Samsung Galaxy Buds4 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds3: What’s actually new?

Samsung’s shift to an open-ear, stem-style earbud design with the Galaxy Buds3 marked a big departure from earlier Galaxy Buds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 follow the same formula but aim to improve it with a redesigned stem, new Galaxy AI features, and a more convenient charging case. Both earbuds target listeners who prefer an open fit over the deeper insertion of sealed in-ear models. Because they share the same core design philosophy, the experience with both models largely comes down to how well the earbuds fit your ears. In my testing, that factor affects nearly everything, from comfort to ANC performance and even sound quality. Here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 vs the Samsung Galaxy Buds3.

What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds3?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 refine the design introduced with the Galaxy Buds3 rather than reinventing it. Both sets of earbuds use an unsealed, AirPods-style shape with a stem that rests between the tragus and antitragus, relying on your ear’s geometry to stay in place. There are no ear tips, fins, or additional anchors, so the fit varies dramatically from person to person. In my experience, both earbuds can become unstable over time as skin oils or movement shift their position.

Samsung updates the stem on the Galaxy Buds4 with a flat-faced design and a brushed-metal finish, which feels more premium and makes the engraved pinch zone easier to find. Controls work similarly on both models: you pinch the stem to play, pause, skip tracks, or toggle ANC. I found the gesture system intuitive once I got used to it, though applying enough pressure to register a pinch can sometimes shift the earbuds slightly.

The charging case is another area where the Buds4 improve usability. Samsung replaces the Buds3’s vertical cradle with a flat, transparent-lid clamshell design that’s easier to open and drop the earbuds into. However, as before, the lid picks up fingerprints and scratches easily. Durability also changes slightly between the two: the Buds3 carry an IP57 rating, while the Buds4 step down to IP54 for sweat and splash resistance.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 have more features?

Both earbuds integrate tightly with Samsung’s ecosystem through the Galaxy Wearable app. Through it, I can access ANC controls, EQ presets, firmware updates, and various AI features. The Buds4 include all the same core features as the Buds4 Pro, including adaptive noise control, Find My earbuds support, and 360 audio recording directly from the earbuds. There’s also a custom 9-band equalizer and advanced sound quality options. These include ultra-high-quality (UHQ) audio and super-wideband speech. However, both are limited to recent Samsung devices.

The Galaxy Buds4 add a few new tricks. Head gesture controls let you nod to answer calls or shake your head to decline them, and these gestures interact with notifications or an AI assistant. Voice assistant support expands as well, with hotword activation available for Bixby, Google Gemini, and Bixby powered by Perplexity.

The Galaxy Buds3 support AI features, such as live translation and interpretation when paired with a compatible Samsung phone. They also support multipoint connectivity, allowing switching between devices easier than the Buds4, which require the Samsung Wear app installed on each device to manage switching.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 connect?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 use Bluetooth 6.1 and support the SBC and AAC codecs. Samsung phone owners can also access the Samsung Seamless Codec when using a compatible device running One UI 4.0 or later, enabling near-lossless audio within the Galaxy ecosystem.

The Galaxy Buds3 connect using Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec. Like the Buds4, the high-quality codec is only available on newer Samsung phones. In practice, I didn’t notice any signal issues in daily use, and neither pair presented noticeable latency when paired with a Galaxy phone. Both earbuds support Auracast broadcasting.

Is battery life better on the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3?

Battery life is identical between these two models. In our standardized battery test, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 lasted 4 hours and 56 minutes with ANC enabled. That result aligns almost exactly with Samsung’s claim of around five hours of playback with ANC.

The Galaxy Buds3 produced the same 4 hours and 56 minutes of playback with ANC enabled in testing. Turning ANC off extends their runtime to about 6 hours and 20 minutes. In practice, I find both earbuds adequate for commuting or gym sessions, but they may feel limiting during long travel days without frequent charging from the case. Both earbuds support wireless charging.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 block noise better?

Because both earbuds use an unsealed design, passive isolation is minimal. Without ear tips creating a seal, ANC has very little physical isolation to work with. As a result, neither model performs particularly well compared with sealed ANC earbuds.

In my testing, the Galaxy Buds4 can deliver respectable ANC performance for an unsealed design when the fit is stable. However, if the earbuds shift even slightly, the ear detection sensor may interpret that as the earbud leaving your ear and disable ANC in one channel.

The Galaxy Buds3 show similar behavior. When positioned well, the noise attenuation is respectable but inconsistent. Movement, sweat, or small fit changes can cause ANC to drop out or become uneven between ears.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 sound better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3?

Overall, both earbuds can deliver good sound quality when positioned correctly, but their unsealed design makes maintaining that consistency difficult. In my listening tests with the Galaxy Buds4, bass strength and bass depth varied significantly depending on fit. Without a stable position, sub-bass is significantly subdued, leaving kick drums and bass guitars sounding thin. The earbuds also exhibit elevated treble strength in the upper midrange and lower treble, making sibilants and fricatives sound bright or occasionally shrill.

The Galaxy Buds3 show a similar pattern. With an ideal fit, the earbuds deliver a respectable, consumer-friendly sound. However, when the fit loosens even slightly, bass output falls off, and the sound becomes noticeably thinner with stronger treble emphasis.

Objective Measurements

Frequency response measurements reflect this instability. In both cases, bass rolls off quickly when the earbuds shift position, while the upper frequencies become more prominent. This is particularly problematic for the Galaxy Buds4 between 1.5kHz and 8.5kHz. Here, the earbuds significantly over-emphasize the upper-midrange and treble. This can make songs sound grating over long periods. As a result, maintaining a consistent fit is critical to achieving the intended sound profile.

How would most people rate the sound from 1 to 5?

Looking at Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS), the Galaxy Buds4 achieve an overall score of 3.8, with Timbre at 4.2, Distortion at 3.4, and Immersiveness at 2.0 under typical fit conditions. This is a reasonably good score for unsealed earbuds.

The Galaxy Buds3 reach 4.5 overall in ideal conditions, but drop to 2.8 when the earbuds become dislodged. While this result will vary depending on your ear anatomy, that dramatic swing highlights how dependent both earbuds are on maintaining a stable fit.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 have a better microphone?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 perform very well in call quality tests. In my listening, voices remain clear even in noisy environments, and outside noise rarely overpowers speech. Support for Super-Wideband speech also helps calls sound more natural when conditions allow.

The Galaxy Buds3 also deliver strong microphone quality. However, they rely more heavily on Samsung’s app or compatible phones to manage noise rejection. While voice clarity remains good, background noise reduction is less aggressive compared to the Buds4.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 microphone demo (Windy conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds3: Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 retail for $179, the same price Samsung introduced with the Galaxy Buds3. Both earbuds are widely available through the company’s website and major electronics retailers.

At this price, the Buds4 directly compete with other open-ear buds like the AirPods 4, while also sitting below Samsung’s own Galaxy Buds4 Pro at $249.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 price history

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 price history

Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3?

Between the two, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 are the better choice. They refine the design with a more usable stem, improved case, better microphone performance, and additional Galaxy AI features. If you’re committed to an unsealed earbud and already use a Samsung phone, the Buds4 are the most polished version of this design so far.

That said, both earbuds share the same fundamental drawback: the unsealed fit. In my experience, if the earbuds don’t sit securely in your ears, sound quality, ANC performance, and overall usability can suffer dramatically. If you already know AirPods-style earbuds fit you well, the Galaxy Buds4 are worth considering. If not, a sealed design will likely deliver a more consistent listening experience.