I have used both Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds almost extensively. Here's my review comparing them side by side. Spoiler: They are absolutely amazing for what they can do.

When I first bought AirPods, my main idea honestly was to just flex. I didn't expect them to be so good. I used Galaxy Note 8 and I was clearly not optimistic about sound quality. I was aware quality would take a hit on an Android device when compared to iOS.

Well, I was amazed when I started listening music through AirPods. Sound quality was really good for a Bluetooth, truly wireless earbud. I was so satisfied that I literally convinced 4 friends/colleagues of mine to purchase them. Let's compare Galaxy Buds with AirPods now.

Design:

Design is really subjective here. Airpods have become a 'fashion statement'. You see them almost everywhere in almost every ear at malls, subways, airports etc. Airpods now look iconic. However, they were made fun of in the beginning.

Galaxy Buds on the other hand have a completely different aesthetic. They look more sporty and aren't as widely acceptable as AirPods. They snug right into your ear isolating all the surrounding sound. They will never leave your ear which means runs/jogs/gym sessions are safer.

Sound Quality:

Airpods are really great when it comes to sound quality. They are loud and clear. They also produce enough base when settings are tweaked. However, high volumes aren't so pleasant. They sounded somewhat better than my wired headphones.

Galaxy Buds are far more superior when it comes to sound quality. They have rubberised tip which goes deep into your ears giving you that rich sound quality. Also, they isolate your surroundings better. Music is loud and clear, punchier and richer than Airpods.

Don't get me wrong, you'll not have complains about quality with any of these earbuds but if you want a slightly better quality, go for Galaxy Buds. They offer richer experience and various ear tips/wings to fit you ears perfectly.

Call Quality:

This is one category where I think earbud's real potential is measured. Handsfree wireless calling was always a dream and AirPods exactly fulfils that dream. It was shocking how clear and smooth calling experience is. Users on the other end always heard me clearly.

Galaxy Buds here don't exactly make calling a smooth experience. Calling through Galaxy Buds is a doable task though, it is not that bad. I can clearly hear what others are saying. It is just that others were not able to clearly hear me due to microphones placed really high.

You have to be a bit louder from your end for others to clearly listen to what you are saying. Now this issue is ONLY when you are in a crowded place. If you are in a less crowded place (home/office) the experience is just as good as AirPods. Just yesterday I ran into an issue where callers on the other end weren't able to hear me at all. All they heard was some tik noise. Not sure if it's my buds or an known issue but Samsung needs to fix their call quality.

Battery Life:

AirPods have almost 4+ hours of battery life. The case provides an additional 20+ hours of battery life. During my experience, I was able to use Airpods for 3 maximum days with 2-3 hours of music/podcasts/calling each day.

Galaxy Buds on the other hand provide 6 hours of battery life. Their case provides an additional 7 hours of battery life. During my experience I was able to pull 2 days maximum with them. However, I was able to charge them anywhere as Galaxy Buds used USB-C for charging.

Now battery life will also never be an issue. However, Airpods have a better battery life when used with iOS devices. Both these buds provide enough battery for you to use them for 2 days.

Few extra features:

Apple AirPods are straight forward, their only purpose is to give you a seamless experience. There are no additional features. Whereas Galaxy Buds provide you with bunch of settings and features.

Ambient Mode: When turned on, they break the isolation and lets you hear what's happening around you. As I said, buds go deep inside your ear making you almost deaf. Ambient mode comes in handy at times when your mom's yelling your name and you respond before she throws you out.

Taps : You single tap on the GalaxyBuds to play/pause music (also AirPods does this) Double tap to skip tracks Triple tap to go back to previous track Press and hold to either increase/decrease volume OR turn on/off ambient mode. All this can be toggled on the Galaxy Buds app on Samsung.

Conclusion: Both these buds are really small and convenient. Both have their pros and cons. Sound Quality is really good on both, slightly superior on Galaxy Buds. Call Quality is also good on both, much much better on Airpods. Both these earbuds can be used on Android or iOS.

Totally depends on what suits your taste. Drop any questions you have below. I am more than happy to answer them! Let me know if I forgot something.