I know this question has been asked a lot but my situation is a bit different, I have the airpods pro 2 for a year and a half, the sound is amazing and all it's features and it's been 6 months I switched from iPhone to a samsung phone s24, the connectivity is good the airpods automatically block out noise from outside but I'm considering switching to galaxy buds 3 pro, main reasons are: being able to find em in gps and better sound. So what are the main differences? And people who have both which one seems better? Let me know :)

Finally got my hands on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and I'm loving it so far! I was able to pick them up at BB today on August 23rd, but initially received an email on Aug. 22nd that it was ready for pick up, just an hour before midnight hit.

I also own a pair of airpods pro 2(USBC) and I think the galaxy buds 3 pro seem a little bit better overall in sound quality and ANC as far as what I can tell switching back and forth when I was testing them. The difference is not substantial by any means, but I prefer the Galaxy Buds 3 pro a little bit more not only because of the active voice command, but also because you can tune it how you want the sound to be aka Equalizer as well as being able to adjust the level of noise cancelation all of which you cannot do on any earbuds or airpods.

However the only gripe I have with the buds 3 pro is the design in terms of the stem blade and how the earbuds are mounted in the case makes them feel awkward. Don't get me wrong, the blade design, to me looks very aesthetic, but when it comes to functionality like pinching pause/play, swipe up/down for volume does not feel natural compared to a more rounded design found on the airpods pro 2 where it is more natural to operate. Anyways, I found myself constantly trying to angle my fingers to grip the stem of the galaxy buds when operating it. Then the outward position that these earbuds are mounted into the case is such a horrible idea because I found myself fiddling, spinning, dropping the buds way more than I should whenever I take them out of the case to wear them then putting them back in the case, so it feels extremely awkward. I think having them positioned inward like the airpods would have been a smarter move, so it feels more natural and less awkward. I was able to successfully remove the eartips to put on the L size ones, but I had to put more effort into removing it than I would with the airpods.

Later on the day when I was testing the voice commands feature like the Stop Music, Play Music, I discovered that the right earbud is only being used as a mic for the voice command while both are worn which may or may not be intentional for saving battery life. However if you choose to only use one earbud in one ear, mic may be disabled, so voice commands will not work. To enable the mic again, you have to remove them out of your ear and place it back in the ear again. I think you have to do this to tell the earbuds you are only using one of the earbuds, so it can toggle on the mic on that one ear. I think you shouldn't have to do this since one of the earbuds is already in the case, so this may be a bug Samsung needs to fix. FYI, I tested this using a pair of earmuffs :) Happy Earbuds 3 Pro for those who finally received them!

This has probably been asked a lot in this sub, but I really need to know what to do.

I currently have apple air pods pro 2, but I decided that I hate apple and want to stop buying their products because of their greed.

For context: Their AI update is only going to work for 15 pro, pro max and up. This means that my <2-year-old 14 won't even be supported, neither will my mom's 14 pro. I think that's crazy.

I also do not like the fact that Airpods are basically useless on my computer (although I love their 360 audio for iPad. It is the best).

I don't have any real use for them outside of my iPad though (which I bought last year, and they also outdated it by adding a new damn pen that doesn't work!) since I don't need insane 360 audio for music. I do love Apple's insane noise cancellation, though!

I am thinking of changing to Samsung since I currently have a Samsung laptop and love it a lot :). Also, having Samsung earbuds would be amazing because they would be seamless on my laptop.

I want the new S24 Ultra and will probably do the switch around September... the only thing really holding me back is my LOVE for air pods. Apple phones suck imo, but they absolutely COOKED with these damn things.

I have been reading reviews, and the main issues with the Samsung buds is the lower quality of 360 sound and noise cancellation (according to reviews).

I was also looking at the Sony WF-1000XM5, but they don't seem to have as seamless of a connection as Samsung products would for my current computer. They also seem to lag behind apple on their 360 sound.

I've asked my audiophile friends about it and they claim that Airpods pro 2 are godsent and the best earbuds ever made T_T. But theyre sooo annoying with not working on my laptop (at all, they disconnect when they feel like it) and just such a dirty company (not saying Samsung's great, but I am sick of buying Apple to have to replace it next year...)

