All Three Galaxy Buds Samsung Sells Have Noise Cancelling
Buds4 is open-type with no ear tips, Buds4 Pro adds IP57 and a 2-way driver, and Buds3 FE drops LE Audio and wireless charging.
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All three Galaxy Buds models Samsung sells in the US have Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient sound: Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds3 FE. What separates them is fit, codecs, water rating and charging, not whether they cancel noise, according to Samsung’s US store read on 21 October 2026.
The two Buds4 models share a number but not a fit. Samsung says Buds4 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) have an open-type design with no silicone ear tips that “does not seal the ear”, while Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds3 FE (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) come with ear tips. Buds3 FE is the one with the older Bluetooth and no wireless charging.
Model by model
From Samsung’s US compare page and the Key Specs table on the Buds4 Pro page, read 21 October 2026.
| Galaxy Buds4 Pro (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | Galaxy Buds4 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | Galaxy Buds3 FE (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise cancelling | Adaptive ANC 2.0 | Adaptive ANC | ANC, not adaptive |
| Ambient sound | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fit | 3 sizes of ear tips | Open-type, no ear tips | 3 sizes of ear tips |
| Speaker | 2-way, woofer + tweeter, dual amplifier | 1-way, 11mm | 1-way, 11mm |
| Codecs | SSC-UHQ (24-bit/96kHz), SSC, AAC, SBC, LC3 | SSC-UHQ (24-bit/96kHz), SSC, AAC, SBC, LC3 | SSC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.4 |
| LE Audio and Auracast | Yes | Yes | Not available |
| 360 Audio | With head tracking | With head tracking | Without head tracking |
| Water rating | IP57 | IP54 | IP54 |
| Wireless charging case | Yes | Yes | No |
| Controls | Touch, swipe, head gestures, voice | Touch, swipe, head gestures | Touch, swipe |
Samsung also lists Adaptive Noise Control and Volume EQ for both Buds4 models and marks them “not available” on Buds3 FE, and Voice Detect for Buds4 Pro alone. HD Voice calling is listed for both Buds4 models and not for the FE.
Noise cancelling on an open fit
Samsung gives Buds4 Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation on a design it says “does not seal the ear, providing more awareness of your surroundings.” It publishes no figure comparing how much noise each model removes, so this page cannot say how Buds4 compare with the sealed pair. Fit matters to how well cancelling works, as we explain in why noise cancelling is better at hum than voices. Apple made a similar split with AirPods, which we set out in which AirPods have noise cancelling.
Battery, as Samsung states it
| Model | Earbuds, ANC on / off | With case, ANC on / off | Talk time with case, ANC on / off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Buds4 Pro (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | 6 / 7 hours | 26 / 30 hours | 20 / 22 hours |
| Galaxy Buds4 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | 5 / 6 hours | 24 / 30 hours | 18 / 20 hours |
| Galaxy Buds3 FE (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) | 6 / 8.5 hours | 24 / 30 hours | 18 / 18 hours |
Samsung states each figure both ways, with noise cancelling on and off, so the rows compare directly. With noise cancelling off, all three reach up to 30 hours with the case, and the FE runs longest on the earbuds alone, at 8.5 hours. Samsung says battery life varies with settings, file type and Bluetooth signal strength.
Prices
| Model | List price, Samsung US store | Sale price shown, 21 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Buds4 Pro | $249.99 | $199.99 |
| Galaxy Buds4 | $179.99 | $149.99 |
| Galaxy Buds3 FE | $149.99 | No sale shown |
Samsung printed the first two as “was” prices beside the sale price, with no end date. Other retailers may charge less.
