Samsung Galaxy Buds4 vs AirPods 4 ANC: A Clear Winner?
I compared the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 with the AirPods 4 ANC across 10 categories. The points finish tied, but the more important categories make the decision much less even.
By James · Picky Audio
· 6 min read
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In this Samsung Galaxy Buds4 vs AirPods 4 ANC comparison, the score ends six points each. Samsung wins on battery, controls, connectivity and app customization, while Apple wins fit security, call quality, noise cancelling and sound quality.
If sound quality and noise cancelling matter most to you, I find the AirPods 4 ANC clearly more impressive. They are the better pick in Apple’s ecosystem, and may even be worth considering on Android if you can live without the Apple-specific features.
| Samsung Galaxy Buds4 | AirPods 4 ANC | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Tie: classic half in-ear fit and similar ergonomics. | Tie: classic half in-ear fit and similar ergonomics. |
| Security | Less secure in my ears. | Win: the slimmer section sitting in the ear rests deeper and stays in more securely for me. |
| IP rating | IP57 dust resistant and waterproof; case has no IP rating. | IP54; not waterproof, but the case is also IP54. |
| Case and battery | Win: 6 hours in the buds and 30 hours total with noise cancelling off; 5 hours and 24 hours with it on. | 5 hours in the buds and 30 hours total with noise cancelling off; 4 hours and 20 hours with it on. The case is much thinner. |
| Controls | Win: squeeze controls plus swipe volume control. | Squeeze controls work well, but there is no swipe volume control. |
| Connectivity | Win: Samsung Seamless Codec supports 24-bit/96 kilohertz, and LC3 or LE Audio is available on compatible devices. | Works great with Apple devices and offers very low gaming latency there. |
| Call quality | Super wideband audio is available in the app, but I could not test it without a Samsung phone. | Win: it blocked background noise slightly better and sounded superior in my quiet-room voice test. |
| App customization | Win: a decent 10-band EQ, plus accessibility, Find My Buds and neck-stretch reminders. | Accessibility and Find My options are available, along with camera remote options, but no EQ. |
| Noise cancelling | Much weaker in my testing, and slightly worse than the Galaxy Buds 3 to my ears. | Easy win: noise cancelling was basically twice as strong in my simulation and gym testing. |
| Transparency and sound | Transparency ties, but transparency mode reduced bass by about 10%. With EQ, sound gets close, though bass remains less rich and treble is not as refined. | Transparency ties. Sound wins out of the box, with richer sub-bass, warmer lower vocals, better treble and a slightly more open soundstage. |
Which semi-in-ear earbud fits more securely?
Comfort is a draw. Both use that classic half in-ear fit, their ergonomics are similar, and I could wear either all day.
The AirPods 4 ANC take security. Their shape is slightly slimmer where the bud rests in the ear, so they sit a little deeper and stay in more securely for me. They have become one of my go-to earbuds for weight training.
Neither pair seals the ear canal, which also means minimal body-borne noise from running impact and heavy breathing. Both are good for that. Samsung does get the bonus IP-rating win: the Galaxy Buds4 are IP57, while the AirPods 4 ANC and their case are IP54.
Galaxy Buds4 have better battery, controls and connectivity
Samsung narrowly wins case and battery. The Galaxy Buds4 offer an extra hour in the buds with noise cancelling off, even though the AirPods case is much thinner. Both use the same fast charging: 5 minutes in the case gives 1 hour of playback, and both cases support wireless charging.
Controls are another Samsung win because of volume swipes. Both use responsive squeeze controls, but I still cannot stand that Apple did not add volume swipes to the AirPods 4 or 4 ANC.
Samsung also takes connectivity with its 24-bit/96 kilohertz Samsung Seamless Codec and LC3 or LE Audio support. Both pairs support mono mode, and either should work well in its own ecosystem.
AirPods 4 ANC win calls and noise cancelling
The AirPods 4 ANC win my call-quality tests. In quiet room, simulated crowd noise and simulated windy-city conditions, they blocked background noise slightly better, while their voice pickup in the quiet room was more noticeably superior.
Samsung offers a super wideband audio setting intended to improve vocal clarity, but I could not test it because I did not have a Samsung phone.
Noise cancelling is where Apple has the clearest advantage. The AirPods 4 ANC were basically twice as strong in my simulation testing and at the gym. Their one drawback is a slight cabin-pressure suction feeling, though I have become used to it.
I often use the AirPods’ adaptive transparency mode, which blends transparency and noise cancelling. It has less cabin pressure while still being much stronger than the Galaxy Buds4’s strong noise cancelling. Only the AirPods offer voice detection or conversation awareness.
AirPods 4 ANC sound much better without EQ
Out of the box, the AirPods 4 ANC absolutely destroy the Galaxy Buds4 for sound quality. Samsung’s stock tuning is very flat in the bass, so I needed a substantial EQ boost to bring the Buds4 closer to the AirPods.
Even after EQ, the AirPods have richer bass and more deep sub-bass. The Galaxy Buds4 remain punchy with good kick-drum impact, but they sound a little lacking beside the AirPods.
The Galaxy Buds4 put vocals slightly further forward, which some people may prefer. I find the AirPods’ vocals a touch recessed but richer and warmer, particularly in lower vocal ranges. Their treble also gives me a better mix of detail, precision and upper-treble airiness, with a slightly more open soundstage.
The Pros and Cons
PROS
- AirPods 4 ANC fit more securely in my ears.
- AirPods have clearly stronger noise cancelling.
- AirPods sound much better without EQ.
- Galaxy Buds4 offer longer battery life in the earbuds.
- Galaxy Buds4 add swipe volume controls and a 10-band EQ.
- Galaxy Buds4 have an IP57 rating.
CONS
- AirPods 4 ANC lack swipe volume controls and an EQ.
- AirPods noise cancelling can create slight cabin pressure.
- Galaxy Buds4 stock tuning is too flat in the bass for my taste.
- Galaxy Buds4 noise cancelling was weak in comparison.
- Galaxy Buds4 case has no IP rating.
THE VERDICT
The final tally is tied at six points to Samsung and six points to Apple. In their respective ecosystems, both are worth it.
Still, if I give sound quality and noise cancelling more importance, the AirPods 4 ANC are definitely more impressive. Apple has a clear winner on those two categories, while Samsung still has some catching up to do. Stay picky.
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