Will the Samsung buds pro 3 match the Airpods Pro 2? is the noise cancellation/360 noise good? are they worth the price tag??

Please note that using the right type and size of ear tips can play a huge factor to determining how the ANC performs. I have both the airpods pro 2(USBC) and the galaxy buds 3 pro and I've extensively been testing them.

Without digging too deep into the testing, I had the foam eartips (by CharJenPro for those wondering) on the airpods, which btw is the best foam tips I've found that actually last long since it is made of hybrid material but still foam tips. Considering foam tips give a better and tighter seal in ears, it will perform better when canceling noise. I had the stock silicone eartips on the galaxy buds 3 pro with the right size tips.

With that said, the airpods should perform better than the galaxy buds 3 pro since it's rocking the foam eartips when it comes to ANC, but surprisingly, that is not the case. In the testing, I had my loud AC blowing right below me, TV on medium volume and repeatedly switched between the two buds constantly toggling ANC. To my surprise, the galaxy buds 3 pro had noticeably better noise cancelation. This is probably because the airpods auto adjust ANC level based on environment, so ANC probably wasn't at its max, whereas with the galaxy buds 3 pro, there's an option to adjust the level of NC but it is always on max so this could be another factor.

I've ordered a pair of foam tips for the Galaxy Buds 3 pro and I can give an update once I get them to see if there's actually any improvement on ANC. My prediction is that it will, probably not by a lot, but will be noticeable. Although, there's this slight white noise that I hear on the galaxy buds 3 pro, which is not present on the Airpods pro 2. Not a deal breaker since it probably could be fixed via software update and you can only notice it if you try to listen for it. I did a real life test of the buds at work. Setting is at a warehouse environment, loud machines/conveyors constantly running, and found that the galaxy buds 3 pro blocking more noise than the airpods pro 2, which is impressive.

Update first impression: I was surprised on how good they fit, so I no longer have to feel like I have to keep adjusting. The M and L size fits perfect but lean more towards L especially working 10 hr shifts 40 hrs a week so it doesn't come loose often after a long period of time. The M can probably be good if I want a little less pressure off but no difference in terms of NC between M and L. Both stock silicone eartips and foam feel equally comfortable. After long 10 hr shifts, I can say that both stock tips and foam tips have not given me ear fatigue.

Does the foam tips actually improve ANC!? Yes especially in a warehouse setting/environment where there is constant loud and excessive noise coming from machines and conveyors around you. You probably won't even notice any difference if you're just testing them in your house with TV or AC on which I did and hardly noticed a difference which goes to show how good the stock silicone tips really are so props to Samsung despite the QC on them! Stocks are actually that good on canceling out noise too and I can see why some might feel more comfortable wearing them over the foam tips since there is no pressure seal like the foams tips make your ears feel. I found that the foam tips are more consistent with canceling out noise since the foam tips grips into your ear canals better. Bad thing is foam tips are known to wear out substantially faster and the silicone last forever unless it's gone through QC and gets ripped apart like some people experience.

wayy better bass and features i love them so far

So, I've had the Buds 3 Pro for 2 days now, and I wanted to share some of my feelings so far on them. Some are good, some are really bad.

For context, I've owned the Buds+ and Buds2 prior and then switched to Airpods Pro 2 in the last few months. Also, while I don't claim to be a bona fide audiophile, I am a discerning listener. I own a few pairs of wired IEMs of various tunings, so I've got some idea of how sound works. I'll also be abbreviating the names of the buds for the sake of brevity. So B3P is the galaxy buds, and AP2 is the Airpods Pro 2. Also, as a disclaimer, I have a sample size of one. So, different units may produce different results from mine. With that being said, let's jump in.

The Good/Okay:

1. Fit - I find them to be a lot more comfortable in my ears than Buds2, especially for long-term listening. About on par with AP2. However, I do wish the medium tips were a bit larger. In my ears, they just barely fit, so any movement breaks the seal. I switched to the large tips, and while they are more secure, they are less comfortable than the medium.

