Mar 06, 2026
3 min read
Are the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro worth the upgrade over the previous-generation model, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?I put them through a series of challenges to find out.
I tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.the winner is clear
I know where my loyalty lies…
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As of last week, there is officially a new kid on the block.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are considered to be Samsung's "best earbuds".Is that true?Yes, I think it is.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro as the successor to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, making them the tech giant's new flagship headphones.But are they the best headphones on the market?And are they a worthy upgrade from the Buds 3 Pro?
To find out, I put the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro side by side.I compare everything from price to design to AI features to sound quality to answer the important question: Should I upgrade?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Specs
|Row 0 - cell 0 |Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
Price |$249 / £219 |$244 / £219 |
Connectivity |Bluetooth 6.1 |Bluetooth 5.4 |
ANC |Po |Po |
Durability |IP57 |IP57 |
Battery |7 hours (buds) / 30 hours (case) |7 hours (buds) / 30 hours (case) |
Lanja |2 oz |1.6 oz |
Dimensions |2 x 2 x 1.2 inches |2.3 x 1.9 x 1 inches |
Color |white, black, apricot |black, white |
Similar |iOS, Android |iOS, Android |
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Price
Although you won't be able to get the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro until March 11, you can pre-order them on Amazon: they cost $249 in the US and £219 in the UK. This price is the same as the AirPods Pro 3 and is pretty standard for flagship headphones.
The Sony WF-1000XM6 is $329 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen headphones are $299, so it's nice to have Apple and Samsung neck and neck.It makes it a little more interesting, you know?
If you were expecting two-year-old headphones to be heavily discounted, you'd be wrong.The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are still $244 on Amazon US and £219 on Amazon UK. Maybe that price will drop when the Buds 4 Pro are officially released, but for now the old model is still full price.Weird.
Winner: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Design
Samsung took a big leap with the Buds 3 Pro: the Sony-adjacent pebble design is gone, replaced by a sleek, hyper-modern "Blade" aesthetic.Even though this leap paid off, I still think the design is a bit... "out there".
Let me explain.I love it when brands find their own identity.It's a real mix and match of functionality and innovation. However, the 3 Pro isn't very functional. Yes, it's comfortable to wear, and the silicone ear tips help create a very important "seal" for ANC.
That said, the touch controls on the 3 Pro are pretty frustrating to use.Only a small part of the trunk responds to touch;if you miss it, you have to try again.This means that adjusting the volume is difficult - you have to slide your finger along the back of the body - and pressing and holding to adjust the ANC modes is tedious.
That's no problem at all on the 4 Pro.While I wish the 4 Pro looked less like an AirPods imitation and more like Samsung headphones, I can't lie - the 4 Pro is much more attractive and functional.The touch controls are a breeze and the design is very comfortable.
Winner: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.Features and connectivity
One of the best 'hidden' features on the Buds 4 Pro is the inclusion of Bluetooth 6.1, which is a big upgrade from the Buds 3 Pro's 5.4.Bluetooth 6.1 was released just last year, so Samsung confirmed the latest budget.If you keep these headphones for five years, even if your 2031 mobile phone is only compatible with Bluetooth 6.1 and above, you'll still be able to use your old buds.That's great – especially when the AirPods Pro 3 with Bluetooth 5.3 are far behind.
Yes, it's the same version found in AirPods Pro 2. This is a surprising decision from Apple.
But, hey, we're not talking about AirPods — we're talking about Galaxy Buds.And the 4 Pro gets a big thumbs up from me here.
4 Pro has several additional features: interpreter (direct translation), Bixby/Gemini integration, improved call quality, head gestures and remote camera shutter.
But it's all locked outside of the Galaxy ecosystem, so if you're using a non-Samsung Android phone, you might as well stick with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
Winner: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Sound quality
Don't get me wrong, the sound quality of the Buds 3 Pro is amazing.But the Buds 4 Pro are truly next level.
The Buds 3 Pro have fantastic clarity across the frequency range, with layered vocals and high-frequency sound effects.I listened to Gretel's 'Head of the Love Club' while testing the Buds 3 Pro, and the headphones handled heavy grunge guitar tracks and softer atmospheric tracks well.
Slayyyter's 'DANCE' seemed a bit too lively in the upper mids, sharpened as if it was beyond perfection.Similarly, Alice in Chains' 'Man in a Box' felt a bit dull, as if the bottom half hadn't yet reached the finish line.As if chained, pardon the pun.
However, Buds 4 Pro has that spark.It looks like it.It has a bass confidence that the Buds 3 Pro lacks.
Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box' had raucous basslines and twisted guitars perfectly layered with Kurt Cobain's vocals.No instrument was dominant, but no part of the song made me cry.This song sounded good.
Similarly, Muse's "Deep (True Version)" was stunning, with its piano arpeggio riff and delicate string section delicately combined to create a complex, expansive atmosphere.Every bit of Matt Bellamy's voice scratched my brain - it might just be the best.
I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, but the Buds 4 Pro are truly some of the best headphones I've ever had the pleasure of wearing earbuds in terms of sound.
Source: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: ANC
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro has perfect ANC.It's on par with the AirPods Pro 3 and I'd say better than the Sony VF-1000XM6.The only headphones better than the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen.
By comparison, the Buds 3 Pro has great ANC, but it's not as adept at blocking out high-frequency sounds.When I paired it with the 3 Pro and 4 Pro, I could hear myself typing and only the office conversation with the 3 Pro.
Tien Champion: Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: call quality
The call quality on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is excellent.During testing, my voice was crystal clear and the earbuds did an amazing job of drowning out ambient noise.No sirens or traffic noise could be heard on the other end.
Also, the call quality on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is suitable for everyday calls, and our reviewer reported that the people he spoke to could not tell the difference between the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and regular headphones.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Roj teeb
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have 7 hours (pupus), 30 hours (case) of battery life.I'm disappointed that the battery isn't better from model to model, especially the new Sony WF-1000XM6 which boasts 12 hours in the buds.
Even so, this battery life is still better than Bose's 6-hour/24-hour and Apple's 8-hour/24-hour ratings.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Verdict
If you have a pair of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and aren't really worried about better sound or more AI integration, I don't think upgrading to the Buds 4 Pro is really worth it.
However, if you're serious about audio, you'll be really impressed with the Buds 4 Pro.These premium headphones sound as good as the AirPods Pro 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM6.
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro wins this race, and I'll tell you this: if you're an Android user, you won't be disappointed. I'll be buying a pair ASAP.
|Page cell - column 0Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 ProSamsung Galaxy Bud 4 Pro|
Price and value (5) |3 |4 |
Design (15) |9 |13 |
The control (10) |5 |9 |
Sound quality (25) |19 |23 |
Noise cancellation (20) |15 |19 |
Call type (10) |9 |9 |
Connection (5) |4 |5 |
Battery life (10) |7 |7 |
Total score (100) |71 |89 |
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Erin Bashford is a senior writer at Tom's Guide, the reviews specialist.He holds a Masters in Broadcasting and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia.As a former barista, he knows his way around a coffee machine, and as a music lover, he's always dreamed of owning a multi-room home audio system.In your spare time, you can read it, do yoga, write, or watch the NYT Sports Today coverage.
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