Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: Which earbuds are best?

Samsung is first out of the gate in its annual battle with Apple for mobile and audio supremacy, with the company recently launching the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 6 smartphone and flagship Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wireless earbuds. Samsung’s broad ecosystem makes the pairing a must for brand enthusiasts, mainly because of integrated AI features and the company’s signature sound technologies.

Meanwhile, their biggest rival in the AirPods Pro 2 keep getting better. Previous additions like Adaptive Audio and USB-C charging have extended the current model’s shelf life, and even more useful perks are on the way via this fall’s iOS 18 update. The AirPods Pro 2 also continue to leverage proprietary features (like adaptive active noise cancellation and spatial audio) that take advantage of Apple’s flawless iOS and macOS operating systems.

These are two of the best true wireless earbuds with advanced smarts. However, only one delivers on most promises, while the other requires some polishing. Scroll down to find out which is which.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Apple AirPods Pro 2 at a glance

Quick comparison

Both have great sound quality with different strengths

You will not be disappointed by the sound quality from either set of buds. It’s just a matter of what you prioritize most.

If it’s 3D audio, then go with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple’s spatial audio format produces remarkable 360-degree sound that’s enlivened through precise headtracking. Apple has also done a tremendous job of improving its soundstage, giving bass a noticeable uptick and stabilizing frequency range, while tossing in an adaptive EQ to fine-tune sound on the go, which it does extremely well. Newly added modes like Adaptive Audio seamlessly blend ANC and Transparency modes together to create the best sound profile based on your environment. You can even personalize sound through a variety of iOS features such as EQ and several hidden settings in Apple Music (e.g., Sound Check, Sound Enhancer).

Samsung’s 360 Audio gives music and movies a more immersive feel. Not to mention, its headtracking technology accurately places sound where your skull moves. However, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro benefit most from their wireless playback, which is spearheaded by SSC to dynamically scale bitrate and unveil more details in recordings. The codec is only available on Samsung devices, but it’s a huge difference-maker that grants hi-res goodness across all the best music streaming services.

These buds also sound terrific on iOS and other Android devices, generating crisp mids, punchy bass and transparent highs. Users can customize sound in the multiplatform Galaxy Wearable app that hosts an adjustable nine-band EQ with great presets, low-latency Gaming mode and Accessibility menu to balance sound between the left and right channels. Samsung’s adaptive EQ does as good of a job as Apple’s, too.

TL;DR: These are two of the most sonically well-rounded pairs of buds available with smart audio engineering.

The AirPods Pro 2 have stronger active noise cancelation

Apple’s ANC technology eliminates a large percentage of unwanted sounds and harnesses stronger wind resistance that heavily reduces whooshing effects in gusty conditions. The Adaptive Transparency mode is even better. This keeps listeners aware of their surroundings and reduces harsh environmental noises at the same time. Then there are secondary features like Conversation Awareness to automatically lower volume and augment voices when you talk, as well as Live Listen, which transforms your iPhone or iPad into a live mic that can pick up the noise around you.

Despite the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro being an inferior noise-canceller, they’re still a quality option that can provide peaceful listening. It all depends on the environment and the selected mode. You can choose from Ambient Sound, Adaptive and Active Noise Canceling. Samsung’s mic array has outstanding vocal capture to hear conversations clearly in Ambient Sound mode. ANC is the best way to go for peak noise reduction, but the technology struggles with white noises. Adaptive is the most promising mode, but also the most disappointing, as the AI-enhanced mics don’t properly modify ANC in real time.

TL;DR: The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s noise cancellation is effective, but falls a few levels short of the AirPods Pro 2.

Appealing features that can only be enjoyed by first-party users

It’s no secret that Apple and Samsung enthusiasts gain the best user experience when sticking with first-party products. The AirPods Pro 2 run on the H2 processor that instantly connects the buds to all popular Apple devices and opens the door to popular features. These include automatic pairing, audio sharing, announced messages with Siri, Ear Tip Fit Test and “Hey Siri” Voice Activation. The Galaxy Buds Pro 3 serve up their own special perks, all of which have been discussed in detail except for charging capabilities (more on that later).

Nonetheless, you need a current iPhone or Galaxy smartphone to enjoy all these features in full. You’ll be lucky to access half of them on a third-party Android device.

TL;DR: Endless functionality awaits you, but only if you’re team Apple or team Samsung.

Replicate designs and battery life

AirPods popularized the whole long-stem true wireless look. The AirPods Pro 2 refined it by incorporating an in-ear design with eartips and force sensors with touch volume controls while also shortening the stems.

Samsung basically jacked its competitor’s style for its latest buds. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have curvier, longer stems that aren’t as consistently reliable for function input. The AirPods Pro 2’s case is more advanced, with a built-in speaker to help locate and track the product through Find My support. There’s nothing special about the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s case. The AirPods Pro 2 (IP54) and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (IP57) are dust and water-resistant, but only the former has a case with an IP rating (IP54).

It’s hard to blame Samsung for copying Apple’s popular design. At the same time, the company made huge mistakes ditching the compact charging case and oval earbud design featured on the sleeker Galaxy Buds Pro 2.

Battery life is identical across the two buds: 6 hours with ANC on and 7 hours with ANC off. High volume and spatial audio decrease playtime on both models by 2 hours. There are other luxury buds that provide longer results, including the Sony WF-1000XM5 (up to 10 hours). Samsung has PowerShare technology to charge the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s case when it’s placed on the back of a current Galaxy smartphone. The AirPods Pro 2 can be charged in more ways: Lightning or USB-C (depending on your model), MagSafe wireless charging, Qi-enabled wireless charging and Apple Watch charging.

TL;DR: Other wireless earbuds demonstrate flashier craftsmanship and hold charges longer.

Bottom line

The AirPods Pro 2 are practically perfect wireless earbuds with flaws that mostlyaffect non-Apple users, though recent updates like lossless audio and USB-C charging alleviate those shortcomings. Even the discounted Lightning version holds up significantly well against the market’s top offerings, thanks to fantastic ANC, intuitive connectivity and stellar 3D sound that’s also present on the latest model.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a solid pickup for Galaxy owners. Excellent sound and strong ANC can only take these buds so far, especially at their steep price tag, which would benefit from a $50 markdown to compete with the often-discounted AirPods Pro 2. The push for AI is admirable, but it doesn’t move the needle. Having the same aesthetic and battery life as their competitor also makes the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro seem more like a poser than a trendsetter.