Samsung Buds4 Pro vs Buds3 Pro, WF-1000XM6, AirPods Pro 3, QC Ultra Gen 2, AZ100 | ULTIMATE REVIEW 🔥
Today I’m going to compare the Samsung Buds4 Pro to the Buds3 Pro, the Sony WF-1000XM6, AirPods Pro 3, Technics AZ100 and the Bose QC Ultra Gen 2.
Compared to the Buds3 Pro, you can see that it’s a new design, and the driver’s slightly different which means there are sound quality differences, more about that later.
Features-wise, they’re almost completely identical, except that the Buds4 Pro has head gesture controls, which lets you nod or shake your head to accept or reject phone calls, and that it doesn’t support the Boost Dialogue setting for watching videos, which the Buds3 Pro has. Apart from that, no difference as far as I can see using them on Samsung devices. But how do they compare to the others in terms of sound, noise canceling, microphone pickup and transparency? We’re going to find out so buckle up!
Microphone Quality
In terms of mic pickup, assuming that you’re using a Samsung phone, 16kHz voice capture is an option, and this is what it sounds like compared to regular mic mode.
👉🏻 Listen to the mic quality samples
On regular mode used on all other devices, their mic pickup is pretty good. Great background noise reduction, and great amplification of the speaker’s voice. Voice filtering can be a bit better but as you’re about to hear, it’s not bad compared to the rest.
👉🏻 Listen to the mic quality samples
Active Noise Cancelling
In terms of noise canceling, while they are a little quieter than the previous model, they’re not one of the best noise cancelers.
They do measure very well when there’s a tight seal (see frequency response measurements above), that’s why they seem better than even the Bose and Technics, almost on par with the Sonys. And they’re very good against low frequency noise like the rumble of public transport, air conditioning.
But in actual usage, I find them less effective against mid and higher frequency noises like human voices. The fit has a lot to do with it so for best results, use larger ear tips. But even so, these being a lighter fit, they do tend to slip out and lose noise canceling power.
👉🏻 Have a listen to the ANC quality samples
Transparency Mode
However it does have one of the best transparency modes. It has less hiss than the Buds3 Pro’s ambient mode so it sounds more natural, voice passthrough is clean and not occluded, it’s almost like not wearing earbuds. If I were to rank them, they would be comparable to the AirPods Pro 3, a little more transparent than the Sony and Bose, and much more transparent than the Technics AZ100.
But how do they sound compared to the rest? Listen to recordings of their sound quality linked below, and after that, I’m going to compare them individually.
👉🏻 Have a listen to the sound quality samples
Samsung Buds4 Pro VS Buds3 Pro
So should you buy the Samsung Buds4 Pro or Buds3 Pro? The biggest advantage it has over the Buds 3 Pro is sound quality. It’s a smoother, richer sound with fuller bass, without the small amount of sibilance in the Buds3 Pro’s midrange. Now it’s a lot less fatiguing to listen to.
And they also managed to retain its clean separation and energy in the mids which makes them quite fun to listen to.
As we saw, the Buds4 Pro has slightly better mic pickup, noise canceling and transparency. There are also some improvements under the hood like Bluetooth 6.1 instead of 5.3. Apart from that, it feels almost like the same product with the same app, features and settings.
Overall, I do like the Buds4 Pro more than the previous model because of the performance improvements, and they even fit better for me because the housing seems to be a bit rounder. But the reason you may still want to get the Buds 3 Pro is the slimmer case, and slightly better battery life, often at a much cheaper price now than the Buds4 Pro because it’s been in the market for a few years.
Check latest prices:
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro - https://amzn.to/3Np1vcM
Samsung Buds4 Pro VS Sony WF-1000XM6
Comparing the default sound quality of the Samsung Buds4 Pro to the Sony WF-1000XM6, in certain ways, I prefer the Samsung because it sounds cleaner, tracks are better separated, and it’s able to reproduce a bit more air and depth in the soundstage. Great for metal and synthwave. The reasons I prefer the Sony is that it sounds more visceral in the upper mids so I could feel a bit more excitement in the sound, and although its bass is a little muddier, it has more gravity.
It’s a groovier sound that flatters Jazz and vocal-centric music more. Also worth mentioning that it's louder at the same volume level than the Samsung. I do think the Sonys might be better for audiophiles because there’s a lot more freedom, you can customize the Sony’s sound whether on iOS or Android with the Sony Sound Connect App, which also gives you features like audio upscaling with DSEE Extreme, custom settings and firmware updates, whereas the Buds4 Pro can only be customized on Android.
And even on Android, you can only get 24-Bit 96kHz Audio on Samsung devices with SSC-UHQ codec, whereas the Sony supports the more common Hi-Res codec, LDAC. The Sony’s Multipoint pairing also works with any device platform so you can pair both an iOS device and PC or Android at the same time, whereas Samsung restricts multipoint connection to Samsung devices only.
That said, some compelling reasons to get the Samsung instead is that I do find them more comfortable to wear since it’s a lighter fit, and with the slimmer profile, it’s easier to sleep with them, in case you need some noise canceling. For people who want to use just one earbud, you can still access all the controls on the Samsung since it combines swipe and squeeze gestures. So those are reasons to get the Buds4 Pro, and reasons to get the WF-1000XM6.
