Apple's AirPods Pro 2 vs. Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Samsung this week introduced its latest earbuds, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which look quite a bit like Apple's AirPods Pro 2. Given the similarities, we thought we'd compare Samsung's new earbuds to the AirPods Pro.


Design wise, you could potentially mistake Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro for the AirPods Pro. The Buds3 Pro have the same general shape and a silicone tip, though it's worth noting that the Buds3 Pro come in both white and gray, so you're not limited to white as you are with the AirPods Pro 2. The charging case is similar to the AirPods Charging Case too, but there's a transparent upper portion.

The Buds3 Pro sound great out of the box, but there is an option to adjust the sound using the equalizer, which isn't possible with the AirPods Pro 2. The Active Noise Cancellation and the "Ambient Mode" or transparency on the Buds3 Pro work as well as those features on the AirPods Pro, and it's tough to tell the difference between them.

Samsung's Buds3 Pro do not perform as well as the AirPods Pro when it comes to ambient noise detection to adjust sound, however. The AirPods Pro can adjust sound when someone is speaking to you so you can hear them, but the Buds3 Pro struggled to do the same.

The Buds3 Pro have a built-in LED light for aesthetics, and there are controls on the stem for adjusting volume. Samsung also added an interpreter mode for translating foreign languages when connected to the most recent Galaxy phones, but the feature wasn't super accurate.

Though the Buds3 Pro are similar to the AirPods Pro 2, it's hard to see the two as competitors because you're only going to want to use the Buds3 Pro with Android devices, while the AirPods Pro 2 work best with Apple devices. iPhone users should stick with the AirPods, while Samsung users will want to check out the Buds3 Pro.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds3 Pro are priced at $250, which is the same price as the AirPods Pro 2. Pre-orders are available now ahead of a July 24 launch date.

Tag: Samsung

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Top Rated Comments

jimbobb24 Avatar
17 months ago
The Buds3 3 have a distinctive look. I can't quite place it but they really remind me of something else, especially the white ones. It will come to me in a minute. Their new watch also reminds me of something.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
XboxEvolved Avatar
17 months ago
It’s really odd to me that Samsung tries to rip on Apple and constantly also steals from them as well.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
knappeduivel Avatar
17 months ago

I just dropped an APP2 in a bowl of vinegar and chilli oil (alongside some dumplings) 30 minutes ago. Pulled the thing out, looking very yellow... Ran it under a tap for 30 seconds with a good soapy scrub to return it to pure white. A quick dry with a tissue, and it's working fine. I'm not saying this would not be the case with Buds3, but it seemed topical!
Please repeat this with the Buds3 for comparison. Thanks!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hogswarts Avatar
17 months ago
While AirPods Pro don't have a traditional equalizer, they do support Headphone Accommodations (HA) on iPhone, iPad and soon on macOS Sequoia. HA not only provides a reasonably quick way to adjust tonality of media consumed but also to adjust how transparency mode sounds... and you can even enter formal audiogram data. For people with mild to moderately impaired hearing, $200 AirPods Pro with HA sound far better for both speech and music than do traditional hearing aids costing many times more, and AirPods switch automatically between Apple devices. AirPods Max also support HA but are obviously less convenient to carry around. Some Beats headphones and buds also support it.
I just wish tvOS and visionOS supported HA.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CausticSoda Avatar
17 months ago
I just dropped an APP2 in a bowl of vinegar and chilli oil (alongside some dumplings) 30 minutes ago. Pulled the thing out, looking very yellow... Ran it under a tap for 30 seconds with a good soapy scrub to return it to pure white. A quick dry with a tissue, and it's working fine. I'm not saying this would not be the case with Buds3, but it seemed topical!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BigBrotherNowWatching Avatar
17 months ago
Airpos Pro 2 compared to the 60 bucks soundcore liberty 2?

Soundcore wins so clear, you regret buying Apple headphones.


But HomePod 1 still sounds great.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)