Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 worth the upgrade from the Apple AirPods Pro 3?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 actually scores 12.0 points below the Apple AirPods Pro 3, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on noise cancelling (9.5 to 7.0) and sound (8.5 to 7.5). On paper: codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec and battery incl. case 24 h to 29 h. Worth checking: bluetooth goes 5.3 to 5.2 and multipoint pairing goes Yes to No. One caution: this steps down a line tier (AirPods Pro 3 to Galaxy Buds2), and base models usually trade away tier features - check the codec and ANC rows above before trusting the score gap alone. It is at least $82 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.57.5
- Noise cancelling9.57.0
- Battery8.07.0
- Calls8.57.5
- Value7.57.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | AirPods Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds2 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Water resistance | IP57 | IPX2 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 24 h | 29 h | |
| ANC type | adaptive | hybrid | |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | 5 min = 1 h | |
| Driver | dynamic | two-way dynamic speakers |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "AirPods Pro 3 to Galaxy Buds2". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.