2. EQ - FINALLY. I've been waiting for so long for some kind of eq with bands to control frequencies.

3. Ambient/Transparency mode - It feels like with every generation of the galaxy buds, there is a generational leap in transparency mode. The B3P is no exception. I don't agree with tech reviewers when they say they B3P are as good as AP2 in terms of transparency, I think it does get very close. For starters, they have quite different tonality. Transparency on the AP2 is more balanced and fuller. On the B3P, transparency sounds thinner and bit unrealistic, but also sharper and have a bit more clarity. However, they still suffer from a slight hiss whenever transparency is on. Photographers will understand this analogy, B3P transparency is like cranking up ISO. You gain more ability to collect light, but you trade it for more noise on your images. So what the B3P gains in clarity, it trades extra background noise/hiss for it. I'm sort of bothered by that hiss, so I'd say the B3P are 90% as good as AP2. I really commend the strides Samsung has made in this area, especially coming from mediocre transparency on my Buds 2.

4. Lucky Draw - I got my B3P in white and managed to avoid most of the QC issues reported on the white version. However, I did say most. More on that in the bad section...

5. ANC - It is good and awful at the same time. Here I'll say what's good about them. They cancel out mid frequencies a lot better than my Buds2. Buds2 ANC was basically just sucking the bass out of the world around you. Overall, the AP2 is still better, but Samsung once again has made strides. Also, the ANC strength ramps up very smoothly compared to the AP2. AP2 sounds like it has 3 distinct levels of ANC it cycles through depending on the sounds around you. You don't really notice the ANC strength increasing in steps on the B3P.

The Nitpicks/Meh:

1. Eartips - I mentioned this earlier, how the tips aren't really the best fit for me. I wish that Samsung would fully commit to copying AP2 and give us 4 tip sizes in the box. The medium tips on AP2 fit my ears way better than the ones on the B3P.

2. Tuning - Not my favorite tuning. It's pretty fun sounding with big and booming bass, but it's almost dark, which stunts mid's energy and excitement. Also, it feels like it congests the mix and doesn't leave a whole lot of room for the instruments and vocals to really stretch their legs and breath. The boost in treble does add a little spice back in, but it doesn't really make up for the darker and more subdued mids. While the AP2 is an entirely different approach to tuning, what I call "fun but entirely inoffensive." It does have a bass punch, not nearly as much as the B3P. The mids are more balanced and "flatter," and the treble is detailed and anything but spicy. I like it, I do wish it had more energy, but it's very enjoyable and inoffensive. If I could have my cake and eat it too, I'd want something in between the two buds. Something with a bit more bass punch, balanced/neutral-ish mids, and a slight upper mids/ treble boost. Thankfully, I can EQ them now, so I'm actively trying to dial in my preferred sound.

3. Battery - It's alright, I think the AP2 beat them out, though. I have yet to use the B3P long enough to drain its battery, but based on watching how fast the percentage drains. It does drain faster than the AP2. But I do have one major issue that I'll be highlighting later.

4. The Charging Case - It's like the AP2, but worse. I thought the speakers on the AP2 case were a bit of a gimmick till I lost the case under my bed and had to use Find My on my iPad to locate it. I'd really like to see Samsung integrate this feature in the future. Also, I don't like the way the B3P sits in the case. Once again, Samsung should have just copied the orientation the AP2 sat in their case. The angular shape of the stems and their orientation makes it so that it's quite difficult to remove and replace the buds in the case one handed or when you're not looking at them.

The Bad:

1. Battery Drain Issue - My left bud dies way faster than the right one. When I said I mostly escaped QC issues, this is what I meant. When I first unboxed the B3P, the left bud was almost dead, while the right side was around 80%. I should've known. Yesterday, I was using them, and they were at 75% when I decided to connect them to my iPad and try them on there. About 15-20 minutes later, the left bud just kicked the bucket out of nowhere. No low battery warning or anything. Just get halfway through the power down sound and dies. Today, I've had them in my ears since 11:30-ish and right now (1:15pm) the left bud is at 54%, while the right one is at 72%.

Update: As I was writing this, the time of death for the left bud is 1:27pm. It literally just made a pop sound and died with no warning. I will definitely have to call customer support to see what they can do, but I doubt they can do much for me.

