Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 has been a strong competitor for the best premium earbuds, but Samsung hasn’t held back with the enhanced features of the Buds 3 Pro.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 still ranks among the best earbuds available. Samsung, Bose, and Sony have all introduced competitively-priced earbuds. Most significantly, Samsung unveiled the most recent version of their flagship premium earphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3 (July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event)
A month after the release of the second-generation Galaxy Buds Pro, Apple’s earbuds have managed to hold onto their market value, while Samsung’s new earbuds made their appearance with capabilities enhanced by Galaxy AI.
There is no one-size-fits-all set of earbuds, and the selection of the right pair depends on a number of essential factors. You may choose the earbuds that best fit your audio needs by considering these important differences.To determine which earphones are perfect for you, let’s compare them.
Specifications Comparison
| Features | Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 | Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
| Sound | Personalized Spatial Audio, ANC, and Transparency Modes | 360 Audio, ANC, and Ambient Sound Modes |
| Durability | IP54 | IP57 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Battery | Up to 6 hours and 30 hours with charging case (ANC off) | Up to 7 hours of playback and 30 hours with charging case (ANC off) |
| Colors | White | White, Silver |
| Price | $179 | $249 |
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro should be purchased if:
1. You own a Samsung smartphone that is compatible
The latest high-end Samsung earbuds are compatible with Pixel and iPhone phones, but users of those models will be unable to perform some important functions that are exclusive to Samsung smartphones. Only Samsung handsets have unique features like Interpreter Mode and extremely high-quality audio playback.
Furthermore, only Samsung smartphones can be used with Samsung SmartThings Find, the program for finding your Galaxy devices. With the help of this feature, you can locate your Galaxy Buds and get alerts if you misplace an earbud. Like Apple’s one-tap Bluetooth pairing software and Google’s Fast Pair, Samsung EasyPair enables quick pairing between your Galaxy Buds and your Samsung smartphone.
2. Galaxy AI is deeply connected to your digital ecosystem
Add the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to your ecosystem if you own a Samsung Galaxy tablet or smartphone that supports Galaxy AI. These earphones are powered by artificial intelligence with improved microphone quality. When you wear the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, you may listen to spoken words in a foreign language and the earbuds will convert them to your favorite language thanks to Interpreter Mode, which is powered by Galaxy AI.
Enhanced call quality and adaptive noise cancellation are more benefits of Galaxy AI. Samsung claims that the earbuds use machine learning to maintain the highest caliber of the speaker’s voice during calls, with an experience that should be similar to using a smartphone.
The AirPods Pro 2 should be purchased if:
1. You’re devoted to the Apple ecosystem
Apple’s flagship premium earbuds function best when paired with other devices inside the same ecosystem, much like the Galaxy Buds. If you own a MacBook or iPhone, you definitely need the AirPods Pro 2. Only when the earbuds are paired with an Apple device, features like Conversation Awareness, and personalized spatial audio can be accessed.
Although you won’t be able to use iOS-specific functions, you can still connect AirPods to non-Apple devices including Chromebooks, Google smartphones, and Samsung smartphones.
2. Your top priority is longevity
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 have been hailed as one of the greatest high-end earbuds (2022). Apple releases software updates each year to extend the life of these earbuds. By contrast, a month before Apple debuted the second-generation AirPods Pro, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Apple improves its earphones through over-the-air software updates rather than introducing a new set with unique capabilities. Nevertheless, in order to access the newest capabilities, Samsung users need to buy new earbuds.
Furthermore, Apple has a longer list of compatible devices than Samsung does. Some of the most important functions of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are limited to a few smartphones and one tablet. On the other hand, the MacBook Air (2012), first-generation Apple Watch, and first-generation iPhone SE can all use the complete feature set of the AirPods Pro 2.
Review: Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 vs. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Pro
In terms of design, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro might be mistaken for the AirPods Pro. However it’s important to note that the Buds3 Pro comes in both white and gray, so you’re not confined to white like you are with the AirPods Pro 2. The Buds3 Pro has the same form and a silicone tip. Although there is a clear upper section, the charging case is comparable to the AirPods Charging Case.
The Buds 3 Pro has excellent sound quality right out of the box, however, unlike the AirPods Pro 2, you can use the equalizer to change the sound.
It’s difficult to distinguish between the Buds3 Pro’s “Ambient Mode” and transparency, Active Noise Cancellation, and the AirPods Pro’s similar capabilities.
But when it comes to using ambient noise detection to alter sound, Samsung’s Buds3 Pro fall short of the AirPods Pro (performance-wise). The Buds3 Pro had trouble adjusting the sound when someone was spoke to you, while the AirPods Pro could.
In addition to features for volume adjustment on the stem, the Buds3 Pro includes an integrated LED light for aesthetic purposes. When the most recent Galaxy phones were connected to an interpreter mode, Samsung included the ability to translate other languages.
Despite their similarities, it’s difficult to consider the Buds3 Pro and AirPods Pro 2 to be competitors because the former is intended primarily for use with Android devices, while the latter is optimized for use with Apple devices. While Samsung users should consider the Buds3 Pro, iPhone users should continue using the AirPods.
The cost of $249 for Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the same as that of the AirPods Pro 2.
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Conclusion
With the release of their new earphones, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Samsung is clearly channeling the aesthetic of their AirPods Pro 2. They both have the same timeless silicone tip design, but Samsung offers you more color choices—silver or white, rather than just Apple’s standard white. The sound quality is good right out of the box, and unlike the AirPods Pro 2, you can adjust it with an equalizer.
Like AirPods Pro, they also have active noise cancellation, and their ambient mode functions essentially in the same way. Nevertheless, it’s a bit of a miss that the Buds3 Pro can’t adjust as well as the AirPods Pro when someone is speaking to you.
The real deal, though, is this: if you’re an iPhone fan, stay with AirPods Pro. But for you Samsung users, these Buds3 Pro are designed just for you. Similar in price to the AirPods Pro 2, they are available for purchase today for a July 24 launch date.