Samsung Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530) / Sony WH-1000XM4

The open design does not seal the ear canal, so it avoids a pressure feeling over long use but isolates less than tipped models. Fit varies with ear shape.

The VPU picks up the wearer’s voice through bone vibration to help separate speech in noisy calls.

ANC measures outside sound with microphones and produces an opposite wave to reduce steady hum; in an open design the effect is more limited than in sealed earbuds.

QN1 works with a new Bluetooth audio chip to sample ambient noise many times a second and cancel it with an inverse signal.

UHQ (24-bit/96 kHz) only works on certain Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or later (S24, S23, Z Fold6/Flip6, Z Fold5/Flip5, Tab S9 series); 24-bit Hi-Fi needs One UI 4.0 or later. Other devices use AAC or SBC.

Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) is Samsung’s own codec for higher-resolution wireless audio with Samsung devices. Auto Switch moves the connection between signed-in Galaxy devices automatically.

The SWIR infrared sensor detects whether an earbud is worn; the Hall sensor detects the case opening and closing.

These are Samsung’s internal tests with default settings paired to a Galaxy phone. Capacity is 48 mAh per earbud and 515 mAh in the case (typical).

IP57 means dust-protected and resistant to brief immersion; the charging case is not covered.

Some features are not available on non-Samsung devices.

LDAC enables up to 990 kbps with compatible Android phones; iPhones use AAC.

For example, you can switch between a phone and a laptop without re-pairing.

The 5-hours-from-10-minutes figure is given with the optional AC adaptor.

The wear sensor pauses music when the headphones come off. Speak-to-Chat stops music and lets in ambient sound when you start talking. DSEE Extreme tries to upscale compressed files in real time with AI.