Apple AirPods 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Which Should You Buy?
Both ditched silicone tips and cost about the same. Which one wins comes down to your phone.
Wireless earbuds from Apple and Samsung have never looked so alike. Both the Apple AirPods 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 have dropped silicone tips — each bud sits in your ear openly, without sealing the ear canal. That is comfortable for long listening and lets you hear your surroundings, but it has consequences for sound and noise cancellation. Which should you buy? It mostly comes down to the phone in your pocket.
Design and fit
The AirPods 4 shape was modelled on thousands of ear scans, so for most people they sit securely and almost disappear. Samsung went the other way: the Galaxy Buds 3 got a new „blade“ stem with LED lighting and touch controls — pinch and swipe. Both are open-fit, so there is no pushing them in deeper if they feel loose.
Sound
Here the AirPods 4 pull ahead. Independent measurements give them an average score for open-fit earbuds, while the Galaxy Buds 3 land lower — bass is thin and highs can turn harsh. Neither rivals sealed earbuds with tips, but for everyday listening the AirPods 4 sound fuller and more balanced.
Noise cancellation (ANC)
Both offer active noise cancellation, which is rare in open-fit earbuds. In practice it is modest: the AirPods 4 (the pricier ANC model) noticeably cut mid and high frequencies such as café chatter, but low rumble slips through. The Galaxy Buds 3 ANC is weaker still. If noise cancellation is your priority, the sealed Pro versions are the better call.
Battery and connectivity
Runtime is similar — around 5–6 hours per charge and up to 24–30 hours with the case. The Galaxy Buds 3 have newer Bluetooth 5.4 and the Samsung Seamless codec, which streams higher-quality audio to Galaxy phones. The AirPods 4 use Bluetooth 5.3 and the standard SBC and AAC codecs. On water resistance Samsung leads (IP57 vs IP54).
Price and ecosystem
This is the crux. The AirPods 4 only reach their potential with an iPhone — automatic switching, Find My, spatial audio. On Android most of those features fall away. The Galaxy Buds 3, in turn, work best with Samsung Galaxy phones and Galaxy AI features. The base AirPods 4 without ANC cost less (~€130), while the ANC model and the Galaxy Buds 3 sit around €180, though both are often discounted.
Verdict
Got an iPhone? Choose the AirPods 4. Got a Samsung Galaxy? The Galaxy Buds 3 will fit more comfortably and sound better over the Seamless codec. If you want strong noise cancellation or punchy bass, open-fit earbuds are not for you — check the sealed Pro versions in the full wireless earbuds section.
