Compare OnePlus Buds 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4

ANC is the most divided area: several reviewers call it strong or impressive for the price, while others say it is average, weak, or below competitors.

Reviewers agreed ANC is the weakest major feature: two hands-on reviews found it modest or not serious, while the specs-focused comparison expected improvement over Buds 3.

Android compatibility is strong because reviewers emphasize that a OnePlus phone is not necessary to access core features.

Android and especially Samsung users get the strongest experience, with one reviewer explicitly saying the buds were made for Android/Samsung users.

The app is a major strength, with reviewers praising easy setup, strong feature access, stability, and broad control options.

The app and phone settings offer a broad control surface, with reviewers highlighting a huge range of adjustable settings.

Audio-video sync is generally strong for video and casual gaming, with occasional gaming delay noted in demanding cases.

Bass is one of the strongest themes: many reviewers praise its punch, depth, and fun energy, while a few find it too much or underwhelming out of the box.

Bass was consistently praised as punchy, wide, warm, and stronger than expected for open-fit entry-level earbuds.

Battery life is viewed as good enough by most reviewers, but not universally impressive and vulnerable to feature drain.

Battery life was treated as adequate but unimpressive, with one reviewer calling 5-6 hours poor beside longer-lasting rivals.

Bluetooth reliability is positive where tested, with strong range and stable everyday connectivity noted by reviewers.

Bluetooth was viewed positively, with reviewers citing longer range, future-proofing, and Bluetooth 6.1 as a meaningful upgrade.

Build quality is generally positive, with reviewers noting durable finishes and solid construction after use.

Build quality drew positive comments for a premium feel and a more refined look than the prior generation.

Hi-res playback brings some benefits, such as lower distortion or slightly better quality, but reviewers describe the improvement as limited.

Hi-res/UHQ playback was praised when paired with compatible Galaxy hardware and high-resolution sources, adding perceived expansiveness and cleaner sound.

Control usability is strong where volume swipes are discussed, although one review criticized the default omission of play/pause.

The stem controls were praised as easy, precise, and straightforward, especially after Samsung refined the blade shape.

The included cable drew a mild negative note because PCMag called it short despite recognizing the signature USB-C cable.

Carry case quality is mixed: reviewers like the compact pocketable case, but one questioned the plastic case’s toughness.

The case was reviewed favorably for practical design touches, including visibility through the lid and useful physical controls.

Charging is mixed: fast charging helps, but the repeated lack of wireless charging is one of the most common drawbacks.

Codec support is useful but imperfect: LHDC support earns interest, yet limited device support and unstable high bitrates reduce its practical value.

Comfort is widely praised, with many reviewers saying the earbuds are comfortable for long sessions, though one found fit only moderately comfortable.

Comfort was a major strength in the Tom's Guide review, including for smaller ears and everyday listening.

Design is broadly praised for looking stylish, premium, sleek, and attractive, with only smudging treated separately as a drawback.

Design impressions were positive overall, with reviewers calling the Buds 4 more polished, premium, and refined despite the familiar AirPods-like shape.

Eartip fit is mostly positive for comfort and seal, though one review notes the looser fit can let a bud slip out.

Fit evidence was mixed: reviewers liked the comfort of the open form, but the lack of a seal and repeated fit adjustments hurt stability and ANC.

Ear tip sizing receives one mild complaint that extra-large tips would have been useful.

EQ customization is useful and often effective, though one review found it too light-touch to correct the bass-heavy sound.

EQ customization was described as a premium feature, with access to adjustment options and presets inside Samsung's software experience.

Frequency balance is often considered improved or well tuned, but reviewers frame it as consumer-friendly rather than strictly neutral.

One comparison review credited the Buds 4 tuning with better clarity and balance than the prior generation.

Head gestures were treated as a useful modern addition that adds hands-free control and helps Samsung keep pace with rivals.

Hinge durability is positive in the reviews that mention it, with both describing the case hinge as sturdy and not flimsy.

Instrument separation and imaging are frequently praised, with reviewers noting above-average placement, exceptional separation, and clear directional cues.

Instrument separation was praised in track testing, where synths, bass, vocals, and percussion stayed layered rather than smeared together.

The integrated mic array is praised in the scored review for supporting clear speech recognition.

The integrated microphone system was described as upgraded and designed for clearer calls and better voice recognition.

