True Wireless
Apple AirPods Pro 3
88Outstanding
$180
Full review dataApple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - Outstanding overall at around $179.
True Wireless
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
64Average
$160
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
HearWiki score
88
64
Sound
8.6
7.7
Noise cancelling
9.3
6.3
Battery
7.3
4.6
Calls
7.4
6.5
Value
8.3
-
Price (USD)
$180
$160
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (2025) against Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (2021). The Apple AirPods Pro 3 edges ahead on platform, but only just: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0. It also adds Multipoint pairing and Water resistance IP57 against IPX7.
- AirPods Pro 320254 yr newer
- Galaxy Buds Pro2021
What differsAirPods Pro 3Galaxy Buds Pro
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.0
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX7
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Top codec, ANC type, Wireless charging, USB-C, Wear detection, Transparency mode, Companion app.
Specifications
AirPods Pro 3Galaxy Buds Pro
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $180
- $160
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 64
- Released
- 2025
- 2021
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 10.7 mm dynamic
- 2-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver size
- 10.7 mm
- 11 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB/mW
- 101 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.0
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Battery life
- 8 h
- 8 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 8 h
- 5 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 28 h
- Quick charge
- -
- 5 min → 1 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- Yes
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- touch
- Voice assistant
- Siri
- Bixby
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- 6.3 g
- Case weight
- 44 g
- 44.9 g
- Water resistance
- IP57
- IPX7
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 3
- 3
- Microphone type
- beamforming
- -
What reviewers said
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds that deliver top-tier active noise cancellation, clear call quality, and a well-balanced sound profile. They offer a robust feature set including adaptive ANC, wireless charging, and IP57 water resistance, though their higher price and somewhat finicky fit may give some buyers pause. Overall, they stand out as a polished, high-performance option for iOS users willing to invest in a premium experience.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Clear call quality in noisy environments
- Pro:Strong battery life with the charging case
- Con:Fit can be finicky and may lose seal easily
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:Only supports AAC codec
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are premium true wireless earbuds that combine hybrid active noise cancellation with a dual-driver setup for a bass-forward yet detailed sound. They offer a comfortable, water-resistant build, wireless charging, and a solid feature set that's especially appealing to Galaxy phone owners, though battery life with ANC is modest. Overall, they deliver a polished and versatile experience for everyday listening, with a sound signature that leans slightly V-shaped rather than purely neutral.
- Pro:Effective hybrid noise cancellation
- Pro:Comfortable and secure fit with IPX7 water resistance
- Pro:Wireless charging and USB-C support
- Con:Battery life drops noticeably with ANC enabled
- Con:No multipoint Bluetooth connection
- Con:Sound profile may feel too bass-heavy for purists
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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