Published 2026-05-18 by James Maxwell
Three pairs of earbuds sit at the top of the market right now, and they each suit a different buyer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro at £169.99–£199, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 at £169.88, and the Sony WF-1000XM6 at £235.99 are all excellent — but they’re not interchangeable. This comparison will tell you which one to buy based on what actually matters to you.
What’s new with the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro vs the rivals?
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro, launched in February 2026, is Samsung’s answer to two years of AirPods Pro refinements and Sony’s relentless battery improvements. The Buds4 Pro brings UHQ audio, Adaptive EQ, and tighter Galaxy ecosystem integration — features that, frankly, only matter if you’re using a Samsung phone. On hardware, Samsung went slimmer and lighter with a stem-style design that Tom’s Guide notes is easier to sleep in than most in-ear competitors.
The AirPods Pro 3 sticks with Apple’s established formula: H-chip fast pairing, a balanced soundstage with real bass detail, and hearing health features that are unique in this class. Sony’s WF-1000XM6, meanwhile, doubles down on the things the XM5 already did best, noise cancellation and battery stamina, and adds LDAC hi-res codec support for Android users who want the best possible wireless audio quality.
How do prices and storage options compare?
Based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data at the time of writing, the Black Buds4 Pro at £169.99 is the sharpest entry point of the three, sitting essentially level with the AirPods Pro 3 and £66 below the Sony. The White Buds4 Pro at £199 costs more and is available from a wider range of retailers, 12 versus 5 for the Black colourway, which gives you more room to shop around.
The Sony’s premium is significant. You’re paying roughly 38% more than the cheapest Buds4 Pro for the XM6, and you need to be clear about why before spending it.
What changed in performance?
The Sony WF-1000XM6 leads on the two metrics that matter most to commuters and frequent travellers. Per SoundGuys’ standardised testing, it achieves 88% average noise reduction across the audible spectrum and 9 hours 41 minutes of battery life with ANC active. Those are the best figures in this group.
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro hits approximately 84% noise reduction and around 6 hours with ANC on, per the same SoundGuys testing. The ANC gap is real but narrower than it sounds in percentage terms, in a quiet office, you won’t notice it. On a morning commute or a flight, you will.
Where Samsung closes the gap is sound quality and microphone performance. Per Tom’s Guide, the Buds4 Pro narrowly edges the AirPods Pro 3 on sound quality and ties it for best-in-class microphone, a result when both are competing against AirPods at the same price. Per Android Central, the Buds4 Pro’s ANC sits just outside the elite tier occupied by the Sony XM6 and AirPods Pro 3, which is worth factoring in if ANC is your primary reason for buying.
How does the durability and design compare?
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro’s stem-style design is the most comfortable of the three for extended wear, according to Tom’s Guide reviewers, particularly for side sleepers who use earbuds at night. Samsung went noticeably lighter and slimmer than the previous Buds3 Pro generation.
Sony and Apple both use more traditional oval bud designs. The AirPods Pro 3 fits well for most ear shapes but remains divisive for people who find Apple’s silicone tips don’t seal properly without aftermarket tips. The XM6 has gone through enough design iterations that Sony’s fit is broadly trusted now, though it’s bulkier in the ear than the Samsung.
All three are rated for sweat and water resistance. None of them are designed for swimming.
What about display and battery?
These are earbuds, so there’s no display to compare. Battery is where the three diverge most sharply.
Per SoundGuys, the Sony WF-1000XM6 delivers 9 hours 41 minutes with ANC on. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro manages approximately 6 hours under the same test conditions. Apple hasn’t published equivalent standardised figures for the AirPods Pro 3, though real-world reviews consistently place it between the Samsung and Sony.
Six hours is enough for most working days. If you’re on long-haul flights regularly, or you forget to charge things, the Sony’s battery advantage is worth paying for. For everyone else, the Buds4 Pro’s battery is workable, and the case adds multiple additional charges regardless of which pair you choose.
How does software support change the value calculation?
Software integration is where the Galaxy Buds4 Pro’s value story gets complicated. The UHQ audio, Adaptive EQ, and deep notification integration are only available to Samsung Galaxy phone owners. If you’re running a Pixel, a OnePlus, or any non-Samsung Android, you get a capable pair of earbuds, but you lose the features that justify buying Samsung’s own brand over Sony.