What else separates them
The 24-bit mode needs a recent Galaxy device. Both Buds4 models list Samsung’s SSC-UHQ codec at 24-bit/96kHz, but Samsung’s Buds4 Pro page says UHQ works with Galaxy S23 to S26 phones, the Z Fold5 to Fold7 and Z Flip5 to Flip7, and Tab S9 to S11 tablets on One UI 6.1.1 or later. Buds3 FE is listed at 16-bit/48kHz. AAC and SBC are listed for all three; we cover what codec labels promise in our guide to Bluetooth codecs.
iPhone owners get the basics. Samsung lists “iOS: Bluetooth only” for all three and says its Galaxy Wearable app is not supported on iOS. On other Android phones Samsung lists that app for settings; on Galaxy phones with One UI 8.0 or later, settings sit in the phone’s own Settings.
Water: Buds4 Pro carry the higher rating. Samsung says IP57 allows immersion in up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, while IP54 covers dust and splashes. Its footnote still advises against beach or pool use, and says the charging case is not water resistant.
No cable with Buds4 or Buds3 FE. Samsung lists the earbuds, case and guide for Buds4, and says a USB-C cable is not included with Buds3 FE either.
Questions people ask
Do Galaxy Buds3 FE have noise cancelling?
Yes. Samsung lists Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient sound for Buds3 FE. Unlike Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, it is not the adaptive version: Samsung marks Adaptive EQ/Adaptive ANC and Adaptive Noise Control “not available” on the FE.
Do Galaxy Buds4 have ear tips?
No. Samsung says Buds4 have an open-type design that does not seal the ear, and come without silicone ear tips. Buds4 Pro come with three sizes of ear tips, and Buds3 FE with small, medium and large.
What is the difference between Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro?
Buds4 Pro add ear tips, a 2-way speaker with dual amplifiers, IP57 instead of IP54, Voice Detect and voice-command control. Both list the same codecs, Bluetooth 6.1, Auracast, head gestures and a wirelessly charged case. Samsung rates Buds4 Pro one hour longer per charge.
Can you swim with Galaxy Buds4 Pro?
Samsung does not advise it. Buds4 Pro are rated IP57, which Samsung describes as immersion in up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, but its footnote says the earbuds are “not advised for beach or pool use” and the case is not water resistant.
Do Galaxy Buds work with iPhone?
Yes, as Bluetooth earbuds. Samsung lists “iOS: Bluetooth only” for all three, and says its Galaxy Wearable app, which holds the earbuds’ settings on Android, is not supported on iOS. The 24-bit UHQ mode needs a listed Galaxy phone or tablet.
How long does the Galaxy Buds battery last?
Samsung rates the earbuds alone at 5 to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, and 6 to 8.5 hours with it off, depending on model. With the case, each reaches up to 30 hours with noise cancelling off, and 24 to 26 hours with it on.
How we researched this
No one at bitcritiq has handled this product. Everything here comes from published sources, listed below.
- What this cannot tell you
- We have not used any of these earbuds; every feature is Samsung’s statement of what the model supports, and Samsung gives no figure comparing how much noise each model cancels. Battery figures are Samsung’s maximums, which it says vary with settings, file type and signal strength. Samsung’s own pages disagree on two Buds3 FE details: the compare page lists its Bluetooth 5.4 as “LE Audio Ready” and its controls as touch and swipe, while the Key Specs table marks LE Audio “not available” and lists pinch control; we follow the Key Specs table for LE Audio and say so. Prices were read on 21 October 2026 and change; two models were on sale that day. Older Galaxy Buds, including Buds3 Pro, are not covered model by model.
How we chose this, and what we did
- Why this subject
- Search Console shows earbud queries such as “wireless earbuds review” and “best earbuds” reaching our earbud shortlist, and Samsung’s names do not say what separates the models: Buds4 and Buds4 Pro share a number but not a fit, and the FE sits a generation behind. Our AirPods and Beats pages answer the same question for Apple’s lines; nothing on the site set out Samsung’s current Galaxy Buds.
