Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Vs. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: I Tried Both - Here's Who Should Upgrade

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds extracurricular their case.
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Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro debuted pinch a caller bud-and-stem design, and now, nan company's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro double down connected that creation pinch a much polished look. The leaf artistic is retired for elevated brushed nickel accents. In nan process, Samsung besides upgraded its sound quality, ANC performance, and comfort. 

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro tin return connected manufacture heavyweights, including nan AirPods Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM6, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2.

Also: I recovered existent AirPods Pro rivals successful these Samsung earbuds - and they're amended successful respective ways

But should you still see nan last-gen Galaxy Buds 3 Pro? And what's precisely caller pinch nan latest model? I wore them for 5 days to find out. Here's which brace of earbuds you should acquisition this season.

Specifications


Galaxy Buds 4 ProGalaxy Buds 3 Pro
Battery life7 hours (ANC off); 30 hours pinch charging case7 hours (ANC off); 30 hours pinch charging case
IP ratingIP57 (dust protected and waterproof; earbuds only)IP57 (dust protected and waterproof; earbuds only)
Additional featuresReal-Time Interpreter, Bluetooth Super Wideband; sound commands, Siren Detect; LE AudioReal-Time Interpreter, Bluetooth Super Wideband; sound commands, Head Gestures; LE Audio
Price$250$250

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if…

Pairing nan Galaxy Buds 4 Pro pinch nan Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You want nan champion sound from Samsung

Both Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Buds 3 Pro sound great, but nan caller loop has much character. The Buds 4 Pro's sound is much balanced than that of Bose and Sony, acknowledgment to a caller 10.5mm move driver and a 6.1mm planar magnetic tweeter pinch amended tuning this year.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

The Buds 4 Pro person little treble accent than their predecessors. You tin ever set nan EQ to fine-tune your experience, but nan Galaxy Buds 4 Pro present a wider, airier soundstage that's much enjoyable. They are nan best-sounding Samsung earbuds yet.

2. ANC capacity is important to you

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro delivered coagulated ANC performance, but they didn't comparison to nan flagship earbuds from Bose, Sony, and Apple. That's changed this year; nan caller Galaxy Buds 4 Pro connection improved ANC performance, which is connected par pinch nan AirPods Pro 3.

The fourth-gen Samsung earbuds dampen little frequencies, specified arsenic nan hum of automotive engines and aerial conditioners, very well. I besides loved its ambient mode, which sounds much earthy than past year's model.

3. You for illustration much premium-looking earbuds

Samsung's leaf creation pinch nan Galaxy Buds 3 Pro didn't past agelong (RIP… I liked it). The angular leaf creation was succeeded by a much mainstream-looking Buds 4 Pro. You get a level stem pinch a polished decorativeness and easier-to-use controls. These look much premium and prestigious than their predecessors.

Also: Bose conscionable gave maine a compelling logic to put my AirPods Pro distant for good

I loved Galaxy Buds 3 Pro's half-transparent case, and that creation constituent is still coming connected nan Buds 4 Pro, albeit successful a caller shape. The caller Samsung earbuds are much pocketable, acknowledgment to a smaller case, but they'll some fresh your jeans' penny pocket.

4. You want nan latest features

Both Samsung earbuds person a akin characteristic set, including spatial audio and caput gestures. However, if you person a One UI 8.5-running Galaxy phone, you tin return advantage of a fewer caller features connected nan Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. For instance, you get Bluetooth 6.1 support (versus Bluetooth 5.4 connected Buds 3 Pro), Seamless codec support pinch 24-bit/96kHz audio (on compatible Galaxy phones), and awesome sound simplification during calls.

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if…

Galaxy Buds 3 Pro successful White
Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You for illustration an unorthodox look

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro weren't for everybody, acknowledgment to their LED-equipped creation and crisp edges. But I'm judge it appeals to immoderate consumers. If you're 1 of them and want a brace of Samsung earbuds pinch a gamer vibe, nan Buds 3 Pro are for you.

2. You tin find them connected sale

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro costs $249. While they undercut nan Bose QC Ultra Earbuds 2 and Sony XM6 earbuds, they aren't cheap. If you want a much affordable brace of flagship earbuds, support an oculus retired for deals connected nan last-gen Buds 3 Pro. They're still a bully woody if you tin find them astatine astir $180.

Writer's choice

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro mightiness look for illustration an iterative upgrade, but for me, they've been a important measurement up from nan past procreation of Samsung earbuds. They fresh maine better, and I for illustration nan polished metallic look to nan all-plastic, crisp angles of nan Buds 3 Pro. The fourth-gen earbuds are besides easier to power and connection important betterment successful sound calls; brace this pinch their exceptional sound and ANC performance, and you person a winner.

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