Two premium true wireless earbuds, two different philosophies. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro leans on ecosystem integration and a balanced feature set, while the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 pushes battery life and a wider frequency range. Neither is a clear knockout, and the right choice depends on your phone and priorities.
Both offer adaptive noise cancelling and IP57 dust and water resistance, but they ask different prices and deliver different trade-offs. Below we work through the recorded specifications and HearWiki scores to see where each genuinely stands.
Price and positioning
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro costs $250. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 costs $199. That is a $51 gap, which is not trivial. Samsung asks for a premium that buys Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connectivity, and a 10.5 mm single-driver setup. Huawei, for less money, offers Bluetooth 6.0, a two-driver hybrid, and a claimed frequency response up to 48 kHz.
Positioning matters here. Samsung's earbuds are designed to work best with Galaxy phones, using the Samsung Scalable codec. Huawei's pair similarly favours its own ecosystem, with L2HC support that only reaches full quality on compatible devices. If you own neither brand's phone, both will still work over standard codecs, but you will not get the full advertised experience.
The scores, side by side
HearWiki's headline buyability score for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is 92/100. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 sits at 88/100. That is a four-point gap, which is real but not dramatic. It reflects published review consensus, price and current availability, not a lab test. The sub-scores for sound, ANC, battery, calls and value are not recorded for either product in the HearWiki database, so we cannot compare them category by category. The headline scores are separate summaries, not averages of those missing fields.
A four-point difference suggests the Samsung is slightly stronger on overall buyability, but it is not a landslide. If the Huawei were priced at $250, the gap would likely narrow. At $199, it is a serious contender.
Sound
Samsung's Buds3 Pro use a single 10.5 mm driver. Huawei's FreeBuds Pro 5 use a two-driver hybrid. On paper, the hybrid suggests better separation between bass and treble. Huawei also claims a 10 Hz to 48 kHz frequency range, which exceeds the typical 20 Hz to 20 kHz human hearing limit. That wider range is mostly marketing, but it does indicate a driver capable of extended response.
Neither product has a recorded sound sub-score, so we cannot say one definitively sounds better. Published reviews generally describe the Samsung as balanced and neutral, while the Huawei leans slightly warmer with more bass emphasis. If you prefer a flat, analytical sound, the Samsung is the safer bet. If you want a bit more low-end punch, the Huawei may suit you better. Without measured frequency response data in the HearWiki database, treat these as general tendencies, not guarantees.
Noise cancelling and battery
Both earbuds offer adaptive noise cancelling. The Samsung's ANC is described as strong, and the Huawei's is called excellent. Neither has a recorded ANC sub-score, so we cannot quantify the difference. In practice, both should handle office chatter and traffic well, but the Samsung's adaptive system may adjust more smoothly to changing environments.
Battery life is where the gap becomes clearer. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro offers 7 hours per charge with ANC on, and a total of 30 hours with the case. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 offers 9 hours per charge without ANC, but that drops to 6 hours with ANC on. That is a significant drop. If you use ANC constantly, the Samsung outlasts the Huawei by an hour. If you rarely use ANC, the Huawei lasts two hours longer per charge.
Both support wireless charging, and the Huawei adds quick charging. The Samsung's 7-hour figure is average for the category, while the Huawei's 9-hour figure is above average, but only when you turn ANC off.
Calls and everyday use
Call quality is not recorded for either product in the HearWiki database. The Samsung supports multipoint Bluetooth 5.4, which lets you connect to two devices at once, a genuine everyday convenience. The Huawei uses Bluetooth 6.0 but does not list multipoint in its recorded specs. If you frequently switch between a laptop and phone, the Samsung is the better choice.
Samsung's earbuds have touch controls but lack a wear-detection sensor, so music will not pause automatically when you remove one bud. The Huawei does not list a wear sensor either. Both have IP57 water and dust resistance, so they can handle rain and workouts. The Samsung's low sensitivity may require higher volume levels, which could be a minor annoyance. The Huawei's codec limitations mean you need a compatible device to get the best wireless quality.
Which one should you buy?
If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. The Scalable codec, multipoint, and 7-hour ANC battery make it the more polished daily driver, and the 92/100 score reflects that. If you are on a Huawei phone or want longer battery life when ANC is off, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 is the better value at $199, despite the 88/100 score.
If you are on an iPhone or a generic Android phone, the choice is less clear. The Samsung offers multipoint, which is broadly useful. The Huawei offers a lower price and a hybrid driver. Neither will be a bad buy, but the Samsung's four-point score advantage suggests it is the safer all-rounder. For a detailed spec-by-spec breakdown, see the full comparison table.
For more options, browse our best true wireless list or the best ANC earbuds if noise cancelling is your priority.
FAQ
Which earbuds have better battery life?
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 lasts 9 hours per charge without ANC, which beats the Samsung's 7 hours. But with ANC on, the Huawei drops to 6 hours, while the Samsung stays at 7 hours. So the answer depends on how often you use noise cancelling.
Do these earbuds work with iPhones?
Both work with iPhones over standard AAC and SBC codecs. The Samsung's Scalable codec and the Huawei's L2HC codec require their respective brand phones, so iPhone users will not get the full wireless quality from either. Multipoint on the Samsung still works with an iPhone and a second device.
Are the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 worth the lower price?
At $199, the Huawei offers a hybrid driver, longer battery without ANC, and excellent adaptive noise cancelling for $51 less than the Samsung. If you do not need multipoint and rarely use ANC, it is the better value. If you use ANC often or switch devices frequently, the Samsung's extra $51 is justified.
