Wireless earbud comparison 2026

AirPods Pro 3 raises the bar with a dedicated health chip and camera-fed visual AI. Galaxy Buds 4 Pro brings the same vision to Android with Galaxy AI integration. Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the Gemini-native option for deep Google Assistant integration.

Updated June 2026
AirPods 4
Available now
AirPods Pro 3
Available now
AirPods Ultra
Late 2027
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Available now
Galaxy Buds 4
Available now
Pixel Buds Pro 2
Available now
Pixel Buds 2a
Available now
Price$129 / $179 with ANC$249$299-$349 (est.)$249$179$229 (~$170 discounted)$129
AvailabilityAvailable nowAvailable nowLate 2027Available nowAvailable nowAvailable nowAvailable now
ChipH2H2H3 (expected)Samsung Exynos audio (dedicated)Samsung audio chipGoogle Tensor A1Google Tensor A1
Battery5 hrs / 4 hrs ANC onUp to 8 hrs ANC on / 30 hrs with caseTBD (H3 more efficient)7 hrs / 30 hrs case (ANC off) / 26 hrs case (ANC on)6 hrs / 21 hrs case (no ANC) / 18 hrs case (ANC on)8 hrs ANC on / 30 hrs with case7 hrs ANC on / 27 hrs with case
ANCNo / Yes (open-ear, ANC model only)Yes, class-leadingTBD (improvement expected with H3)Yes — Adaptive ANC 2.0Yes — basic ANCYes — 2x vs original Pixel Buds ProYes — Silent Seal 1.5 (lighter than Pro 2)
Spatial audioYes — personalized with head trackingYes, Personalized Spatial AudioYes, enhanced with environmental awarenessYes — 360 Audio spatialYes — 360 Audio spatialYes — with head trackingYes — without head tracking
Health sensorsNoneHeart rate, hearing healthTBD, heart rate expected to continueNoneNoneNoneNone
Visual AINoNoYes, Siri Visual IntelligenceNoNoNoNo
CameraNoNoneInfrared in both stems (not for photos)NoNoNoNo
LED indicatorNoN/AYes, lights when cameras activeNoNoNoNo
Gesture controlHead nod for Siri, double tap stemStem press (play/pause/skip), head nod for Siri, touch controlsNot confirmed (stem squeeze likely continues)Head nod to accept/decline calls (Samsung Galaxy only)Head nod to accept/decline calls (Samsung Galaxy only)Touch controls on earbud surfaceTouch controls on earbud surface
EcosystemiOS full / Android basic (no Siri or Adaptive Audio)iOS full / Android basiciPhone / Apple ecosystem (iOS 28+)Full features: Samsung Galaxy only / Bluetooth basic: all Android + iPhoneFull features: Samsung Galaxy only / Bluetooth basic: all Android + iPhoneiOS + Android — full features on bothiOS + Android — full features on both

Which one is right for you?

AirPods 4

$129 / $179 with ANC · Available now

5 hrs / 4 hrs ANC on battery · ANC: No / Yes (open-ear, ANC model only) · iOS full / Android basic (no Siri or Adaptive Audio)

AirPods Pro 3

$249 · Available now

Up to 8 hrs ANC on / 30 hrs with case battery · ANC: Yes, class-leading · iOS full / Android basic

AirPods Ultra

$299-$349 (est.) · Late 2027

TBD (H3 more efficient) battery · ANC: TBD (improvement expected with H3) · iPhone / Apple ecosystem (iOS 28+)

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

$249 · Available now

7 hrs / 30 hrs case (ANC off) / 26 hrs case (ANC on) battery · ANC: Yes — Adaptive ANC 2.0 · Full features: Samsung Galaxy only / Bluetooth basic: all Android + iPhone

Galaxy Buds 4

$179 · Available now

6 hrs / 21 hrs case (no ANC) / 18 hrs case (ANC on) battery · ANC: Yes — basic ANC · Full features: Samsung Galaxy only / Bluetooth basic: all Android + iPhone

Pixel Buds Pro 2

$229 (~$170 discounted) · Available now

8 hrs ANC on / 30 hrs with case battery · ANC: Yes — 2x vs original Pixel Buds Pro · iOS + Android — full features on both

Pixel Buds 2a

$129 · Available now

7 hrs ANC on / 27 hrs with case battery · ANC: Yes — Silent Seal 1.5 (lighter than Pro 2) · iOS + Android — full features on both

Updated June 2026 · Specs verified from manufacturer announcements and confirmed reports. Some specs are estimated or rumored — see individual roadmap pages for sourcing.