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Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation): Battle of the stem design
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AirPods and Galaxy Buds are both tightly woven into their respective Apple and Samsung ecosystems, but which brand does it better? That’s what we’re finding out in this Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) comparison.
Samsung has issued a pause on shipping the Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Samsung has halted shipping the Galaxy Buds3 Pro. The company provided this statement to SoundGuys:
“There have been reports relating to a limited number of early production Galaxy Buds3 Pro devices. We are taking this matter very seriously and remain committed to meeting the highest quality standards of our products. We are urgently assessing and enhancing our quality control processes. To ensure all products meet our quality standards, we have temporarily suspended deliveries of Galaxy Buds3 Pro devices to distribution channels to conduct a full quality control evaluation before shipments to consumers take place. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” — Samsung
If you’ve pre-ordered or purchased the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro online, you may have to wait until late August for your units as the current batch of earbuds undergoes quality control evaluation. Though it might be frustrating to have to wait longer, the upside here is that Samsung is standing by its product, and ensuring it meets its standards. These things can be painful, but to go this far means Samsung is taking these issues seriously. Expect more updates to the review should our unit fall under this inspection and if we get asked to re-test with a new unit. If you already have your earbuds, be sure to contact Samsung if you notice any issues with your product.
Editor’s note: this article was published on July 24, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro compared to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)?
We’re not the first to say it and we won’t be the last – Samsung copied the design of Apple’s earbuds. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro take a lot of design inspiration from the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), while the regular Galaxy Buds3 take some cues from the regular Apple AirPods (3rd generation). Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and we aren’t complaining about the stem design of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, as it is a tried and true form factor. That said, Samsung didn’t quite master the design, given the fact they had to suspend shipments of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro due to quality control issues.
Assuming you don’t get a defunct unit, you will likely enjoy the design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. We found the earbuds are comfortable to wear, and stay in place well. Similarly, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are very comfortable. Each Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbud weighs 5.4g, while each AirPods Pro earbud weighs 5.3g.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro take a lot of design inspiration from the AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
When it comes to durability, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro have the edge. They are IP57 dust and water-resistant, superior to the IPX4 rating of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). That said, the AirPods are still sweat-resistant enough to take with you to the gym.
Samsung took another page out of Apple’s playbook when it comes to controls. Just like with the AirPods, you can pinch the stem of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro to control music playback. You can also use voice controls for both the Samsung and Apple earbuds.
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Slide up / down | Left earbud Volume | Right earbud Volume |
| Input Pinch once | Left earbud Play / pause | Right earbud Play / pause |
| Input Pinch twice | Left earbud Track forward | Right earbud Track forward |
| Input Pinch three times | Left earbud Track backward | Right earbud Track backward |
| Input Long pinch | Left earbud ANC/ ambient mode | Right earbud ANC / ambient mode |
| INPUT (stems) | ACTION |
|---|---|
One press | Play/pause/answer call |
Two presses | Next track |
Three presses | Previous track |
Press and hold | Toggle ANC/Adaptive Transparency modes |
Swipe up/down | Increase/decrease volume |
"Hey Siri" | Change volume, request directions, playback control, receive messages, and more |
Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) have more features?
As expected, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro work best with Samsung phones, whereas the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) work best with iPhones. Both have a very comprehensive set of features, as long as you stay within the ecosystem.
You can adjust basic functions for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro right from within the Settings on your Galaxy device. With the addition of the Samsung Wearable app, you can access voice commands, adaptive noise control, AI translation services, 360 audio, Find My, and more. The app also provides an equalizer to adjust the sound of the earbuds, a feature you won’t find native to the AirPods.
There’s no separate app for the AirPods, as Apple bakes all the software functionality into the operating system. In the Settings app you’ll find an ear tip fit test, listening mode adjustments, and control customization. Open the Control Center on your device and you can access features like audio sharing and spatial audio. To find a lost AirPods earbud, head to the Find My app on your Apple device.
