90

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds

In-ear TWS · ANC · 6h/30h · H3 chip · BT 5.3

$250

MSRP

86

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds

In-ear TWS · ANC · 7.5h/30h · BT 5.4

$230

MSRP

Our verdict

The AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds takes the performance lead with a 5% higher overall score, driven by its more shader cores, more of memory, and higher TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 0% more frames per second across demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2.

However, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds tells a compelling value story. At $230 versus the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds's $250 price tag, it costs 9% less while delivering performance that's only 5% behind. Its of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds is the smarter purchase. The AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds

5% faster overall

Best value for money

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds

3% better value per dollar

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds best for

Raw performance

5% faster overall

Audio

Driver Size
11mm
10.5mm
Frequency Response
20Hz - 20kHz
20Hz - 20kHz
Form Factor
In-ear TWS
In-ear TWS

Battery

Battery Life (ANC On)
6h
7.5h
Total with Case
30h
30h
Fast Charge
5min → 1h
5min → 1h

Comfort

Weight
5.4g
5.2g
IP Rating
IP54
IP57
Wireless Charging
Yes (MagSafe + Qi)
Yes (Qi)

Connectivity

Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
Codecs
AAC
Samsung Scalable, AAC, SBC
Multipoint
No
Yes (2 devices)

Noise Cancellation

Active Noise Cancellation
Yes (H3 chip)
Yes (Galaxy AI)
Transparency Mode
Yes (Adaptive)
Yes (Adaptive)

Frequently asked questions

Is the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds worth $20 more than the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds?

It depends on your needs. The AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds scores 90 overall vs 86 for the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds or Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds?

The AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds handle 4K gaming?

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds or Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds?

Choose the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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