Apple AirPods 4 (Active Noise Cancellation) / Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Apple AirPods 4 (Active Noise Cancellation): AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation; USB-C case with speaker and wireless charging. The AirPods 4 without ANC and the AirPods Pro models are separate.

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Galaxy Buds3 Pro, model SM-R630; Silver and White colours. The open-type Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530) and the earlier Buds2 Pro are separate models.

SpecificationApple AirPods 4 (Active Noise Cancellation)Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Release year20242024
ChipApple H2 headphone chip Apple—
Noise controlActive Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness

Without ear tips the ear canal is not sealed like with silicone-tip earbuds, so ANC mainly reduces low-frequency rumble. Adaptive Audio blends ANC and Transparency based on surrounding sound.

Apple		Active noise cancellation; adaptive ANC; Ambient sound; Voice Detect; Siren Detect

Siren Detect turns on ambient sound when a siren is heard nearby. Adaptive ANC and some AI features need a Samsung phone.

Samsung
AudioCustom high-excursion Apple driver; high dynamic range amplifier; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; vent system for pressure equalisation Apple—
Microphones and sensorsDual beamforming microphones and inward-facing microphone; Voice Isolation; optical in-ear sensor; motion- and speech-detecting accelerometers; force sensor

The force sensor lets you press the stem to control playback, calls and listening modes.

Apple		6 microphones; accelerometer, gyro, hall, pressure, proximity, touch and voice pickup unit (VPU) sensors; Super Wide Band calls

The VPU picks up bone vibration while you talk to help separate your voice from background noise.

Samsung
Battery lifeEarbuds: 4 hours with ANC on, 5 hours with noise control off; with case: 20 hours with ANC on, 30 hours off; 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour of listening Apple—
Charging caseCharges via USB-C, an Apple Watch charger or a Qi-certified charger; speaker for Find My

No USB-C cable is included. The speaker helps locate a lost case by sound.

Apple		—
DurabilityIP54 dust, sweat and water resistance

Not intended for water sports; resistance can decrease over time.

Apple		—
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3

Works as standard Bluetooth earbuds with non-Apple devices; features such as automatic switching, Spatial Audio and Adaptive Audio need current Apple software.

Apple		—
Size and weightEarbud 30.2 × 18.3 × 18.1 mm, 4.3 g; case 46.2 × 50.1 × 21.2 mm, 34.7 g AppleEarbud 18.1 × 19.8 × 33.2 mm, 5.4 g; case 48.7 × 58.9 × 24.4 mm, 46.5 g Samsung
Bluetooth and codecs—Bluetooth 5.4; LE Audio; AAC, SBC, SSC and SSC UHQ (up to 24 bit/96 kHz)

SSC UHQ only works with the Galaxy S24, S23, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and Tab S9 series on One UI 6.1.1 or later; other phones use AAC or SBC.

Samsung
Profiles—A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP

PBP and TMAP are broadcast and telephony/media profiles that come with LE Audio.

Samsung
Driver—Two-way speaker: planar tweeter plus a separate woofer, dual amplifier

Separate drivers for treble and bass let each focus on its own frequency range.

Samsung
Audio features—360 Audio; Adaptive EQ

360 Audio uses head tracking to keep sound fixed in space; it needs One UI 3.1 or later.

Samsung
Battery—ANC on: 6 hours of music from the earbuds, 26 hours with the case; ANC off: 7 hours, 30 hours with the case; earbud 53 mAh, case 515 mAh

Talk time is 4.5 / 20 hours with ANC on and 5 / 22 hours with it off. The case supports wireless charging.

Samsung
Water resistance—IP57 (earbuds, up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes); the charging case is not water resistant

Earbuds should be dried before going back into the case when wet or sweaty.

Samsung