Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 3: Top specs and features comparison

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro has launched in India at Rs 22,999 as the company’s flagship TWS offering this year. It boasts hi-fi sound quality with support for up to 40kHz frequency response, and brings a new design, improved ANC and more AI features. As is the case with every new Galaxy launch, the new earbuds will be compared to Apple’s latest Pro-level TWS. The AirPods Pro 3 is available in India at Rs 25,900 and packs the best Apple has to offer. Although ecosystem loyalty often dictates which earbuds you choose, you may still be curious how they stack up in terms of design, technology, features, and sound. The article will help you understand that and the likely differences they may bring about in real-world use. Let’s see:

Design and build

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

Samsung’s new buds come with flatter stems with a metallic outward surface. The rest of the earbuds are made of matte-finish plastic, and the eartips are silicone-based. You get 3 eartip sizes. The buds come in White, Black and Pink (online-exclusive) colours. You can see the buds through the squircle case thanks to a transparent bonnet.

The silicone tips should offer passive noise isolation and a snug fit. Only the earbuds are IP57 rated for dust and water resistance. Another distinct design element is the microphone grille sitting on the top edge of the brushed metallic stem.

The preceding Galaxy Buds 3 Pro supported SmartThings Find or Samsung Find. We don’t have information on whether the newcomer has this feature.

 AirPods Pro 3

Apple’s third-generation AirPods Pro retain the familiar stemmed form factor. They include five sizes of ear tips, including XXS, offering more options. Both earbuds and the MagSafe charging case carry an IP57 rating, while Samsung offers ingress protection for the buds only. The case also has an integrated speaker for Find My alerts. 

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which one should you buy?

Software features

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

Samsung’s earbuds are expected to integrate tightly with Android devices, especially Galaxy phones, through the Galaxy Wearable app and One UI enhancements. It supports Bixby, Google Gemini and Perplexity.

It sports gesture control additions such as head nods (Head Gestures) for calls and hands-free interactions with AI assistants built into Samsung devices.

You get fast pairing with compatible Galaxy phones, and easily access basic settings without the app, through the Buds shortcut menu or the Quick Settings Panel.

Customisable EQ modes, ANC level, transparency mechanism, touch controls and more controls are present in the Wearable app.  

AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 support Adaptive Audio, which automatically sets the required level of active noise cancellation and transparency mode in an environment based on contextual awareness. Other interesting features include Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Conversation Awareness and Voice Isolation. Unique to this generation are built-in heart rate sensors for fitness tracking and Live Translation when paired with recent iPhones. You also get deep integration with iOS and ecosystem services like Find My and quick pairing, and switching between Apple devices can enhance everyday utility. 

Audio

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro use a new two-way speaker system with a wider woofer and separate tweeter, increasing the effective vibration area by nearly 20% over the previous generation. This setup is designed to deliver deeper bass, clearer treble and a more balanced, full-range sound. The earbuds also support 24-bit / 96kHz Ultra High Quality audio on compatible Galaxy devices, enabling higher-resolution playback through Samsung’s Seamless Codec UHQ. It also boasts up to 40,000 frequency output.

It also supports 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel for spatial sound with head tracking on supported devices. Thanks to Auracast support, you can use it to listen to broadcast audio streams.

AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 use a custom high-excursion Apple driver paired with a high dynamic range amplifier. This combination is designed to deliver deep bass, clear mids and detailed highs with low distortion, even at higher volumes. Adaptive EQ automatically tunes the sound in real time based on the shape of your ear and how the earbuds fit, helping maintain balanced audio.

For immersive listening, the earbuds support Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. This creates a surround-like effect, placing sound around you rather than directly in your ears.

Features such as Personalised Volume adjust sound levels based on your listening habits and environment, while Loud Sound Reduction helps minimise exposure to sudden high-volume noise. A built-in vent system equalises pressure to improve comfort during long listening sessions.

Noise and calls

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro use enhanced Active Noise Cancellation to reduce low and mid-frequency sounds such as traffic and engine noise. The system adjusts in real time based on your surroundings. Adaptive ANC works with Adaptive EQ to fine-tune both noise reduction and sound output depending on fit and ear shape, helping maintain balanced audio while blocking distractions.

