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AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: which should you buy?

Answer worked out Oct. 11, 2026. Prices and the answer are worked out again every few minutes.

The answer

AirPods Pro 3

BUY NOW

Buy now.

This is a strong enough price that waiting probably isn't worth it.

$199 at Amazon

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

BUY NOW

Buy now.

This is close to its 30-day low of $189.99 (Oct 9, 2026), so we'd buy now.

$189.99 at Amazon

Better purchase today: neither. Both read BUY NOW. Galaxy Buds 4 Pro costs $9.01 less today ($189.99 against $199), but that is not enough on its own to change the answer.

Better product: No clear winner. Pick by what each one is best for.

What reviewers say

ReportedThe outlets that reviewed both disagree (Engadget, SoundGuys, WIRED and What Hi-Fi?), so reviews do not break the tie.

Engadget: 90 out of 100 for AirPods Pro 3, 86 out of 100 for Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
SoundGuys: 7.8 out of 10 for AirPods Pro 3, 8 out of 10 for Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
WIRED: 9 out of 10 for AirPods Pro 3, 8 out of 10 for Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
What Hi-Fi?: 5 out of 5 for AirPods Pro 3, 4 out of 5 for Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

Reviewers on the AirPods Pro 3

Noise cancelling: praised by 11 outletsReported by 9to5Mac, CNET, Digital Trends, Engadget, Macworld, RTINGS, SoundGuys, The Verge, The Washington Post, Tom's Guide, WIRED
Battery life: mixed views by 13 outletsReported by CNET, Digital Trends, Engadget, Engadget, Macworld, Macworld, RTINGS, TechGearLab, The Verge, The Washington Post, Tom's Guide, WIRED, What Hi-Fi?
Comfort: mixed views by 8 outletsReported by 9to5Mac, Macworld, RTINGS, T3, TechGearLab, The Verge, The Washington Post, Tom's Guide
Connectivity: criticised by 3 outletsReported by RTINGS, SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi?
Controls: criticised by 4 outletsReported by Digital Trends, SoundGuys, TechRadar, WIRED
Ecosystem: mixed views by 12 outletsReported by 9to5Mac, DC Rainmaker, Digital Trends, Digital Trends, Engadget, RTINGS, SoundGuys, The Verge, Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide, WIRED, WIRED
Fit: mixed views by 11 outletsReported by 9to5Mac, CNET, DC Rainmaker, Digital Trends, Engadget, Macworld, SoundGuys, T3, The Verge, Tom's Guide, WIRED
Value for money: mixed views by 7 outletsReported by 9to5Mac, CNET, Macworld, Macworld, SoundGuys, TechRadar, The Verge

Reviewers on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

Noise cancelling: mixed views by 13 outletsReported by Android Authority, Android Central, Engadget, Engadget, Expert Reviews, Frandroid, MajorHiFi, Presse-citron, RTINGS, SamMobile, The Verge, Tom's Guide, WIRED
Battery life: mixed views by 7 outletsReported by Android Authority, Android Central, Frandroid, MajorHiFi, RTINGS, TechRadar, WIRED
Comfort: praised by 8 outletsReported by Absolute Geeks, Android Central, Expert Reviews, Frandroid, MajorHiFi, Presse-citron, RTINGS, WIRED
Controls: criticised by 4 outletsReported by Android Authority, Android Central, Presse-citron, WIRED
Design: praised by 6 outletsReported by Absolute Geeks, Android Authority, SamMobile, TechRadar, The Verge, WIRED
Ecosystem: mixed views by 18 outletsReported by Android Authority, Android Central, Android Central, Engadget, Engadget, Expert Reviews, Frandroid, MajorHiFi, Presse-citron, Presse-citron, RTINGS, SamMobile, SamMobile, SoundGuys, The Verge, The Verge, WIRED, WIRED
Fit: mixed views by 8 outletsReported by Android Central, Expert Reviews, Presse-citron, RTINGS, SoundGuys, TechRadar, The Verge, The Verge

A pick needs at least 2 independent outlets that published a separate scored review of each product on the same scale, all of them favouring the same one, and an average lead of at least 5 points out of 100. Outlets with one owner count once. Scores are the outlets' own; iDevice did not test these products for them.

Key differences

Still a tie on the makers' figures: the two read the same on water resistance and noise cancelling, and the two are close on battery life (8 vs 7 hrs). Pick on price, or on what each Guide says it is best for.

Battery life: close (8 vs 7 hrs)AirPods Pro 3: 8 hrs ReportedSourceGalaxy Buds 4 Pro: 7 hrs ConfirmedSource
Weight: 5.55g vs 5.1gAirPods Pro 3: 5.55g ConfirmedSourceGalaxy Buds 4 Pro: 5.1g ConfirmedSource

From each maker's own specifications. A point is listed only when both makers state a figure and the two differ; a point either maker does not state is left out, never guessed.

Who should buy which

Pick the AirPods Pro 3 for fitness and hearing health.Fitness: It tracks your heart rate and calories through a workout, and it is rated IP57. ConfirmedSourceHearing health: It can test your hearing, work as a hearing aid, boost a conversation and protect your ears from loud noise. ConfirmedSource
Pick the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for translation and calls.Translation: Galaxy AI translates live through the earbuds. ConfirmedSourceCalls: The microphone processing is tuned to keep your voice clear on a call. ConfirmedSource

From what each Guide names the product best for. Both Guides also name music. This does not rank the two.

Side by side

What is compared	AirPods Pro 3	Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
Best price today	$199 at AmazonPrice checked Oct. 11, 2026	$189.99 at AmazonPrice checked Oct. 11, 2026
Lowest in 90 days	$179Seen Oct. 5, 2026	$189.99Seen Oct. 9, 2026
Launch price	$249	$249.99
Works with	Our read Works with AirPods Pro 3: iPhone: Works. Android: Works.Source: Apple	Confirmed Works with Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: iPhone: Works. Android: Works.Source: Samsung
Timing	Our read No newer model is expected in the next 90 days.Source: iDevice Guide	Our read No newer model is expected in the next 90 days.Source: iDevice Guide
Price	Our read The lowest price checked in the last 90 days is $179 (Oct 5, 2026).Source: iDevice Guide	Our read The lowest price checked in the last 90 days is $189.99 (Oct 9, 2026).Source: iDevice Guide
What could change it	If a newer model is announced or reported inside 90 days, the answer becomes Wait.	If a newer model is announced or reported inside 90 days, the answer becomes Wait.

Make it personal: your phone and budget