This choice was not an easy one to make, contrary to most people’s assumptions. People think it’s simply based on what ecosystem you have all the time. Well, it’s not. Sure, each ecosystem gives extra gimmicks, but gimmicks don’t replace sound, comfort, ANC, phone call quality, and hear-through abilities. Why? Because each of these earphones has each of these abilities, regardless of the ecosystem they are used on.
Apple Airpods Pro sound good on iOS and they sound good on Android. They have just as great ANC, hear-through, and phone call quality on Android as on iOS. But I will say, though, Samsung does hold its cards a little close to its chest in the sound area. They definitely sound the best on Samsung phones.
But like Apple, the ANC, hear-through, and fit don’t change because you have an Apple phone. So for me, this is where some of the split happens. I don’t have an iPhone that I use as my phone. I have access to an older iPhone X, but I don’t use it. I am still in awe over my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and think it is still the best phone in the world for me. The Buds 4 Pro and the Samsung S25 just make a perfect match. It should have been as easy as that, but for the last few days, it wasn’t.
Every time I picked up the AirPods, the ANC and phone call quality was so perfect I found myself wanting them in my ears all the time. Then I found myself wondering if I should go back to Apple iPhones. But when I listed any reasons and purposes for giving up the freedom I have with Android’s platform, I could not come up with a single app or task I use daily that would work better on iOS. Battery life is pretty much the same on both devices. I’m going to run the same apps I run right now, and I’ll lose Samsung Pay and LDAC, along with possibly the greatest feature on any earphone in the world: “No command word voice controls” only on Samsung..
So then I started to truly compare the sound. I was so shocked with the absolute power and dynamics the Samsung Buds2 Pro had over the AirPods. I thought they were closer than I originally thought, but once I sat down and allowed myself unbiased time with them, not just quick A/B time, the Samsung just took over in sound quality easily especially in volume power. Just like the Apple AirPods Pro 3’s did with ANC.
Bottom line, the Samsung Buds 4 Pro won, as they should. Sometimes, different and new things can fool you into making stupid, unnecessary moves to maintain your high about the new shiny penny. For the first time, a smartphone and earphone combo beats Apple’s direction. Yes, I could easily go get a new iPhone today, but what would that have accomplished? Losing Gemini (for right now at least), LDAC, my Samsung S25, its sound, and open-source OS. Sure, it’s not the ANC king of Apple, but none are, except possibly Sony. The overall road makes more sense on the table I’m eating on right now than to give up all this to look for something similar. All I’m going to do is download the same apps and use the same ones I use everyday with less control and freedom over my phone and less options. So my 4 pro power, features, and ability on my Samsung trumps the ANC advantage apple Airpods 3 pros have.
Tech-N-Things 