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A celebrated classic
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Apple ANC is some of the best ANC
There’s no telling how much has been written about the Apple AirPods, but we’ll be adding more letters and words to the praise pile! The AirPods Pro are some of the best noise-canceling earbuds money can buy, and they sound absolutely incredible, too.
Pros- Great sound and call quality
- Terrific ANC
- IP54 rated
- Solid battery life
- Easy to switch between Apple devices
Cons- No hi-res capabilities
- Less compatible with non-Apple devices
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A cosmetic clone
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Hi-res playback with Samsung’s SSC codec
Even if the new and improved Galaxy Buds 3 Pro look a lot like the AirPods Pro, it’s hard to argue with the clearly-inspired design. Not to mention these flagship ANC Sammies sound awesome, fit very well, and can be customized through the Galaxy Wearable app.
Pros- Great sound and call quality
- Comfortable fit
- IP57 rated
- Solid battery life
- Nice companion app
Cons- Doesn?t play well with Apple devices
- ANC could be better
If you’re looking for a fantastic pair of wireless earbuds, two of the top brands to consider are Samsung and Apple.
The former is best known for its Galaxy Buds lineup, now in its third generation. For the latter, you’re looking at AirPods, one of the O.G. earbud families to take the world by storm. And if money isn’t a big concern, you’ll want to look at the premium models offered by both companies: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation with USB-C).
To help you decide which is best for your lifestyle, music preferences, and travel needs, we’ll be pitting these flagship buds against each other. We’ll weigh in on essential criteria like sound quality, noise-canceling, software, and overall value. We’ll also be providing links to our hands-on reviews of both products.
Price, availability, and specifications
AirPods are less expensive
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (herein referred to as Buds 3 Pro) have a retail list price of $250 and are available in Silver and White colorways. You can purchase these wireless earbuds from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and directly through Samsung. The Apple AirPods Pro also have a list price of $250 and can be purchased in stores or online through companies including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, or directly through Apple.
Both pairs of earbuds have already gone on sale, too. The lowest price we’ve seen the Buds 3 Pro sell for is $188, and we’ve seen the AirPods Pro go for as little as $153.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Battery Life 6 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with case 6 hours (ANC on); 7 hours (ANC off) Microphones Yes 3x per bud IP rating IPX4 IP57 (buds only) Supported codecs SBC and AAC AAC, SBC, Samsung Seamless Price $250 $250
Read Our Review
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) review: Some restrictions apply
Surprise: Apple’s earbuds aren’t nearly as good outside Apple’s ecosystem
Read Our Review
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound better than AirPods, but look like a cheap knockoff
An unoriginal design and QC issues are a concern
Design, fit, and controls
Looking a lot like twins
At first glance, the Buds 3 Pro and AirPods Pro may look nearly identical. Clearly, Samsung took inspiration from the classic AirPods design, with a couple of stylistic changes thrown in for good measure.
Looking a bit more angular than the AirPods Pro, the Buds 3 Pro have a glossy exterior from bud body to stems. Tap and long-press commands are mapped to touch points on both stems (which you can customize using the Galaxy Wearable app). The Buds 3 Pro are also IP57-rated, though the charging case doesn’t feature any weatherproofing.
The Buds 3 Pro case supports USB-C wired charging and Qi wireless. Samsung provides additional silicone ear tip sizes in the box, so you’ll be able to find a pair that best matches the shape of your ears. Our reviewer thought the Buds 3 Pro fit securely and felt comfortable for several hours. We were also glad to find LED lights built into both buds, which light up to indicate pairing status and can serve as a helpful beacon should you lose either bud.
While the AirPods Pro ditched the second colorway option (sorry, silver fans), at this point, the uniform-white of the AirPods lineup is iconic. Where the Buds 3 Pro buds have sharper edges, Apple opted for a more gentle, rounded design for the AirPods Pro. An earlier version of the MagSafe charging case featured a Lightning port, but Apple has done away with its proprietary connection in favor of USB-C.
Like the Buds 3 Pro case, the MagSafe holster supports wired and wireless charging and even has an Apple U1 chip. This allows the case to be tracked through the Find My app. The case has a built-in speaker, too, which will emit a chime when Find My is activated.
Tap and long-press controls are mapped to touch points on the AirPods stems (which can be customized via iOS), and Apple provides additional silicone ear tip sizes in the box. The AirPods Pro fit nicely and snugly and are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end. The earbuds and MagSafe case have an IP54 rating, too.
Sound and call quality
Samsung might be just a little better
Whether you go with the Buds 3 Pro or AirPods Pro, you’ll enjoy incredible sound quality for music, podcasts, and even for certain movies, shows, and video games.
The Buds 3 Pro are equipped with 10.5mm dynamic drivers and 6.1mm planar tweeters. The earbuds run on Bluetooth 5.4 and support the SBC, AAC, and SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec), plus spatial audio. One of the cool things about the Samsung buds is the inclusion of Galaxy AI, which automatically fine-tunes audio and noise-canceling to best align with your typical listening preferences.
But how do those decibels shake out in your ears? When we tested the Buds 3 Pro, the sound quality blew us away. Out of the box, they have a bass-forward signature, which nicely compliments genres like rock, rap, and R&B. The lower end doesn’t trample the rest of the soundstage either, with vocals and treble-range instruments coming through crisp and clear. You can also use the Galaxy Wearable app to change the listening preset or to create your own EQ.
