Device Diff

I have AirPods 4 and I'm looking at the Galaxy Buds4 Pro

Only the differences are shown. 0 specs stay the same.

+2you gain

−0you give up

AirPods 4 came out in September 2024. Galaxy Buds4 Pro came out in March 2026, almost 2 years later.

Note on AirPods 4: Apple lists no lossless audio for this model. Live Translation with AirPods needs AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation or later.

Note on Galaxy Buds4 Pro: Announced February 25, 2026; on sale March 11, 2026. A footnote in the same release says advanced settings need Android 10+, which conflicts with the Android 12 row.

Noise control

+ Noise cancellation

Hear your surroundings

Design & durability

4.3 g → 5.1 g

Price check

Galaxy Buds4 Pro launched at $249

Used on eBayApple Trade In and recycling

All 13 differences

Phone & featuresPriceNoise controlAudioBatteryDesign & durability
Phone & features3 changes

  • Works with your phone

    Works best with iPhone: AirPods features need an Apple device›Android: Android 12 or higher with more than 1.5GB of memory. Some features may not be available on non-Samsung devices. iPhone: Bluetooth onlyDifferent

    AirPods features need an Apple device. Samsung US support: Galaxy Buds connect to iPhone 5 or later with iOS 9+ by Bluetooth; iPad and iPod touch are not supported. Only Buds+ and Buds Live had the Galaxy Buds iOS app (iPhone 7 or later, iOS 10+).

    What does this mean?

    Which phone each works with. AirPods features need an Apple device; Galaxy Buds work with Android phones and connect to an iPhone by Bluetooth only.

    Both play music and take calls over Bluetooth, but most of what sets each apart needs its own maker's phone.

    Matters most if: You are deciding between AirPods and Galaxy Buds: check which phone you have first.

  • Works best with Galaxy

    None›360 Audio, SSC UHQ (24-bit/96kHz), Auto SwitchDifferent

    Samsung features that need a Samsung Galaxy device, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss. 360 Audio: Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 3.1 or later. SSC UHQ (24-bit/96kHz): Listed Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or later. Auto Switch: Galaxy phones/tablets with One UI 3.1+ and Galaxy Watch4 or later.

    What does this mean?

    Samsung features that need a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, such as 360 Audio, SSC UHQ sound, Auto Switch and Interpreter.

    With an iPhone or another Android phone these features are not there, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss.

  • Works best with iPhone

    Personalized Spatial Audio›NoneDifferent

    Apple features that need an Apple device, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss. Hearing feature availability varies by country. Apple's feature availability page

    What does this mean?

    Apple features that need an iPhone or another Apple device, such as Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive Audio, the hearing features and Live Translation.

    With an Android phone these features are not there, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss.

Price1 change

Price check

Galaxy Buds4 Pro — launched at $249

What your AirPods 4 sells for

Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.

  • Starting price

    $129›$249

    Not directly comparable: Galaxy Buds4 Pro's price was announced without its terms.

Noise control2 gains

  • Active noise cancellation

    Gain

  • Hear your surroundings (Transparency, Ambient sound)

    Gain
Audio1 change

  • Codecs

    Not listed by Apple›SSC HiFi, SSC UHQ, AAC, SBC, LC3

    Apple does not list Bluetooth codecs for AirPods the way Samsung does, so the two are not compared.

    What does this mean?

    The ways sound is compressed to travel over Bluetooth. Samsung lists them for Galaxy Buds; Apple does not list them for AirPods.

    Samsung's SSC codecs work only with Samsung Galaxy devices.

Battery4 changes

  • Listening time (each maker's figure)

    Up to 5 hours›Up to 6 hours (ANC on)Different

    Each maker's own figure from its own tests: Apple gives the time with Active Noise Cancellation on for models that have it, and Samsung its internal testing, ANC on by default. The test conditions differ, so the hours are not counted as a gain or a loss.

    What does this mean?

    How long each plays music on one charge, in each maker's own words and tests.

    Apple and Samsung test differently, so compare the hours as a rough guide only.

  • With the case (each maker's figure)

    Up to 30 hours›Up to 26 hours (ANC on)Different

    Each maker's own figure from its own tests: Apple gives the time with Active Noise Cancellation on for models that have it, and Samsung its internal testing, ANC on by default. The test conditions differ, so the hours are not counted as a gain or a loss.

  • Battery capacity, each earbud

    Not published by Apple›61 mAh

    Apple does not publish this for AirPods. Samsung's figure is the typical capacity.

  • Battery capacity, case

    Not published by Apple›530 mAh

    Apple does not publish this for AirPods. Samsung's figure is the typical capacity.

Design & durability2 changes

  • Weight, each earbud

    4.3 g›5.1 g+0.8 g

  • Water and dust resistance

    IP54 (earbuds and case)›IP57 (earbuds only; case is not water resistant)Different

    Each maker's rating as it writes it. Samsung's rating covers the earbuds only, not the case, so the two are not ranked.

    What does this mean?

    Each maker's sweat and water rating as it writes it (IP ratings).

    Apple says which of its ratings cover the case too; Samsung's rating covers the earbuds only.

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