Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs Buds 3 Pro — Is the Upgrade Actually Worth It? (2026)
Samsung just dropped the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro alongside the Galaxy S26 series, and if you already own the Buds 3 Pro, you're probably asking the same question everyone is — is it actually worth upgrading? Or is Samsung just selling you the same thing in a fancier box?
I've broken down every major difference between the two so you don't have to spend hours reading spec sheets. Let's get into it.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price (UK) | £219 | £219 (dropping) |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 5.4 |
| Driver Setup | 11mm woofer + 5.5mm tweeter | Smaller woofer |
| Battery (ANC on) | 6 hrs / 26 hrs with case | 6 hrs / 26 hrs with case |
| Head Gestures | Yes | No |
| Case Size | Smaller, more pocketable | Larger |
| Stem Design | Flat brushed metal | Plastic blade |
| IP Rating | IP57 | IP57 |
| AI Features | Gemini, Perplexity, Live Translation | Limited |
1. Design — A Proper Glow Up
The Buds 3 Pro had what Samsung called a "Blade" design — a bold, angular look with plastic stems and an LED light strip. It was polarising. Some people loved it, others found it looked a bit cheap up close.
The Buds 4 Pro fixes this. The plastic stem has been replaced with a flat surface covered in brushed metal, making the earbuds look noticeably more premium and elegant. The overall earbud is also slightly smaller, and the charging case is much more compact than the Buds 3 Pro case — easier to carry in your pocket without throwing it in a bag.
Samsung also added a tactile groove on the stem so you can find the pinch area by touch without looking, which sounds small but makes daily use much less frustrating.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro — no contest.
2. Sound Quality — Finally Tuned Right
This is where things get interesting. The Buds 4 Pro uses an 11mm super-wide woofer paired with a 5.5mm planar tweeter — the woofer is larger than what's inside the Buds 3 Pro, while the tweeter is smaller.
Samsung claims this increases the effective speaker area by almost 20% and delivers natural, immersive audio with clean bass and rich treble, with support for 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio.
In real-world use, reviewers noted that the Buds 4 Pro sounds more natural and mellow compared to the Buds 3 Pro, which had a slight peak between 1–2kHz that could sound a bit piercing at times.
If you listen to bass-heavy music, podcasts, or anything where detail matters, the Buds 4 Pro is a clear step up.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro.
3. Active Noise Cancellation — Much Closer to the Best
The Buds 3 Pro had decent ANC but was clearly below the elite tier of Sony and Bose. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is much closer in noise cancellation performance to those premium options, seriously impressive considering how comfortable and relaxed the fit is.
It's still not going to completely silence a busy train or loud café, but for everyday use — commuting, studying, working — it's now genuinely good. It does well blocking constant, moderate noise like fans or ambient chatter.
The Transparency Mode has also been improved. The Buds 4 Pro's transparency mode is described as the most natural-sounding tested, feeling as though the earbuds aren't even in your ears.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro.
4. Bluetooth 6.1 — Future-Proofing You Didn't Know You Needed
The Buds 4 Pro includes Bluetooth 6.1, which was only introduced in 2025, making it one of the first consumer earbuds to ship with it. If you keep these for five years, even future devices requiring Bluetooth 6.1 and above will still work with them.
Bluetooth 6.1 improves connection stability, offloads processing work for smoother performance, and includes privacy updates that make it harder for third parties to track your Bluetooth devices.
The Buds 3 Pro uses Bluetooth 5.4, which is still solid — but it's already a generation behind.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro.
5. AI Features — Genuinely Useful Additions
The Buds 4 Pro adds Gemini and Perplexity hotword integration, head gesture controls, and the ability to capture spatial audio when recording from a compatible Samsung phone.
The head gesture feature is the standout. You can nod your head to accept an incoming call or shake it to decline — no need to reach for your phone or tap the earbuds. It sounds gimmicky but if your hands are full — cooking, carrying bags, working out — it's genuinely handy.
Live Translation is also included, letting you hold conversations with people in different languages in real time via your Galaxy phone.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro.
6. Battery Life — Identical on Paper
Both earbuds offer six hours per charge with ANC on, and 26 hours total with the charging case. Samsung didn't improve this at all, which is a bit disappointing at this price point. That said, six hours covers most commutes, study sessions and workouts without needing to top up.
ANC off bumps you to 7 hours per charge and 30 hours total on both models.
Winner: Draw.
7. Microphone Quality — A Surprise Upgrade
The Buds 4 Pro is now considered among the best in class for microphone quality, alongside the AirPods Pro 3. Both models use physical bone conduction sensors called Voice Pickup Units plus a 3-mic array per earbud, but the Buds 4 Pro delivers cleaner voice pickup with less distortion.
If you're on calls a lot — for uni, work, or just chatting — this is a noticeable real-world improvement.
Winner: Buds 4 Pro.
Should You Upgrade From the Buds 3 Pro?
Honestly? If you already own the Buds 3 Pro, there's no rush to upgrade — the improvements are real but not so dramatic that a perfectly good pair becomes obsolete overnight.
However, if your Buds 3 Pro are old, damaged, or you're buying Samsung earbuds for the first time, the Buds 4 Pro is clearly the better choice. Better sound, better ANC, better design, better mic, future-proof Bluetooth, and useful AI features — all for the same price as the previous model.
If you're on a budget: Wait a few weeks. The Buds 3 Pro are expected to drop in price now that the Buds 4 Pro is out, making them excellent value at a lower price point.
Final Verdict
| Who Should Buy | Which One |
|---|---|
| First-time Samsung earbud buyer | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
| Already owns Buds 3 Pro (working fine) | Keep what you have |
| Owns Buds 3 Pro (damaged/old) | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
| On a tight budget | Wait for Buds 3 Pro price drop |
| Heavy call user | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 owner | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
Check the current price of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro on Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/4tbPQNU
Check the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro price (often discounted now) → https://amzn.to/40TlsMb
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely think are worth it.
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