Related
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Similar name, very different design
Newer is (barely) better
The AirPods Pro run on Apple’s H2 chip and feature 11mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 support, and support for the SBC and AAC codecs, along with spatial audio. While they lack any AI features, the H2 chipset allows the Pro buds to deliver some of the best sound quality and noise-canceling of any TWS product. And like the Buds 3 Pro, you can expect a remarkable balance of highs, mids, and lows, with a little extra oomph at the low end.
While there isn’t a dedicated app for AirPods features and customizations, iPhone and iPad device owners will be able to use an Apple device to access certain dashboard settings (like ANC modes and touch point controls) through the iOS Settings app. Those subscribed to Apple Music will also be able to switch between audio presets in the app, but you won’t be able to use a multi-band EQ to create a preset all your own.
Phone calls sound pretty decent with both pairs of earbuds, too, and the Buds 3 Pro and AirPods Pro use advanced microphone systems to make speaking voices sound as full and loud as possible while reducing background noise.
Noise-canceling
Apple wins this category
Both the Buds 3 Pro and AirPods Pro use active noise-canceling technology to cancel out unwanted sounds in your listening environment. Traditionally, ANC achieves the best results with low-end sounds like bus, train, and plane engines, construction zones, and HVAC systems. Consistent midrange sounds (like coworkers chatting) are nicely handled by ANC, too.
We thought the Buds 3 Pro did a good job at canceling environmental noise, but the AirPods Pro delivered stronger and more consistent ANC overall. This makes sense, though, as companies like Apple and Bose have been perfecting in-ear ANC for years, while Samsung is only a few generations into this kind of TWS tech.
Both pairs of earbuds bring excellent transparency modes to the table, and you’ll be able to toggle between ANC modes with earbud commands, the Galaxy Wearable app, or through iOS.
Battery life
Another point for the Apple
Unlike noise-canceling headphones, wireless earbuds tend to have a shorter battery life to work with. The Buds 3 Pro should deliver up to six hours of playback with ANC enabled and up to 26 hours total with a fully charged case. The AirPods Pro keep the same six-hour runtime of the Buds 3 Pro with ANC turned on, and 30 hours total with a topped-off MagSafe case.
Both pairs of earbuds support wired and Qi wireless charging. Apple also claims that just five minutes of recharging the AirPods Pro will net you an extra hour of playback.
Software
Two walled gardens, one big choice
Unlike Bose, Sony, and a host of other earbud brands, Samsung and Apple get a little tricky when it comes to first-party software.
Suppose you already own a Samsung Galaxy phone, tablet, or smartwatch. In that case, you’ll want to download the Galaxy Wearable app to access extra Buds 3 Pro features, settings, and updates (including Google Fast Pair).
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, the AirPods Pro will have additional features and settings you can access directly through iOS. This means that if you’re rocking an Android phone and pair your AirPods Pro to it, you won’t be able to customize or update them.
Related
ICYMI: The AirPods Pro 2 are hearing aids now
Last week, at its iPhone 16 event, Apple made an announcement that’s pretty significant for the industry as a whole: the AirPods Pro 2 would soon function as FDA-approved over-the-counter hearing aids. Official certification came later that week. OTC hearing aids generally are a relatively new advent. Since 2022, manufacturers have been able to apply for FDA clearance to sell hearing aids that don’t require a prescription or custom fitting. The change made assistive hearing devices more accessible to people who experience mild to moderate hearing loss; while prescription options can cost thousands of dollars, OTC models are typically much less expensive.The authorization makes the AirPods Pro 2 the first general-purpose consumer earbuds to pick up approved hearing aid functionality, and given Pro 2 retail for $250 and are typically available for about $190 on sale, they’re now among the more affordable assistive hearing options on the market. Of course, they require an iPhone — but
That being said, both the Galaxy Wearable app and AirPods iOS settings are easy to use and packed with user adjustments. Take an ear tip fit test to determine which silicone size is best for your ear and head shape; use a graphic EQ to fine-tune the sound of both buds to your liking; cycle between noise-canceling presets; customize what certain taps and long-presses; download firmware updates and more!
Oh, and if you own more than one Apple device, as long as they’re all signed in with the same Apple ID, your AirPods can switch between all your Apple gadgets with ease!
Which is right for you?
Apple is right for us
This was a really tough choice to make, but at the end of the day, we’re going to recommend the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation with USB-C) over the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The AirPods Pro delivers some of the best ANC in the business, along with excellent sound quality and solid battery life.
The winner
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
$170 $249 Save $79
The Apple AirPods Pro are a classic pair of wireless earbuds that just keep getting better. Expect phenomenal sound quality, top-shelf ANC, and intuitive ecosystem perks for Apple device owners.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is still a great choice, though. These buds may be best served by a Galaxy phone or tablet (the same goes for the AirPods and Apple hardware), but when it comes to sound quality, comfort, and Samsung customizations, it’s easy to see why the Buds 3 Pro are so highly rated.
The runner up
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
While it’s our second-best choice in this side by side, we would proudly stand behind the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro any day. They look awesome, sound fantastic, deliver solid ANC, and feature some great Galaxy exclusives.