How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) connect?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro have Bluetooth 5.4 with support for SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec, and Samsung Seamless Codec. While you can pair the Galaxy Buds3 Pro to any device, you’ll need a relatively new Samsung device to take full advantage of the earbuds connectivity tech that is capable of streaming at up to 24bit/96kHz.
Similarly, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) work best with Apple devices. They have Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC, the latter of which works well with iOS devices. While Android supports AAC, its performance is historically variable on Android. The H2 chip inside the earbuds supports what Apple calls “high bandwidth connectivity,” suggesting that the sound quality is getting closer to lossless but isn’t quite there yet.
Is battery life better on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)?
According to our battery testing, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro last 4 hours and 31 minutes, whereas the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) last 5 hours and 43 minutes. We conduct our testing with noise canceling turned on, so you may experience longer battery life in different listening modes and with different volume levels. The shorter battery life of the Samsung earbuds means more frequent charge cycles, which shortens the life expectancy of the product. The case of both earbuds provides a few extra full charges.
You can charge the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro wirelessly or with a USB-C cable. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) support both of those charging methods, as well as the proprietary MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers.
Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) block noise better?
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) have active noise canceling to block out external noise. According to our testing, both do a good job blocking out noise, but the AirPods have a slight edge. The ANC of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro struggles to block out low-frequency noise below 100Hz, as well as mid-range noise around 500Hz. This is disappointing considering how good the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro were at blocking out noise.
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If you are interested in staying aware of your surroundings, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) each have a very capable transparency mode. Both sets of earbuds are also intelligent enough to listen for sounds like a passing siren.
Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro sound better than the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)?
Most people will enjoy the sound quality of both the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Out of the box, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have a strong emphasis on bass, but you can tame this down with the Clear EQ preset. While the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) don’t have a custom equalizer, they do have Adaptive EQ, which tailors the sound quality to the shape of your ears. This makes the AirPods the ideal choice for people who don’t want to tinker.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The chart below shows how the sound of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.
On a scale from 1-5, both earbuds score a 4.8 Overall. This is a very high score, and it means that most people will enjoy the default sound quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
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As you can see in the chart above, the default frequency response of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro emphasizes low and high frequencies more than the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The AirPods have a more neutral sound that closely follows our headphone preference curve. That said, you can easily customize the sound quality of the Samsung earbuds using the equalizer in the Samsung Wearables app.
Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) have a better microphone?
You can use both the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) for taking calls on the go. In quiet environments, both earbuds are equipped with microphones that reproduce the voice clearly. In our simulated noise tests, we found the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro do not reject background noise as well as the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). That said, performance will vary depending on what device you are connected to and what app you are using.
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro microphone demo (Office conditions):
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) microphone demo (Office conditions):
Which microphone sounds beter to you?
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation): Price and availability
In yet a final statement of imitation, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro have the same starting price of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) of $250 USD. That said, since it has been a while since Apple updated it’s AirPods lineup, you are more likely to find the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) on sale than the Galaxy Buds3 Pro.
As of writing, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are on hold due to quality control issues, with the earbuds now set to hit shelves in late 2024.
Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)?
I’m sure you saw this coming, but your decision here should come down to the logo on the back of your smartphone. If you are tied to the Apple ecosystem, buy the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). If you are allegiant to Samsung, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro are a good option. If you have neither a Samsung or Apple smartphone, you should look at alternative options.
In terms of pure performance, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are very evenly matched. No matter which earbuds you go with, you will enjoy great sound quality, good noise canceling, and a plethora of intelligent features.
Comfortable fit
Wireless charging
Frequently asked questions
With an IP57 rating, you can submerge the Galaxy Buds3 Pro in water for up to 30 minutes. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) only have an IPX4 rating for mild water resistance against splashes of water.
You can use the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) cross-platform, but we recommend you stay within their respective ecosystem to enjoy all of the features.
Yes, both the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) support wireless charging.
Yes, both the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) have active noise canceling.
With the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, you can connect to multiple Samsung devices at the same time. Similarly, with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you can only connect to multiple Apple devices at the same time.