Check latest prices:
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1
Sony WF-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4bgWGeA
Samsung Buds Pro VS AirPods Pro 3
Comparing the default sound quality of the Samsung Buds4 Pro to the AirPods Pro 3, perhaps it’s due to the tight plug-in-the ear fit, the AirPods Pro 3 sounds more impactful and energetic in the bass. And though it’s not as vibrant in the mids as the Buds4 Pro, vocals and instruments have more focus, whereas the Samsung's vocals sound a little more brassy, bordering on tinny.
However the Samsung sounds better in 2 areas - bass and soundstaging. Its bass may not be as heavy as the AirPods, but there’s more texture and more tactility, and soundstaging feels wider, more open and enveloping than the AirPods. If you have both of them, try listening to the Dragonborn track in Skyrim’s music album to know what I’m talking about.
As for which one should you choose, know that the Samsung Buds 4 Pro and AirPods Pro 3 are direct opposites, because you can only use their custom settings, apps and firmware updates in their own ecosystems. Apple to Apple, Samsung to Samsung or Android devices. And the Samsung is definitely better on Android because you will get better mic quality, and the mic can be even better if you’re using a Samsung phone, because it will then support 16kHz voice capture.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
That being said, there are 4 big reasons to choose the AirPods Pro 3. Right now it has the best noise canceling of any earbuds, far more powerful than the Samsung. Second, the whole package is smaller and slimmer so it’s easy to carry. I also prefer its fit, because it plugs in properly, so it doesn’t slip out and lose noise canceling power or bass. And lastly, since I’m a user of multiple Apple products, it’s so easy to connect to all of these devices at once, and transition between them. That’s why I prefer the AirPods Pro 3, but for many of you, there are reasons to get the Buds4 Pro.
Check latest prices:
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1
AirPods Pro 3 - https://amzn.to/4oB4xHL
Samsung Buds4 Pro VS Bose QC Ultra Gen 2
Comparing the default sound quality of the Samsung Buds4 Pro to the Gen 2 Bose QC Ultra, the Bose does sound a bit more visceral and exciting in the upper mids, whereas the Samsung can sound a bit recessed if you’re comparing them A-B. But I do think that the Buds4 Pro sounds a little mellower, and it’s got more texture in the bass than the Bose.
But overall, both sound great and quite comparable. Sound quality aside, the main reason I prefer the Samsung is the smaller, more portable case. On Android, it is also richer in features, and more customizable with a great selection of EQ presets and a 9-Band EQ, aside from other options.
But where the Bose is better is that it has a more stable fit thanks to the wing tips, and it’s got better noise canceling especially in the higher frequency spectrum. It’s also more flexible because whether on iOS or Android, you get the same app experience and features.
Features like Multipoint pairing which lets you connect up to 2 devices at the same time, and you can enjoy great 360 audio with head tracking on any device, not just Android or Samsung. So there’s a lot more flexibility, whereas the Samsung restricts special features, custom settings and firmware updates through the Samsung Wearable app which is Android-only, and only on Samsung devices can you use its version of multipoint pairing called Seamless Earbud Connection.
What’s great about Seamless Earbud Connection is it’s not limited to just 2, you can connect as many Samsung devices as you want as long as you’re signed in to the same Samsung account on all of them. If you're a Samsung user, that could be a fantastic reason to get the Buds4 Pro, among other reasons.
Check latest prices:
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2 - https://amzn.to/46N1zsL
Samsung Buds4 Pro VS Technics AZ100
Comparing the default sound quality of the Samsung Buds4 Pro to the Technics AZ100, the Samsung has better dynamic range, which means subtle sounds are more obvious, from background details to bass extension. So sometimes you may feel that the Samsung’s bass is louder. What the Technics brings to the table is better tactility in the bass, so bass feels more punchy, and it also has a more relaxed and open soundstage. Personally, I prefer the sound of the Technics, but only a bit more than the Samsung which also sounds excellent.\
One big advantage the Samsung Buds4 Pro has over the Technics AZ100 is their transparency mode being much clearer, more natural sounding than the Technics. It’s much easier to have face to face conversations with the Buds4 Pro.
Being able to access all the controls on each earbud’s also a plus, because you can do everything even when wearing just one earbud, from music and call controls by squeezing, to controlling the volume by swiping. The Buds4 Pro also has a lighter fit, definitely more comfortable because they don’t plug in your ears like the Technics.
What keeps me coming back to the Technics though, is their smaller case, the fact that, aside from being about as feature-rich as the Samsung, I’m getting all of their settings and features whether it’s on iOS and Android. For example, they support spatial audio regardless of device platform. They’re also great all round performers, and Technics earbuds are also the only ones that support 3-way multipoint so you can connect to 3 devices at once, whereas Samsung only allows you to use multipoint on Samsung devices with a Samsung account.
And it’s a more snug and stable fit because they plug into the ear canal, instead of just hanging in your ears like the Samsung. So those are reasons to get the AZ100, but there are also compelling reasons to buy the Samsung Buds4 Pro.
Check latest prices:
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - https://amzn.to/4aH06Y1
Technics EAH-AZ100 - https://amzn.to/4hcKrQD
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