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Consumer Electronics · Tool Face-Off

Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Quick answer

Both are flagship wireless earbuds from their respective ecosystems, but AirPods Pro 2 edges ahead on noise cancellation and ecosystem polish, while Galaxy Buds 3 Pro fights back with better Android integration and an open-ear wing design.

Our pick
Apple AirPods Pro 2
The gold standard for iPhone users — ANC royalty with a loyal fanbase.
4.4
VS
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Angular, bold, and built for Galaxy fans who want premium without the Apple tax.
4.1
Retail Price
~$249
~$249
Battery (buds only)
6 hrs (ANC on)
7 hrs (ANC on)
Total Battery (with case)
~30 hrs
~26 hrs
Active Noise Cancellation
Best-in-class H2 chip ANC
Good ANC, slightly behind
Transparency Mode
Adaptive Transparency (top tier)
Ambient Sound mode
Driver Configuration
Custom Apple driver + tweeter
2-way coaxial (woofer + tweeter)
Fit Style
Silicone ear tips (in-ear)
Wing-tip + ear tip hybrid
IP Rating
IP54 (buds & case)
IP57 (buds only)
Lossless / Hi-Res Audio
No lossless support
SSC (Samsung Scalable Codec)
Spatial Audio
Dynamic Head Tracking
360 Audio (limited app)
Best Platform
iOS / macOS / Apple Watch
Android / Samsung Galaxy
Health / Hearing Features
Hearing Aid feature (iOS 18)
No FDA hearing aid mode

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Battery Life★★★★
Call Quality★★★★½
Comfort & Fit★★★★½
Sound Quality★★★★½
Value for Money★★★½
Noise Cancellation★★★★★
Ecosystem Integration★★★★★

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Battery Life★★★★
Call Quality★★★★
Comfort & Fit★★★★
Sound Quality★★★★½
Value for Money★★★½
Noise Cancellation★★★★
Ecosystem Integration★★★★½

Worth knowing

Samsung redesigned the Buds 3 Pro to look suspiciously more like AirPods Pro — imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or a very bold competitive strategy.

If you want

You're deep in the Apple ecosystem and want the best ANC money can buy

AirPods Pro 2 offer unmatched iPhone integration, class-leading ANC, and now double as a hearing aid.

→ Pick Apple AirPods Pro 2
If you want

You use a Samsung Galaxy phone and want the best audio fidelity

Galaxy Buds 3 Pro's 2-way coaxial drivers and SSC codec deliver superior audio detail on compatible Samsung devices.

→ Pick Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
If you want

You want the longest per-charge battery life

Buds 3 Pro squeezes out an extra hour per charge with ANC on compared to AirPods Pro 2.

→ Pick Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
If you want

You switch between multiple Apple devices throughout the day

AirPods Pro 2 seamlessly auto-switch between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch with zero fuss.

→ Pick Apple AirPods Pro 2
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