Back in July 2024, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 3. We just compared the two premium earbuds from Samsung. But is the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro better than Apple’s flagship AirPods Pro 2? Read on to find out which one’s the right pick for you.
AirPods Pro are iconic, but Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is refreshingly new
Apple AirPods Pro have a very recognizable design. So every time a brand launched truly wireless earbuds with a stem design and slanted silicon ear tips, these were immediately compared to the AirPods Pro. Even the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has this design. But while this design is iconic, that’s all you get. Samsung made a massive overhaul to the Galaxy Buds series on the charging case and the earbuds.
The new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has an LED lighting strip that displays the charge status and much more, while the case houses a new transparent lid on the top. All of this is refreshing from the classic pebble design that the Galaxy Buds were known for. The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) comes with an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance but you get a higher IP57 rating on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. While both models support wireless charging, this was Apple’s first AirPods Pro generation to feature a USB-C port.
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Audio Performance and ANC
It is hard to compare the audio performance between the two earbuds as this might come down to personal preference. Samsung tends to lean towards an overall balanced sound profile from its dual driver setup on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. On the other hand, the Apple AirPods Pro is known for clear and pronounced vocals. Although, this doesn’t mean that you’re missing out on everything else. The H2 chip was designed by Apple for crisp and high definition sound.
It also helps with the AirPods Pro’s ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). Apple is known for offering one of the best ANC solutions on earbuds, but Samsung is no slouch in this regard either. Samsung even brings Ambient sound and Voice Detect for an improved listening experience. For high res audio quality, it even supports various codecs like SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec) HiFi, SSC UHQ (Samsung Proprietary), AAC, and SBC.
Pricing and Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro was announced for $249, which is the same as the 2nd gen AirPods Pro retail. Depending on the region, the former might be listed for cheaper. Unlike most comparisons like pricing, the ecosystem comes into play here. While both brands have their own product family, Apple’s ecosystem is tightly wrapped with one another. The AirPods Pro is best recommended to iPhone users.
However, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can shine outside of Samsung Galaxy devices as well, making them more versatile. So if you’re an Android user, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is for you. Apple users might prefer the AirPods Pro in general. But you can be a bit experimental and try out the Galaxy Buds as well.
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