- How we looked at it
- Read through a browser on 21 October 2026. The models on sale are from Samsung’s US all-audio listing, which showed three Galaxy Buds with prices and Buy links; the control is that the Galaxy Buds compare page lists the same three, and the Galaxy Buds3 Pro buy address redirected to that listing. Battery, water rating, Bluetooth version, speaker, microphones and controls are from the compare page at samsung.com/us/mobile-audio/galaxy-buds/compare. Codecs, LE Audio, Auracast, HD Voice, Adaptive Noise Control and head gestures are from the Key Specs table on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro page, which lists all three models. Fit, ear tips, wireless charging and the IP57 immersion depth are from the FAQs on each model’s own page. The UHQ device list and the iOS note are from the Galaxy Buds4 Pro page’s footnotes. Prices are from each model’s SKU buy page, where Samsung prints the list price as “was” beside any sale price.
What this rests on
6 claims, all official. Nothing here was measured by bitcritiq — see how we test for why. Open a claim to read the source it came from.
Samsung’s US store sells three Galaxy Buds models, and all three have Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient sound.Official
US all-audio listing, 21 October 2026: “3 Results” — Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Galaxy Buds4, Galaxy Buds3 FE. Compare page: “Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0” and “Ambient Sound” (Buds4 Pro), “Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation” and “Ambient Sound” (Buds4), “Active Noise Cancellation” and “Ambient Sound” (Buds3 FE).
Galaxy Buds4 have an open-type design with no silicone ear tips; Buds4 Pro and Buds3 FE come with three sizes of ear tips.Official
Buds4 FAQ: “No, Galaxy Buds4 do not have silicone ear tips. They feature a new open-type design that does not seal the ear.” Same FAQ: “Galaxy Buds4 Pro also come with 3 sets of silicone ear tips in different sizes.” Buds3 FE FAQ: “ear tips (3 sets: S/M/L)”.
Buds4 Pro are rated IP57; Buds4 and Buds3 FE are rated IP54.Official
Buds4 FAQ: “Galaxy Buds4 Pro are IP57 rated for dust and water resistance, allowing immersion in up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, while Galaxy Buds4 are IP54 rated.” Compare page: “IP54 (Dust & Water Splashes)” for Buds3 FE; footnote: “charging case is not water resistant”.
Buds4 Pro and Buds4 list SSC-UHQ at 24-bit/96kHz plus SSC, AAC, SBC and LC3; Buds3 FE lists SSC, AAC and SBC.Official
Buds4 Pro page, Key Specs: “Bluetooth Codec SSC-UHQ (24-bit / 96 kHz) SSC, AAC, SBC, LC3” for Buds4 Pro and Buds4; “SSC, AAC, SBC” for Buds3 FE. Footnote: UHQ “is available on Galaxy S26 Series, S25 Series, S24 Series, S23 Series, Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, Tab S11 Series, Tab S10 Series, and Tab S9 Series with One UI 6.1.1 or above”.
Buds4 Pro and Buds4 cases charge wirelessly; Buds3 FE’s does not.Official
Buds4 Pro FAQ: “Yes, Galaxy Buds4 Pro Charging Case can be charged wirelessly.” Buds4 FAQ: “Yes, Galaxy Buds4 Charging Case can be charged wirelessly.” Buds3 FE FAQ: “Charging cable is not included and wireless charging is not supported.”
On an iPhone, Galaxy Buds work over Bluetooth only, without Samsung’s app.Official
Compare page, Compatibility, all three: “iOS: Bluetooth® only”. Buds4 Pro page footnote: “Galaxy Wearable app is not supported on iOS.”
Sources 7
- All Audio & Sound — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
- Compare Wireless Earbuds | Galaxy Buds — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
- Galaxy Buds4 Pro — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
- Galaxy Buds4 — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
Show 3 more · 3 official or standards
- Galaxy Buds3 FE — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
- Buy Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Black — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
- Galaxy Buds3 FE, Gray — Samsung USOfficialaccessed Oct 21, 2026
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