They also include Voice Detect, which lowers media volume and increases ambient sound when you start speaking, and Siren Detect, which raises outside sound levels if emergency sirens are detected. Together, these features allow the Buds 4 Pro to manage background noise dynamically while maintaining awareness of important sounds.

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro support Super Clear Call with super wideband voice transmission on compatible Galaxy devices. This increases call bandwidth compared to standard Bluetooth and is said to help your voice sound more natural and detailed.

They use multiple microphones and machine learning-based noise reduction to minimise background sounds during calls. Voice Detect can also lower media volume and increase ambient sound when you start speaking, making it easier to switch into conversations without removing the earbuds.

AirPods Pro 3

Active Noise Cancellation reduces unwanted background noise, while Transparency mode lets outside sound in when needed. Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency automatically depending on your surroundings. Conversation Awareness lowers media volume and enhances voices when you start speaking.

For calls and recordings, Voice Isolation reduces background noise so your voice sounds clearer. AirPods Pro 3 also support studio-quality audio recording for higher clarity in voice memos and compatible apps.

Apple’s Transparency Mode is the best we have heard. We will need to test how good Samsung’s offering is.

Battery life and charging

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro claim up to 6 hours of playback with ANC on from the earbuds alone, and up to 26 hours in total with the charging case. With ANC off, playtime is said to reach around 7 hours per charge and up to 30 hours with the case. Talk time is rated at up to 4.5 hours with ANC on and up to 5 hours with ANC off, with total case-assisted talk times of up to 20–22 hours.

For charging, the Buds 4 Pro case supports USB-C wired charging and Qi wireless charging (pad isnt in the box, though). The buds also support fast top-ups from the case, so short charging sessions provide meaningful additional listening time.

AirPods Pro 3

Apple officially states up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation, with additional hours from the charging case. With Spatial Audio and head tracking features enabled, this can vary slightly. The MagSafe charging case supports wireless (Qi/MagSafe) and USB-C charging and is said to offer a total of 24 hours.

On paper, AirPods Pro 3 buds offer longer playtime with ANC, but with the case, the Samsung buds claim to last longer.

Closing thought

So, Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 4 Pro bring a wide list of upgrades, from hi-fi audio support and enhanced ANC to competitive battery claims. The specifications suggest they are positioned strongly against Apple’s latest Pro earbuds. Now, how these features translate into day-to-day performance, comfort, and consistency will need detailed real-world testing. Stay tuned to Digit.in for that and similar comparisons.

Feature	Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro	Apple AirPods Pro 3
Price (India)	Rs 22,999	Rs 25,900
Design	Flat metallic stem, matte body, silicone tips (3 sizes), transparent case lid	Rounder stem design, silicone tips (5 sizes incl. XXS), solid-coloured MagSafe case
Weight (Buds | Case)	5.1g | 44.3g	5.55g | 43.99g
Water Resistance	IP57 (earbuds only)	IP57 (earbuds and case)
Audio Hardware	Two-way system: wider woofer + tweeter (≈20% larger vibration area)	Custom high-excursion driver + high dynamic range amplifier
Hi-Res Audio	24-bit / 96kHz UHQ (Samsung Seamless Codec UHQ), up to 40kHz frequency response	No 24-bit Bluetooth claim; tuned via Adaptive EQ
Spatial Audio	360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel, head tracking	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
Noise Cancellation	Enhanced, Adaptive ANC	Active Noise Cancellation + Adaptive Audio
Transparency / Awareness	Ambient Sound, Voice Detect, Siren Detect	Transparency Mode, Conversation Awareness, Loud Sound Reduction
Call Features	Super Clear Call (Super Wideband), AI noise reduction, multiple mics	Voice Isolation, studio-quality audio recording
AI & Ecosystem	Bixby, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Head Gestures, Galaxy integration	Siri, Live Translation (with iPhone), heart rate sensor, deep iOS integration
Battery (ANC On)	Up to 6 hrs (buds) | 26 hrs total with case	Up to 8 hrs (buds) | 24 hours with case
Battery (ANC Off)	Up to 7 hrs (buds) | 30 hrs total with case	Not officially separated; varies with features
Charging	USB-C wired charging+ Qi wireless	USB-C + Qi wireless + MagSafe
Connectivity	Bluetooth 6.1, SSC HiFi/UHQ, AAC, SBC, LC3, Auracast	Bluetooth, AAC, seamless Apple device switching

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