AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Which Earbuds Should You Buy?

Apple and Samsung both have flagship earbuds on the market right now, and picking between them usually comes down to which phone is in your pocket. But there are real differences beyond the ecosystem lock-in worth knowing before you spend $200+.

We're comparing the AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro across noise cancellation, sound, battery, and the health features both brands are leaning into.

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Design and Comfort

The AirPods Pro 3 keep Apple's familiar stem design, now with a revised fit and new foam tips aimed at better stability during workouts. They carry an IP57 rating for water and sweat resistance.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro switched to a "blade" stem design closer to the AirPods shape, a departure from the bean-shaped Buds2 Pro. They also carry an IP57 rating, and the stems support touch, swipe, and pinch gestures.

Comfort is largely personal preference here — both use a similar in-ear stem form factor, so if one brand's earbuds have fit you well before, the new generation will likely fit similarly.

Noise Cancellation and Sound Quality

Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 cancel up to 2x more noise than the AirPods Pro 2, thanks to new ultra-low noise microphones and updated foam tips. Sound quality also got an upgrade through a revised acoustic architecture, bringing deeper bass and a wider soundstage.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro use a two-way speaker setup — a dynamic driver plus a planar magnetic driver — with a dual amp to power each one, aiming for clearer separation between highs and lows. They also support Samsung's 360 Audio and adaptive sound features.

Both are genuinely competitive at this price point. If critical listening and soundstage matter most to you, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro's dual-driver setup is worth a demo; if all-day comfort with strong ANC is the priority, the AirPods Pro 3 have the edge.

Health and Smart Features

The AirPods Pro 3 added a built-in heart rate sensor that tracks heart rate and calories across roughly 50 workout types, plus a Hearing Aid feature and Live Translation for real-time multilingual conversations through Apple Intelligence.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro lean into Samsung's Galaxy AI with a real-time Translation Interpreter mode and quick voice memo capture, plus PowerShare so you can top up the case by placing it on the back of a compatible Galaxy phone.

Both brands are clearly investing in AI-assisted features, they're just optimized for their own ecosystem — Apple Intelligence needs an iPhone, Galaxy AI works best with a Samsung phone nearby.

Battery Life

The AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation on, or up to 10 hours in Transparency mode with the Hearing Aid feature enabled.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro rate up to 6 hours per charge with ANC on (26 hours total with the case), or up to 7 hours with ANC off (30 hours total with the case).

The AirPods Pro 3 have a slight edge in per-charge listening time with ANC active, though both easily cover a full workday with the charging case in your bag.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you're on an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 3 are the easy pick — deeper system integration, longer ANC battery life, and genuinely useful health tracking for workouts.

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If you're on a Samsung or Android phone, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro make more sense — better PowerShare integration with Galaxy devices, a distinctive dual-driver sound signature, and Samsung's own AI translation tools.

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Prices on both fluctuate with promotions — check the current price on each link above before buying.