Sony’s WF-1000XM6 is the most phone-agnostic of the three. LDAC support works with any Android device that supports the codec, and Sony’s Headphones Connect app works across platforms. Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 is the opposite, the H-chip fast pairing and hearing features are iPhone-only, and on Android they behave like generic Bluetooth earbuds.
The software question is simple: buy within your ecosystem, or buy Sony if you want flexibility.
Should you upgrade or save with the older model?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is currently available from £104.88 based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data across 6 UK retailers. That’s a £65 saving over the cheapest Buds4 Pro Black, and a £94 saving over the White.
For Samsung phone owners who already have the Buds3 Pro, the upgrade case is thin unless ANC performance or microphone quality are frustrating you daily. The Buds4 Pro is lighter and slimmer, and the ANC has improved, but £104.88 for a pair that still works well is a hard argument to dismiss.
If you’re buying Samsung earbuds for the first time and you’re committed to the Galaxy ecosystem, the Buds4 Pro at £169.99 (Black) is the right buy. The Buds3 Pro at under £110 is the right buy if budget is the priority and you’re not chasing the latest ANC performance.
For more, read our best noise-cancelling headphones guide.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Best-in-class microphone, tied with AirPods Pro 3 (per Tom’s Guide) | Full feature set requires a Samsung Galaxy phone |
Competitive ANC at 84% average noise reduction (per SoundGuys) | Battery (~6h ANC-on) trails Sony’s 9h41 significantly |
Black colourway from £169.99, matches AirPods Pro 3 on price | White colourway costs up to £30 more with no spec difference |
Lighter, slimmer stem fit, more comfortable for extended wear | ANC sits outside the elite tier of Sony XM6 (per Android Central) |
Shopping.co.uk verdict
At £169.99 for the Black colourway, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro is the best-value flagship earbud in the UK right now, matching the AirPods Pro 3 on price while offering comparable microphone quality and better comfort per Tom’s Guide, as long as you’re in the Samsung ecosystem.
Best place to buy: AO.com, currently stocking the White Buds4 Pro at £199 with free delivery, and one of only 5 retailers carrying the Black at £169.99; worth checking both colourways before committing.
vs. the previous model: The Buds3 Pro at £104.88 is a serious alternative for anyone who doesn’t need the latest ANC figures; the Buds4 Pro’s improvements are real but not £65 worth of real for existing Samsung earbud owners.
Our take: Samsung phone owners should buy the Black Buds4 Pro at £169.99 now; everyone else should either pay up for the Sony XM6’s superior ANC and battery, or stick with AirPods Pro 3 if they’re on iPhone.
Compare Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro prices across UK retailers on Shopping.co.uk
For more, read our best wireless earbuds 2026 guide.
More wireless earbuds from Samsung
Frequently asked questions
Are the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro worth buying if I don’t have a Samsung phone?
They’re a capable pair of earbuds on any Android device, but you lose UHQ audio, Adaptive EQ, and the tighter notification integration that justify buying Samsung over Sony. On a non-Samsung Android, the Sony WF-1000XM6 at £235.99 gives you better ANC, far better battery, and LDAC support, making it the stronger choice if you can stretch the budget.
Which has better noise cancellation: the Buds4 Pro or AirPods Pro 3?
Per Android Central, both sit just outside the elite ANC tier that the Sony WF-1000XM6 occupies. Per SoundGuys, the Buds4 Pro achieves 84% average noise reduction; Sony leads at 88%. The AirPods Pro 3 and Buds4 Pro are broadly comparable on ANC in real-world use.
Is the White Buds4 Pro worth £30 more than the Black?
No, on specs alone. The White colourway costs £199 versus £169.99 for Black based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data. The specs are identical. The White is available from more retailers (12 vs 5), which gives you more price comparison options, but the Black is the better value buy.
Where can I buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro in the UK?
At the time of writing, the White is available from 12 UK retailers including AO.com, Currys, and Samsung UK, priced from £199 to £219.99. The Black colourway is available from 5 retailers including AO.com, Currys, and OnBuy.com, from £169.99. We’re tracking both across all retailers, compare live prices here.