Wireless Earbuds / Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs Nothing Ear (3a)
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
Two-way drivers and IP57 — the Galaxy flagship, locked to Galaxy phones.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro wins by 0.1 points, which is not enough to settle it. An 8-band parametric EQ and Bluetooth 6.0 for $99 — remarkable value. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3a) are both current-generation wireless Earbuds models, and the Nothing Ear (3a) is $151 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro ($99 vs $249.99). On Value, the Nothing Ear (3a) leads (9.5 vs 7.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Call Quality, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection. On Durability, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.0/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the Nothing Ear (3a), 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 (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $99.00 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 6 | 6 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 21 | Nothing publishes per-bud and case capacities but no verified ANC-on total |
| Active Noise Cancelling | ANC 2.0 — adaptive, with real-time EQ analysis and repositioned wind-resistant microphones | Hybrid ANC up to 45dB with three strength 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 | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | Yes, but across Samsung devices only | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Weight per Bud (g) | Not published by the manufacturer | 4.5 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, SSC and LC3 — no LDAC or aptX | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, with head tracking, but Samsung devices only | Yes; head tracking is not confirmed |
| 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 (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Nothing Ear (3a) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Durability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Nothing Ear (3a) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Nothing Ear (3a) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.0 — a 2.5-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…
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (IP rating, build materials and case robustness).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores 8.5/10 here (tuning, detail and codec support).
- • 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 calls or workout.
Choose the Nothing Ear (3a) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Nothing Ear (3a) scores 9.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $151 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
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 (3a)
Pros
- +8-band parametric EQ at $99 — nothing else here comes close on tuning control
- +Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC hi-res at a budget price
- +Lightest buds here at 4.5g
- +12mm drivers, the largest in this group
Cons
- −Short nozzles may compromise the seal, which affects both bass and ANC
- −Call recording and transcription are a paid add-on
- −The ChatGPT voice shortcut requires a Nothing phone and a subscription
- −Nothing does not publish a total ANC-on battery figure
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or Nothing Ear (3a) 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 Value, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) scores higher on Value (9.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Call Quality, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores higher on Call Quality (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection.
Which is better for Durability, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — IP rating, build materials and case robustness.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro or the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro scores higher on Sound Quality (8.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — tuning, detail and codec support.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro worth the price difference over the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Nothing Ear (3a) is the cheaper option at $99 versus $249.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro is the better fit if you mainly care about calls or workout. The Nothing Ear (3a) is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs the Nothing Ear (3a)?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro ships with a 12-month warranty; the Nothing Ear (3a) 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.
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.