
| Charging - Convenience factor | |
| MagSafe, Lightning, Qi wireless | USB-C, Qi wireless |
| Call Quality - Important for work use | |
| Excellent voice clarity, best-in-class | Good but can be muffled in wind |
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro provide better movie watching experience due to superior bass response and sealed ear design. However, the Apple AirPods 4 excel when watching Apple TV+ content due to their optimized spatial audio implementation.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer superior overall sound quality with deeper bass and clearer highs thanks to their dual-driver design. The AirPods 4 provide good sound but are limited by their open-ear design.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer 6 hours with ANC on, while AirPods 4 provide 5 hours. However, AirPods 4 offer longer total battery life with their case (30 hours vs 24 hours).
Both work with any Bluetooth device, but AirPods 4 work best with Apple devices, while Galaxy Buds3 Pro offer advanced features primarily with Samsung devices.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro provide stronger overall noise cancellation due to their sealed design. The AirPods 4 are surprisingly effective but can't match the isolation of the Buds3 Pro.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are better for exercise with IPX7 water resistance and a more secure fit. The AirPods 4 have lower IPX4 rating and may fall out during vigorous movement.
The AirPods 4 are generally more comfortable for extended wear due to their open design. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro can cause more ear fatigue but offer multiple tip sizes for better fit.
Yes, both AirPods 4 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro support Qi wireless charging, with AirPods 4 also supporting MagSafe.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro provide better overall movie experience with stronger bass and sound isolation. However, AirPods 4 work well if you prefer hearing your surroundings.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro feature a dedicated gaming mode for lower latency. The AirPods 4 perform well with Apple devices but don't have a specific gaming feature.
The AirPods 4 offer superior call quality with better voice isolation and wind noise reduction compared to the Galaxy Buds3 Pro.
The AirPods 4 provide better value at $179.99 for Apple users. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro justify their higher $249.99 price with better sound quality and more features, especially for Samsung users.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: cnet.com - apple.com - youtube.com - tomsguide.com - apple.com - support.apple.com - phonearena.com - apple.com - cdw.com - apple.com - apple.com - connection.com - bhphotovideo.com - head-fi.org - soundguys.com - yankodesign.com - youtube.com - techradar.com - phonearena.com - cdw.com - soundguys.com - youtube.com - samsung.com - cnet.com - samsung.com