2. ANC (the bad sequel) - ANC is hot garbage when it comes to canceling sub bass frequencies. I saw some reviews from Japanese outlets highlighting this issue, but nothing could prepare me for how bad it was. The best test I've found to get a meter on ANC strength/effectiveness is to drive with ANC on (I already know it's dangerous, ya don't have to tell me) Wowie, it's entirely inept at canceling the rumble of my engine idling and the car going over bumps. When my car is idling, the buds cancel everything but the rumble of the engine. So, you get this odd sensation of sub bass frequencies just pummeling and rumbling in your ears while the rest of the world is a distant whirr. It's a very uncomfortable sensation that could be borderline headache inducing. I think the idea here was that Samsung was hoping that you'd be playing music while using the buds. So, the boosted bass tuning was sort of a counter measure to hopefully mask the poor sub bass attenuation. I'd say it works, but only to a certain degree. This was such a miserable failing on Samsung's part. The sub bass attenuation on my Buds 2 is better than the B3P. Embarrassing. I'm not sure if this is something that can be fixed in software, but it's a huge turn-off for me.

Overall, Samsung did pretty okay with the redesign. QC issues aside. But they should've done better if they wanted to compete in this price bracket. I might try to see if I can get a replacement pair, but I may end up just returning them and live with my AP2 (with all of its deficiencies on android). At least those provide a reliable and consistent experience. Sorry, this is so long, but I just had a lot of thoughts and feelings.

TL;DR: I like the buds 3 pro better but if you already have the 2 pros and planning to upgrade, I'd say wait for a deal/discount.

Improvements from 2 to 3:

• I feel the Audio Quality is better. If the buds 2 Pro were a 8/10 I'd say 3 Pro is a 10/10. It's a bit better with the latest software upgrade of the galaxy S23 and S24 that includes the UHQ option with 96 khz sample rate, noticeable only on Samsung Music at the moment of this review. With this option the audio is slightly louder and crispier if you're playing songs downloaded to your phone thru Samsung music compared to Spotify's highest quality setting. The UHQ improvement is not very noticeable if you aren't and audiophile. I had to compare them one right after the other to tell the difference.

• I like the fit of 3 pros better. It's not like I had an issue with the 2's, but I feel 3's better.

• Ambient sound feels more natural. With 2's I could hear people talking the quality felt dull. I don't even remove 3's from my ear to listen to others.

• ANC improved significantly, although ANC occasionally fluctuates depending on what kind of noise you are around.

Neutral:

• Touch commands are not better nor worse, but they're different. It took me a day or two to get used to the pinch system, there's a specific spot you need to touch, and you need 2 fingers. Buds 2 pros you can touch anywhere (one finger tap).

Worst:

• Some people got defective buds 3 pros and I know Samsung did a QA recall. I was one of the lucky ones that received a perfectly working pair but was kind of skeptical at first.

• Battery life for me works around 4-5 hours straight at max volume with ANC. (about 1-2 hours less than 2's).

• I didn't need to remove the tips but they look extremely hard to remove, feels like they're going to break by trying to. Many people broke them by accident. I preferred not messing with them since the medium tips fits me right.

New features:

• Voice commands works great. It's great to switch skip songs or stop/play music when you have your hands busy like if you are working out at the gym or cooking. I'd say they work 8 out of 10 times for me, and I have a latino accent.

• Adaptive ANC: This is a joke. It fluctuates a lot and it's annoying.

• Lights: you can turn the lights on just to show off. They look nicer, at the expense of ~1hr of battery life. They're off by default and you have to turn them on manually by removing the buds from your ears, releasing them, pinching them at the same time. You'll get a notification on your phone reminding you they're on. They will turn off when there's 30% battery left.

What I'd like to see in the next update:

• An option to turn on the lights automatically when music is playing with ANC, basically telling others "I can't hear you".

• An option to turn ANC on when music is playing and ambient sound when you stop music automatically. When I'm listening to music I have to manually stop it, then punch/hold the buds dorya few seconds to turn ANC off. I don't see a point of turning ANC on if you are not listening to anything. I know there's an option for voice detect but it drains your battery faster.

What new features would you like to see?