AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 4 Pro
vs Bose QC Ultra
Our overall winner is the AirPods Pro 3. These are the premium noise-cancelling earbuds people search for most. The right one depends mostly on your phone, so we compared them round by round.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
Buy the earbuds made for your phone. On an iPhone, get the AirPods Pro 3: Apple says they remove up to 2x more noise than AirPods Pro 2, and they add heart rate tracking, Live Translation and hearing health features. On a Samsung Galaxy, get the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: 24-bit hi-fi sound, two speakers in each bud and IP57 water resistance.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) work equally well with any phone and are built around noise cancelling and a secure fit. If you mostly wear earbuds at the gym, look at the Powerbeats Pro 2: earhooks that stay put, a heart rate sensor and up to 45 hours with the case.
Earbuds are one of the fastest-growing “vs” searches this year, and Bose, Beats and soundcore are among the brands Amazon is featuring for Prime Big Deal Days (October 6–7, 2026).
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 4.
| Product | Best for iPhone AirPods Pro 3 Noise-cancelling earbuds |  Best for Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Noise-cancelling earbuds (2026) |  Best for Any Phone Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) Noise-cancelling earbuds |  Best for Workouts Powerbeats Pro 2 Earhook workout earbuds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 93 / 100 | 91 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 87 / 100 |
| Best for | iPhone owners | Samsung Galaxy owners | Mixed iPhone and Android homes | Running, lifting and classes |
| Best with | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPhone or Android | iPhone or Android |
| Battery (buds) | Up to 8 hrs with ANC | See listing | Up to 6 hrs (4 with Immersive Audio) | Up to 45 hrs with case |
| Water rating | See listing | IP57 | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Health tracking | Heart rate, hearing test & Hearing Aid | No | No | Heart rate |
| Case charging | See listing | See listing | Wireless or USB-C | Qi wireless |
| Key features |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
All 4 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with AirPods Pro 3. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Noise cancellingTie
- SoundGalaxy Buds 4 Pro · 9.6/10
- BatteryPowerbeats Pro 2 · 9.8/10
- Fit & comfortPowerbeats Pro 2 · 9.6/10
- Smart featuresAirPods Pro 3 · 9.8/10
- Water resistanceGalaxy Buds 4 Pro · 9.6/10
Who wins where
The winner of each category, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Pick the rounds that matter to you.
- Round 1
Noise cancelling
TieAirPods Pro 3 and Bose QC Ultra are the two to beat. Apple says the Pro 3 removes up to 2x more noise than the Pro 2. Bose says this is its best earbud noise cancelling yet, and CustomTune tunes it to your ears. Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are close behind with Adaptive ANC 2.0.
- Round 2
Sound quality
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro winsGalaxy Buds 4 Pro have two speakers in each bud (a tweeter and a woofer) and a 24-bit hi-fi codec. You only get the full hi-fi quality with a Samsung Galaxy phone. On an iPhone, AirPods Pro 3 sound best.
- Round 3
Battery
Powerbeats Pro 2 winsPowerbeats Pro 2 last up to 45 hours with the case. AirPods Pro 3 get up to 8 hours per charge with noise cancelling, and Bose up to 6 hours (4 with Immersive Audio on), with 3 more charges in the case.
- Round 4
Water and sweat
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro winsGalaxy Buds 4 Pro are rated IP57, so they handle rain and dust. Bose and Powerbeats are IPX4 (sweat and splashes). Check the AirPods listing for its rating.
- Round 5
Health features
AirPods Pro 3 winsAirPods Pro 3 track heart rate and calories for 50 workout types and include a hearing test, a Hearing Aid feature and Hearing Protection. Powerbeats Pro 2 also track heart rate. Bose and Galaxy Buds don’t.
- Round 6
Staying in during workouts
Powerbeats Pro 2 winsThe Powerbeats’ earhooks keep them locked on during sprints and lifting. Of the others, Bose offers the most fit options, with nine ear tip and stability band combos.
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
- You have an iPhone
- You want heart rate and hearing health features
- You want the strongest noise cancelling
- You have a Samsung Galaxy phone
- You care most about sound quality
- You want IP57 water resistance
- You switch between iPhone and Android
- Noise cancelling is your top priority
- Regular earbuds never fit you
- You wear earbuds at the gym or on runs
- Earbuds fall out of your ears
- You want the longest battery
AirPods Pro 3
The most complete earbuds for iPhone owners: strong noise cancelling plus health and hearing features no rival matches.
- 2x the ANC of AirPods Pro 2
- Heart rate sensing
- Up to 8 hrs with ANC
Quick tips before you buy
AirPods work best with iPhone, Galaxy Buds with Samsung. Bose and Beats work well with both.
Noise cancelling depends on the seal. Try all the sizes in the box before you judge.
Listed battery is with ANC on. Extra modes like Bose Immersive Audio use more.
All four handle sweat. For rain and dust, Galaxy Buds 4 Pro’s IP57 is the toughest.
Quick answers
Are AirPods Pro 3 better than Galaxy Buds 4 Pro?+
On an iPhone, yes: you get all of Apple’s features. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the better pick because their hi-fi sound and AI features need a Galaxy phone.
AirPods Pro 3 or Bose QC Ultra Earbuds for noise cancelling?+
Both are at the top. AirPods Pro 3 also add health features and last longer per charge (8 vs 6 hours). Bose is the better pick if you use Android or switch between phones.
Do AirPods Pro 3 work with Android?+
They connect over Bluetooth like any earbuds, but you lose most of the smart features, like automatic switching, heart rate tracking and hearing features.
Which earbuds are best for the gym?+
Powerbeats Pro 2. The earhooks keep them in place, they track heart rate, and they are IPX4 sweat resistant.
