I Tested the New Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs. My Go-To Apple AirPods Pro—and There's a Clear Winner

• Sound Quality: 18/20
• Comfort: 19/20
• Battery Life: 18/20
• Ease of Use/Compatibility: 20/20
• Functionality: 15/20

Total: 90/100

There's a reason why I keep buying the Apple AirPods Pro. Not only are they some of the sleekest wireless headphones out there, but they're also super comfy and easy to use. But could you expect anything less from the legendary brand that gave us the iPhone?

Nevertheless, while testing them for this comparison, I had to check my bias and note all of the good and not-so-good things about them. I'll start with the good: These headphones effortlessly connect to whichever device I'm using, whether I'm scrolling on my iPhone or taking pictures on my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. Even though the sound quality doesn't disappoint, I notice that the bass feels harsher on my ears every time I increase the volume. Thankfully, I can turn on headphone notifications, which alert me when I reach the recommended audio exposure limit for seven days. IMO, this may be the main attraction of the Apple AirPods Pro because, in a way, they consider your hearing health (unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which I'll get into later).

The AirPods Pro have three listening modes: transparency, adaptive and noise cancellation, all of which come in handy when I travel, workout and take calls while running errands. More specifically, I love using the transparency mode (which lets outside sounds in so you can still know what's happening around you) when I go to the grocery or the office. Whereas, when I'm on a plane and want to tune out the loud air conditioning and people talking, noise cancellation comes to my rescue by blocking outside sound so I can totally focus on my travel playlist. Adaptive is probably the mode I use the least, although it's meant to adjust the noise control settings based on your environment.

But I'll be honest, I enjoy using the headphones most when all the modes are turned off and I use standard listening. I can't explain it, but my music just sounds smoother and less abrasive, even when I have it on full volume. As for the headphones' comfort, I could wear them for hours without experiencing any ear pain. To put that into perspective, I typically wear them for about four hours a day while working—which brings me to their battery life. Apple claims they last up to six hours without the charging case and up to 30 hours with the charging case. However, I find that my headphones die quickly (even when I'm not listening to anything), and I have to charge the case every few days. Not to mention, from my experience owning these headphones for the past four years, their battery life and sound quality go down as time goes by.

That said, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck with the Apple AirPods Pro, especially when you can secure them on sale, which seems to be all the time now. So, if you're looking for some quality headphones that you can use daily to listen to music, read out notifications as you work and block out that crying baby on your flight to Mexico, you can't go wrong with these bad boys. 

Fast Facts

• Listening modes: 3 (including transparency, adaptive and noise cancellation)
• Battery life: up to 6 hours with buds or up to 30 hours with charging case
• Water resistance: only for non-water sports and exercise

• Sound Quality 20/20
• Comfort: 17/20
• Battery Life: 20/20
• Ease of Use/Compatibility: 17/20
• Functionality: 20/20

Total: 94/100

When I first learned about these headphones, I was sitting in an auditorium and had to use my imagination when it came to features like Adaptive Equalizer with Galaxy AI—a function that basically adjusts audio based on how the buds sit in your ear. I had no idea they would be as next level as they are IRL. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are seriously unlike any other headphones on the market, and believe it or not, it's not all thanks to its high-resolution audio experience, which fully immerses you in whatever you're listening to (even if it's just your mom on the other end of a phone call).

Having now used the headphones every other day for a month, I find that their customizable capabilities, which include adjusting listening modes to get music to sound just how you want it, makes them worth every penny. While they have three listening modes like the AirPods Pro (ambient sound, adaptive and active noise-canceling), when they're connected to my Samsung smartphone, I could lower or increase each one. For instance, in the active noise-canceling mode, I am able to put it to the lowest setting so my music or phone call doesn't sound too overpowering. Another feature I enjoy is the listening and conversation mode, which can be accessed through Samsung's Interpreter app (only available on Samsung devices). While using the feature in Paris, I was able to get translations from French to English right to my ears in real time, so I never felt super lost while going on tours, catching the train and ordering food. Talk about a game-changer.

They do have a snugger fit, which isn't great for long wear, but unlike the Apple AirPods Pro, these headphones can detect when you're looking down for too long and will remind you to stretch your neck. No, I'm not kidding. Samsung thought of everything when designing these earbuds, which I'm happy to confirm have a battery that lasts for up to seven hours without the charging case.

The biggest con is that most of the cool features that I mentioned are only accessible through Samsung Galaxy devices. With that in mind, if you have an iPhone, you may want to consider that lack of compatibility before buying them, especially since their regular price tag is slightly higher. However, if you're team Samsung, there's no question whether you should secure these new headphones given all of their AI-enhanced, high-tech features. On that note, you can also secure up to $100 off with an eligible trade-in, bringing the price down to as low as $150.

Fast Facts

• Listening modes: 3 (including ambient sound, adaptive and active noise-canceling)
• Battery life: up to 7 hours with buds or up to 30 hours with charging case
• Water resistance: up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes (without charging case)