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Tech head-to-head

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)vsSamsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) edges Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, 8.5 to 8.2. The 5 axes split 4-1, widest on Design at 0.6.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

Apple

8.5

If you live on Apple hardware, the convenience gap outweighs any sound-quality argument.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Samsung

8.2

Paired with a Galaxy phone the money goes furthest here; on any other Android, much of it is idle.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Design, Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) ahead 8.8 to 8.2. They come closest on Performance, 8.5 to 8.3. Left of center is Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C), right is Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) versus Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) run left from the axis labels, bars for Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro run right. Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C): Performance 8.5, Value 7.8, Durability 8.0, Ease of use 9.3, Design 8.8. Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Performance 8.3, Value 8.0, Durability 7.6, Ease of use 8.8, Design 8.2.Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) (left)Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (right)PerformanceApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — Performance 8.5 out of 108.5Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — Performance 8.3 out of 108.3ValueApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — Value 7.8 out of 107.8Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — Value 8.0 out of 108.0DurabilityApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — Durability 8.0 out of 108.0Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — Durability 7.6 out of 107.6Ease of useApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — Ease of use 9.3 out of 109.3Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — Ease of use 8.8 out of 108.8DesignApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) — Design 8.8 out of 108.8Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — Design 8.2 out of 108.2Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

Leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design.

  • An iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac all in daily rotation
  • You move between devices constantly and want the handoff automatic
  • Call quality is a real part of your day

Take the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Leads on Value.

  • A Galaxy phone, where the 24-bit codec is actually available
  • You switch between Samsung devices through the day
  • Warranty service you can walk into rather than mail in

What each one gets wrong

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

  • Android is your main phone, which strands most of the feature set
  • Local lossless files are the point, and AAC is the ceiling here

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

  • An iPhone is your main phone
  • Stem-shaped buds are not your thing

Specs, side by side

SpecApple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
CodecsSBC, AACSBC, AAC, SSC (Galaxy only)
BatteryAbout 6 hrs with ANC onAbout 6 hrs with ANC on
ChargingUSB-C—
Water resistanceIP54IP57
Shape—Stem

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — which should I buy?
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Value matters more to you, take the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro instead.
Is 0.3 a real difference?
Barely. Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) averages 8.5 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro averages 8.2, and the total is the plain average of 5 axes, so 0.3 is what one axis moving 1.5 looks like after averaging. The axis split, 4-1, tells you more.
Which one ranks higher in "The phone in your pocket rewrites this order"?
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) sits at #1 in "The phone in your pocket rewrites this order", Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro at #2.