Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy Buds2?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 buys you 12.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in noise cancelling (7.0 to 9.5), sound (7.5 to 8.5) and battery (7.0 to 8.0). On paper: bluetooth 5.2 to 5.3, multipoint pairing and battery life (anc on) 5 h to 8 h. Worth checking: codecs goes SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec to SBC, AAC and battery incl. case goes 29 h to 24 h. That costs $82 more, or about $7 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.58.5
- Noise cancelling7.09.5
- Battery7.08.0
- Calls7.58.5
- Value7.07.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Galaxy Buds2 | AirPods Pro 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec | SBC, AAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes | |
| Water resistance | IPX2 | IP57 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5 h | 8 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 29 h | 24 h | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1 h | 5 minutes in case = about 1 hour listening time | |
| Driver | two-way dynamic speakers | dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Galaxy Buds2 to AirPods Pro 3". 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.