Wireless Earbuds / Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs Nothing Ear (3)
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs Nothing Ear (3)
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Two-way drivers and IP57 — the Galaxy flagship, locked to Galaxy phones.
Wins overall by 0.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro wins by 0.0 points, which is not enough to settle it. Its metal case doubles as an external microphone — genuinely novel. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3) are both closely matched wireless Earbuds models, and the Nothing Ear (3) is $71 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro ($179 vs $249.99). On Sound Quality, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads (8.5 vs 8.0/10) — tuning, detail and codec support. On Features, the Nothing Ear (3) leads (9.0 vs 8.5/10) — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. On Durability, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads (8.5 vs 8.0/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.0/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.0/10 for the Nothing Ear (3), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro | Nothing Ear (3) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $179.00 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 6✓ | 5.5 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 21 | 22✓ |
| Active Noise Cancelling | ANC 2.0 — adaptive, with real-time EQ analysis and repositioned wind-resistant microphones | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with Low, Mid and High modes |
| Driver Size (mm) | Samsung states a two-way design with a woofer roughly 20% larger than the Buds3 Pro, but publishes no millimetre figure | 12 |
| Bluetooth | Samsung's US specification says 5.4 while retail listings claim 6.1 — unresolved | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes, but across Samsung devices only | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 buds and case |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Weight per Bud (g) | Not published by the manufacturer | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, SSC and LC3 — no LDAC or aptX | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, with head tracking, but Samsung devices only | Not published by the manufacturer |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on tuning, detail and codec support. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro is marginally ahead, 8.5 to 8.2. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if how much ambient noise is actually removed is your priority.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Comfort & Fit
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3) are level here, at 8.0/10 each. weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Call Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. microphone performance and background noise rejection is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Features
The Nothing Ear (3) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Nothing Ear (3) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro if…
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (tuning, detail and codec support).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (IP rating, build materials and case robustness).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Your main use case is workout.
Choose the Nothing Ear (3) if…
- • Features matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3) scores 9.0/10 here (app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras).
- • Value matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3) scores 7.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $71 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Pros
- +Two-way drivers with dual amplifiers is a genuinely more capable design than single-driver rivals
- +IP57 matches AirPods Pro 3 for ruggedness
- +Auracast support and 24-bit hi-res on Galaxy phones
- +Excellent call quality with wind-resistant mics
Cons
- −6 hours with ANC on and 21 total is poor for a $249 product
- −Multipoint, head tracking, hi-res and translation all require Samsung hardware
- −No iOS app at all, so iPhone users get basic playback only
- −Samsung's own site and retail listings disagree on the Bluetooth version
Nothing Ear (3)
Pros
- +The Super Mic case is genuinely novel and works well for calls in noisy places
- +Premium aluminium case rather than plastic
- +Strong ANC for the price
- +Full parametric EQ and LDAC
Cons
- −Only 5.5 hours with ANC on, the shortest per-charge figure here
- −Bass-heavy tuning with somewhat harsh treble
- −The Super Mic is a meaningful premium over the Ear (3a) for a feature many will rarely use
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or Nothing Ear (3) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores higher on Sound Quality (8.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — tuning, detail and codec support.
Which is better for Features, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Nothing Ear (3) scores higher on Features (9.0/10 vs 8.5/10) — app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras.
Which is better for Durability, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness.
Which is better for Value, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Nothing Ear (3) scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro worth the price difference over the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Nothing Ear (3) is the cheaper option at $179 versus $249.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Sound Quality.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro is the better fit if you mainly care about workout. The Nothing Ear (3) is the better fit for calls or commute.
What's the warranty on the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs the Nothing Ear (3)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro ships with a 12-month warranty; the Nothing Ear (3) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Nothing Ear (3a) — $99.00
Premium Option
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — $299.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.