Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2: Stem Design Showdown

Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Apple AirPods Pro 2 often comes down to the smartphone you already own. Both sets of earbuds deliver a premium listening experience, but they are deeply integrated into their respective brand ecosystems. This comparison breaks down their design, features, and performance to help you decide which is the better fit for your needs.

The design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro shows a clear inspiration from Apple’s stem-style earbuds. While the form factor is comfortable and secure for most users, it’s important to note that Samsung faced initial quality control issues, leading to a temporary shipping pause. When you get a fully functional pair, they are comfortable to wear, with each earbud weighing 5.4 grams. A significant advantage for the Buds3 Pro is their superior IP57 dust and water resistance rating, offering better protection than the AirPods Pro 2’s IPX4 rating, though the Apple earbuds remain perfectly adequate for gym sessions.

Control systems on both models are quite similar. You interact with the Galaxy Buds3 Pro by pinching the stem for playback, track skipping, and toggling noise cancellation, with additional slide gestures for volume control. The AirPods Pro 2 operate in a nearly identical fashion, utilizing presses and swipes on the stem, complemented by comprehensive “Hey Siri” voice commands.

When it comes to features, the ecosystem is king. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro unlock their full potential with Samsung devices, granting access to the Samsung Wearable app. This app provides a 9-band equalizer, AI translation, 360 Audio, and advanced Find My integration. Apple integrates all AirPods Pro 2 functionality directly into iOS, offering features like an Ear Tip Fit Test, Spatial Audio, and audio sharing through the Control Center and Settings app. A notable addition for the AirPods Pro 2 is a hearing health feature that can function as a hearing aid for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Connectivity further emphasizes the ecosystem divide. The Buds3 Pro use Bluetooth 5.4 and support high-quality codecs like the Samsung Seamless Codec for optimal performance with compatible Galaxy devices. The AirPods Pro 2, equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and Apple’s H2 chip, are designed for seamless integration with iPhones and other Apple products, offering what the company calls high-bandwidth connectivity.

Battery life is one area where a clear difference emerges. In standardized tests with noise canceling active, the AirPods Pro 2 lasted significantly longer at 5 hours and 43 minutes, compared to the Galaxy Buds3 Pro’s 4 hours and 31 minutes. Both charging cases provide additional charges and support wireless and USB-C cable charging, with the AirPods also compatible with MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers.

In terms of audio performance, both earbuds are excellent. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro have a bass-heavy default sound that can be adjusted via the EQ, while the AirPods Pro 2 use Adaptive EQ to automatically tailor the sound to the user’s ear. Independent analysis gives both a very high overall sound quality score. For noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 have a slight edge, particularly in blocking low-frequency sounds, though both models offer effective transparency modes.

Microphone quality is another strong point for both. In quiet conditions, they perform similarly, but in noisy environments, the AirPods Pro 2 demonstrate better background noise rejection during calls.

Priced identically at $250, the final decision is straightforward. If you are an iPhone user, the AirPods Pro 2 are the undeniable choice. For those invested in the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro are a powerful option, provided the initial quality concerns have been resolved. For everyone else, both are top-tier, but your choice should align with your primary devices to access all features.

(Source: SOUNDGUYS)