Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Quick take: The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro costs $30 less.
Which one to buy
This is a generational step, not a rival, and on paper the two are nearly the same: similar rated battery, IP57, wireless charging, SSC UHQ on Galaxy phones, and no true multipoint on either. The Buds 4 Pro adds LC3 and Bluetooth 6.1, an 11mm woofer instead of 10.5mm, and saves 0.3g per bud. Neither escapes the Galaxy lock, so on an iPhone or a Pixel, both are half the product.
What owners say changed is in the details. The Buds 4 Pro's ANC gets rated alongside the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony's WF-1000XM6, where Buds3 Pro owners put theirs just behind Sony. The buds are smaller, and six-month owners call them comfortable for four- or five-hour sessions, while some Buds3 Pro owners struggle with shallow tips that weaken the seal. The blade controls now take swipes for volume. The Buds3 Pro's rocky launch, with torn ear tips, some buds not charging, and overnight drain, is part of why owners welcomed the Buds 4 Pro as a fix.
The Buds 4 Pro has its own new problems. Its bone-conduction voice pickup leaves you muffled on calls if the seal is slightly off, there's a faint static hum with ANC on in silence, and at roughly six months on the market there's no long-term battery data yet. Owners coming from the Buds3 Pro describe the upgrade as a refinement, not a leap.
So it's really a price question. $219 against $249 is a $30 gap, and Buds3 Pro street prices often fall well below that. On a Galaxy phone, the Buds 4 Pro's better ANC and fit are what the $30 buys. If the older model turns up deeply discounted, it still delivers the same codec and the same ruggedness.
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Worth it if you can find it well below the Buds 4 Pro's price and mainly want Samsung's hi-res codec, IP57 and pinch controls without paying for this year's ANC.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Best if you're buying new on a Galaxy phone at close to the same price. You get noticeably stronger ANC, a smaller and more comfortable fit, and a generation that hasn't had the Buds3 Pro's launch problems.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$219 | ~$249 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | Adaptive ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 6 hrs | 6 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 26 hrs | 26 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 1 hr | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, SSC UHQ | SBC, AAC, SSC UHQ, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 10.5 mm | 11 mm |
| Weight | 5.4 g | 5.1 g |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP57 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
- ✓Dual 10.5mm woofer plus planar tweeter architecture
- ✓24-bit SSC UHQ hi-res on Samsung phones
- ✓Rugged IP57 tops most flagship rivals
- ✓Blade pinch controls beat finicky touch surfaces
- ✓26-hour total battery with wireless charging
- ✓Street prices run well under the $250 list
- ✗Best features locked inside the Galaxy ecosystem
- ✗Plain AAC on a Pixel, no iPhone app at all
- ✗No true multipoint, only Samsung auto-switching
- ✗Middling 6-hour ANC battery
- ✗AirPods-style stem redesign annoyed returning owners
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
- ✓Dual-driver sound rivals AirPods Pro 3 and Sony XM6
- ✓Reviewers call comfort and mic quality best-in-class
- ✓IP57 dust and submersion rating
- ✓Bluetooth 6.1 with Auracast and LE Audio
- ✓24-bit/96kHz SSC UHQ hi-res on Galaxy devices
- ✓Premium metal-look redesign fixes Buds 3 Pro cheapness
- ✓Wireless charging case
- ✗Hi-res, 360 Audio, and AI features locked to Samsung phones
- ✗No true multipoint — Auto Switch is Samsung-account only
- ✗Proprietary ear tips block third-party replacements
- ✗Fit complaints carried over from the Buds 3 Pro
- ✗Samsung doesn't publish a quick-charge claim
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: common questions
Should I upgrade from the Buds3 Pro to the Buds 4 Pro?▾
Owners who made the jump call it a refinement, not a leap. You get better ANC, smaller buds and swipe volume, but IP rating and battery class stay about the same, and the codec list only adds LC3. If your Buds3 Pro charge evenly and fit well, the upgrade case is weak.
Is the Buds 4 Pro's ANC really better?▾
Owners and testers put it level with the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony's WF-1000XM6, while Buds3 Pro owners place theirs just behind Sony. It's a step up, not a different category.
Does the Buds 4 Pro add true multipoint over the Buds3 Pro?▾
No. Both rely on Samsung's Auto Switch between devices signed into your Samsung account. A non-Samsung work laptop still means reconnecting by hand on either generation.