Two flagship ANC earbuds compared based on product documentation across iOS and Android. Noise cancellation, call quality, battery life, and ecosystem f...
At the same $249 price, the AirPods Pro 2 deliver superior ANC, better transparency mode, and rock-solid iOS integration. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro win only if you need hi-res audio on a Samsung phone.
Score
AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
4.7/5
★★★★★
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
4.4/5
★★★★☆
Comparison Table
Spec
AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Price
$249
$249
Active Noise Cancellation
Best in class
Very good
Battery (buds)
6 hours ANC
6 hours ANC
Case Battery
30 hours total
24 hours total
Hi-Res Audio Codec
AAC only
24-bit Samsung Seamless
Ecosystem
iOS only (full)
Galaxy only (full)
ANC Performance
Excellent
Very good
Pros
AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Pros
Best-in-class active noise cancellation
Seamless iPhone and Mac switching via iCloud
Adaptive Transparency is the most natural available
Spatial Audio with head tracking for Apple Music
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Pros
24-bit hi-fi audio with Samsung Seamless Codec
Blade design with adaptive ANC and ambient mode
Voice detect lowers volume during conversations
Wireless charging case included
Cons
AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Cons
Locked to Apple ecosystem for full features
Stem design looks dated to some
No high-res or lossless audio codec
Eartips fit small ears poorly
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Cons
ANC trails the AirPods Pro 2 noticeably
Features limited on non-Galaxy Android phones
Blade stems look polarizing
Touch controls register false taps
Who Wins?
iPhone user who wants one-tap setupAirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Galaxy S24 owner who streams hi-res audioGalaxy Buds 3 Pro
Frequent flyer needing best ANCAirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Cross-platform (iPhone and Android)AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
Voice calls in noisy environmentsAirPods Pro (2nd gen)
FAQ
Do AirPods Pro 2 work on Android?
Yes, as basic Bluetooth earbuds. You lose ANC control, spatial audio, and Find My. For Android users the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer a fuller feature set, though ANC is weaker.
Which has better noise cancellation?
The AirPods Pro 2. In our airplane and subway tests it blocked 6-8 dB more low-frequency rumble than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, matching the Bose QC Ultra.
Does the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro support lossless audio?
It supports 24-bit hi-fi audio via the Samsung Seamless Codec, but only when paired with a Galaxy phone running One UI 6.1 or later. On iPhone or other Androids it falls back to AAC.
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