The new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer strong ANC and sound quality but poor controls and underwhelming AI features.
For
- Convenient (though familiar) design
- Adaptive EQ/ANC
- Indicator lights
Against
- Plastic case lid looks flimsy
- 5-hour battery life
- Poor controls
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro noise-canceling earbuds are Samsung's best yet, even after the release of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
For
- Wide soundstage
- Effective ANC
- Compact and practical design
- Easy to use features
- Excellent connectivity
Against
- Disappointing battery life
- Most coveted features are exclusive to Galaxy devices
Samsung sells some of the best wireless earbuds for Android users. You don’t need the latest Galaxy smartphone to enjoy them, but owning one of the best Samsung phones provides exclusive perks (e.g., 360 Audio, PowerShare). But regardless of the smartphone brand you're using, the buds have third party-friendly platform support (including for iOS). They also produce competitive active noise cancellation and hi-res sound, giving rivals like the AirPods Pro 2, Bose QC Ultra Earbuds, and Sony WF-1000XM5 a run for their money.
The company’s two most recent flagship offerings — the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and recently launched Galaxy Buds 3 Pro — are spec-heavy models that push functionality forward with intelligible features and powerful proprietary technologies. Samsung users couldn’t ask for better options.
One has earned glowing reviews and the other, well, has not been the critical darling Samsung anticipated. Keep reading to find out which Galaxy Buds Pro sequel is the better entry to pair with your Galaxy device.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Specs compared
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Price and availability
Samsung originally launched the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at $229 / £180 / AU$350, but they’re currently on sale for as low as $103 on Amazon. These buds are available in Black, Violet, and White. As the newer release, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro carry a higher MSRP: $249 / £191 / AU$399. Color options include Silver and White.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s massive price drop makes them more enticing, whereas the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro hovering around the AirPods Pro 2’s price point lessens their appeal.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Design
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have been Samsung's best-looking buds to date and exude the premium swagger that their mobile devices spew. Each bud dons a tiny circular shape that rests pleasantly on the ear and isn’t cumbersome like most other similarly designed buds. The soft-touch texture welcomes caressing. IPX7 certification provides top-level waterproofing.
Furthermore, the super-compact charging case is a stunner that handsomely displays the buds when opened, plus it comes with strong magnets to tightly shut the lid.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro do their best to imitate the AirPods Pro, only their stems are slimmer and more angular, giving off Tesla Cybertruck vibes. Talk about wanting to fit in. These buds are stylish, and they would be viewed as futuristically attractive, had they not copied a near-decade-old-design style.
The lower IP rating (IP57) and standard-looking charging case also do the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro little service. They do fit well, too.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Controls
Samsung equipped these two flagship models with motion, physical, and voice controls, though the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro come with AI-voiced controls to perform basic commands like “Stop music” or “Answer call,” which they do well.
If only their new multifunctional force sensors were as practical for use as the AirPods Pro 2. They’re difficult to locate because of the thin design, and you must press them strongly to feel tactile feedback. On a positive note, we do like the volume strip to seamlessly adjust volume via swipe gestures.
The reality is that most consumers want reliable touch controls, and the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro provide exactly that. Even with their lack of AI integration, these buds grant solid digital assistance and voice activation, along with responsive touch accuracy to easily enable functions such as call management, playback, volume, and even Spotify Connect for instant access to one of the best music streaming services.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Sound quality
First impressions are everything, and I can tell you that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are as sonically impressive as they were two years ago. Samsung’s dynamic soundstage complements all devices and streaming platforms. However, it is the brand’s prime audio technologies that push performance to near-audiophile status. These include 24-bit HiFi Sound, 360 Audio, Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio-Ready), and Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC), which adjusts the bitrate dynamically from 88kbps to 512kbps.
Underneath the hood lies a custom coaxial 2-way speaker (dedicated tweeter and woofer drivers) tuned by Samsung-owned audio specialist AKG. All these features work exceptionally well, specifically SSC to increase fidelity on tracks.
What’s wild is that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro carry the same audio features and have an adaptive EQ at their disposal to automatically adjust sound on the go. One would think that this addition boosts sound quality, but it doesn’t make much of an impact here.
These are still some of the finer-sounding buds that money can buy. You get fantastic frequency range and hi-res playback on Samsung devices. Unfortunately, they didn’t wow us in the same way that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro did at launch.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Active Noise Cancelation
We found the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s noise cancellation superior to the AirPods Pro 2. It effectively lessens wind noise, which is such an underrated hallmark, and does an outstanding job of neutralizing unwanted noises across the frequency spectrum. The Ambient Sound mode is just as reliable for hearing nearby conversations transparently, as well as distant noises like sirens and whistles.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have equally powerful ANC, though that can be viewed as a negative to most readers since the latest model should offer stronger noise neutralization. Still, you’ll be satisfied with how well the buds handle everyday distractions. The Ambient Sound mode benefits from strong vocal capture to eavesdrop on conversations.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Special features and apps
The feature sets on these two pairs of buds are almost identical, except for AI integration on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Check these off the list: 360 Audio, Accessibility, Bixby voice wake-up, control customization, Earbud fit test, Equalizer, Find My Earbuds, Gaming Mode, Neck Stretch reminders, Noise Controls (ANC/Ambient), and SSC. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro receives updates like Auracast support.
AI is the major selling point for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Interpreter Mode reads and translates foreign languages in real time. It’s only available on devices that support Samsung's latest software update (One UI 6.1.1), which are only the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6. Other Galaxy Buds 3 Pro-exclusive features like Siren and Voice Detect are tied to AI voice capture; the former does not do a good job of picking up high-frequency sounds.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Call quality
Both pairs of buds are great calling headsets. Despite carrying a less-powerful mic array, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro produce loud, clear-sounding calls with minimal background interference. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro benefit from stronger mic performance that results in crisp, loud, and disruption-free calls.
Winner: Tie
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Battery life
A full charge generates up to 7 hours of playtime (6 hours with ANC off) on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, yet the older Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have a longer playtime at 8 hours (6 hours with ANC off). However, the latest model has a charging case that holds more portable power: up to 30 hours. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s charging case reaches up to 29 hours.
Two benefits that both charging cases share are PowerShare technology to power up the cases when placed on the back of a Galaxy device, and Qi-enabled wireless charging. It’s a toss-up.
Winner: Tie
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Verdict
As surprising as it sounds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the better overall value than their newer counterpart. Battery life, noise cancellation, and sound are practically on the same level as their successor. Galaxy Buds 2 Pro controls and design are also more favorable. But, if we’re being honest, it’s the huge price drop that gives the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a significant edge over their newest sibling.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are futureproof, making them an ideal purchase for those who own the latest Galaxy phones. ANC and sound do their part to deliver an uninterrupted listening experience. It just seems like more effort was put into the aesthetics and novelty AI features than everything else. And that's why these buds failed to impress us as much as their previous iteration.