Maximum-volume clarity is mixed: PCMag praised distortion-free bass at top volumes, while Scarbir warned treble can become overwhelming.

Microphone noise reduction is often praised for suppressing background noise and wind, though Android Central was less convinced outdoors.

Microphone noise reduction was a strength, with reviewers saying background roar, white noise, wind, and background noise were reduced or blocked.

Call microphone quality is usually good to excellent, with praise for loud, clear voices, though a few reviewers consider it merely adequate.

Call quality was usable but not flawless: one review heard crisp clarity, another reported a muffled voice, and the comparison piece expected clearer calls.

Midrange impressions vary: some hear clear vocals and mids, while others find the mids veiled or recessed behind the stronger bass and treble.

Midrange clarity was praised, especially for vocals, though Engadget described the non-Pro model's mids as merely filling the gaps adequately.

Multi-platform compatibility is positive in the scored review, which found audio quality consistent across several phones.

Multi-platform compatibility was a clear limitation because the richest features and smoothest device switching stay tied to Samsung or Galaxy devices.

Multipoint is a consistent strength, with reviewers calling it brilliant, flawless, convenient, and useful across phones, laptops, and other devices.

Multipoint and device switching were mixed: Tom's Guide criticized non-Galaxy limitations, while the specs comparison expected smoother Galaxy ecosystem switching.

Passive isolation was weak because the open-fit body lacks a sealing silicone tip, letting outside noise seep in.

Portability is positive in the scored review, which highlights the compact, lightweight design of the buds and case.

Smudge resistance is weak because reviewers repeatedly describe the glossy earbuds as fingerprint-prone.

Setup and software simplicity are mixed: several reviewers call setup or the app easy, while others report slow pairing or calibration/connectivity friction.

Setup and software were strongest for Galaxy users, with settings baked into the phone and a broad range of options available.

Reviewers generally like the sound for the price, often calling it good, rich, or entertaining, though some note bass-heavy tuning and imperfect balance.

Sound quality was the clearest strength across all three reviews, with praise for richness, refinement, and overall listening enjoyment.

Soundstage depth received positive evidence through UHQ listening, where acoustics were described as reverberating around the listener.

Soundstage is viewed as respectable to impressive for the price, though one reviewer felt pricier Pro buds opened up audio more.

Soundstage width was praised in UHQ mode, with Tom's Guide calling the presentation surprisingly expansive.

Spatial audio divides reviewers: some call it immersive and unusually good at this price, while others find it underwhelming, fake, or unnatural.

Spatial audio was not a selling point for one reviewer, who said upmixed spatial audio could warp music.

Fit stability is mostly good for exercise and daily use, though some reviewers see it as better for lighter activity or dependent on eartip fit.

Physical stability was a weakness in the Engadget review because the open design required repeated fit adjustments.

Touch controls are mostly praised for responsiveness and customization, but some reviewers report missed taps, accidental presses, or awkward use while moving.

Touch control responsiveness was praised, with reviewers finding the touch area easy to locate and the gestures precise or straightforward.

Transparency mode ranges from natural and useful to confusingly ineffective, with reviewer experiences varying more than for most other features.

Transparency mode earned positive evidence from the comparison review because Ambient Sound made daily use more practical than Buds 3.

Treble receives split feedback, from clear and detailed to blown out, spicy, harsh, or insufficiently crisp depending on reviewer and volume.

Treble performance was praised for crunchy highs and strong mids/treble performance, without the tinniness criticized in AirPods comparisons.

Value for money is one of the clearest strengths, with most reviewers praising the $100 feature set despite some tradeoffs.

Value was favorable for Galaxy owners and price-conscious buyers, with reviewers calling the performance strong for the $179 tier.

Voice assistant integration is positive in the one scored review, which says assistant commands worked well hands-free.

Voice assistant integration was considered useful for hands-free tasks, though one reviewer personally had little interest in AI assistants.

Volume output is a strength for reviewers who like loud earbuds, with both scored reviews describing the Buds 3 as louder than average.

Water and sweat protection is treated positively for rain and sweat use, though reviewers do not frame it as suitable for submersion.

Water and sweat resistance were a concern because the Buds 4 dropped from Buds 3's IP57 rating to IP54 and were described as less rugged.

Weight comfort is a strength: reviewers describe the buds as lightweight enough to barely register or be easy to forget in the ear.