Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC vs Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3
Between the AirPods 4 with ANC and Galaxy Buds 3, the AirPods 4 with ANC comes out ahead in weight per bud, while the Galaxy Buds 3 wins on battery — buds and battery — with case. Overall, the AirPods 4 with ANC scores 58.3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 scores 64.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Galaxy Buds 3 edges ahead on the Mars Score (58.3 vs 64.5), but the 6.2-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the AirPods 4 with ANC if you care most about weight per bud. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight per bud.
Pick the Galaxy Buds 3 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. Its strongest claims are battery — buds, battery — with case, driver size, among others.
Both ship with comparable active noise cancellation, spatial audio, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Galaxy Buds 3 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC wins
- ▲Weight per bud — 0.40 g less. 4.3 vs 4.7.
Why Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 wins
- ▲Battery — buds — 20.00% more. 6 h vs 5 h.
- ▲Battery — with case — 20.00% more. 24 h vs 20 h.
- ▲Driver size — 10.00% more. 11 mm vs 10 mm.
- ▲Has Multipoint.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IP54).
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | open | open |
| Weight per bud | 4.3 glead | 4.7 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54 | IP57lead |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 10 mm | 11 mmlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 5 h | 6 hlead |
| Battery — with case | 20 h | 24 hlead |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods 4 with ANC | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.4lead |
| Codecs | AAC,SBC | SSC,AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | truelead |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods 4 with ANC or Galaxy Buds 3?+
Galaxy Buds 3 lasts 6h per charge vs 5h.
Do AirPods 4 with ANC or Galaxy Buds 3 support multipoint?+
Galaxy Buds 3 supports multipoint; AirPods 4 with ANC does not.
Which has ANC, AirPods 4 with ANC or Galaxy Buds 3?+
Both have active noise cancellation.
Spec-level deep dives
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