Apple AirPods 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Which are the best mid-range headphones?

Apple AirPods 3 in white for BG mesh

For

Adaptive equalizer with well-balanced sound
Surround sound support
Improved ergonomics
Best-in-class control
Numerous high-end features
Perfect integration with iOS

Against

No ANC or Transparency Mode
The open design causes too much noise
Unstable fit

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro on a white background

For

Great sound
Impressive ANC
The SSC codec makes all the difference
Elegant design

Against

Poor battery life
Unconvincing AI
Some features are blocked for Galaxy devices
Loose fit

The Apple AirPods 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are two of the most popular mid-range earbuds. Both models offer great sound and mobile connectivity, offering high-end performance for a few dollars less than their flagship counterparts.

However, only one of them can be considered the better deal. Read our in-depth comparison of the Apple AirPods 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 to find out which one offers the better value.

Apple AirPods 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Specs Comparison

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Header Cell – Column 0	Apple AirPods 3	Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Price	$179 / £140 / AU$273	$179 / £140 / AU$273
Wireless charging case	Yes	Yes
Token	H1	Unknown
Battery life (rated)	6 hours, 30 hours (with charging case)	5 hours (ANC on), 6 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (ANC on with charging case); 30 hours (with charging case)
Communication	Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC and AAC	Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC and SSC (Samsung Scalable Codec)
Durability	IPX4 (buds only)	IPX57 (buds only)
Size	1.21 x 0.72 x 0.76 inches (each earphone); 1.83 x 0.84 x 2.14 inches (charging case)	1.25 x 0.79 x 0.71 inches (each earphone); 2.31 x 1.91 x 0.96 inches (charging case)
Libra	0.15 (per bud); 1.34 oz (charging case)	0.32 oz (earphones and charging case)

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Price and Availability

AirPods 3 vs Galaxy Buds — (Photo source: Future)

Apple Buds occasionally go on sale (we’ve seen them for as low as $120 ). However, Samsung is known for dropping the prices of its latest models sooner rather than later, and we’re predicting the Galaxy Buds 3 will get a generous discount in fall 2024.

The retail price for these two pairs of headphones is the same: $179. As with most of the best wireless earbuds, you can buy the AirPods 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 from popular online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, or you can buy them directly from the company’s website.

Winner: Tie

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: design

AirPods 3 vs Galaxy Buds

(Photo source: Future)

The Galaxy Buds 3 adopt the AirPods aesthetic with a stem design made of plastic. Samsung has opted for a more angular shape that draws inspiration from the Tesla Cybertruck. The IP57 rating means they’re dust/sweat and water resistant. These buds would look cooler if the stems weren’t sticking out awkwardly. The on-ear fit is very comfortable, but loose, so you’ll need to be careful walking over drains. Additionally, Samsung’s charging case with its translucent cover isn’t as elegant as the ads suggest.

Apple AirPods 3 wireless earbuds resting on their wireless charging case

(Photo credit: Regan Coule / Future)

Take off the AirPods Pro ear tips and you’re effectively AirPods 3. The only details that distinguish this version from its predecessors are an additional microphone grille on the top and slightly shorter stems. An IPX4 rating makes the earphones sweat- and water-resistant. Their charging case is also smaller. Comfort and fit are identical to those of the Galaxy Buds 3.

INinternal: SGalaxy Buds 3 headphones

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Controls

AirPods 3 vs Galaxy Buds

(Photo source: Future)

Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro as AI-powered features. All of this sounds great on paper. The results are nothing to brag about. The AI integration is currently available only on two Samsung devices: the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Features like Interpreter mode for reading and translating foreign languages in real time result in poor transcriptions. We encountered a bug in the voice-activated Bixby that would turn the feature on and off immediately after saying the wake-up phrase. The newly implemented force sensors, which Samsung calls “blades,” are also impractical due to their thinness, making them sometimes difficult to locate. You have to press down really hard for the buds to register their intended functions. There’s a volume bar on the back of the blade that lets you easily adjust the volume using swipe gestures.

Testing the Apple AirPods 3 Force Sensor

(Photo credit: Regan Coule / Future)

AirPods 3 have a better and more reliable control scheme. Their force sensors produce incredible haptic feedback that assures listeners that functions are being performed. Apple’s volume bar has tactile precision. Voice activation of “Hey Siri” instantly launches the AI bot to handle basic commands and queries with precision, demonstrating excellent speech recognition and voice capture in the process.

Winner: AirPods 3

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Sound Quality

Testing the sound on Samsung Galaxy Buds 3

(Photo credit: Alex Bracetti/Future)

One shortcut: SSC (Samsung Scalable Codec). Samsung’s proprietary audio codec makes all the difference in sound quality and provides Galaxy Buds 3 with high-resolution playback over Bluetooth on Samsung devices with up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio. Depth and fidelity are noticeably enhanced when using top music streaming services. 360 sound is useful for immersive listening. These headphones have an adaptive equalizer to adjust the sound accordingly on the go. Samsung’s customizable equalizer with multiple presets can adjust the sound to your taste. Low-latency gaming mode amplifies the sound during mobile games and also fixes lip-sync in movies. Finally, there is an accessibility setting to adjust the audio output on the left and right channels.

Apple AirPods 3 play The Weeknd "Blinding lights" on Apple Music

(Photo credit: Regan Coule / Future)

Even if the AirPods 3 don’t have the sound power of their competitors, they sound amazing compared to the AirPods 2. Apple’s adaptive EQ does a great job of optimizing sound to your surroundings, and a new low-distortion driver creates “powerful bass and crisp, clear highs.” You’ll get a nicely balanced sound from Dolby Atmos-enabled tracks in Apple Music. There’s an equalizer in the iOS settings with over 20 presets. The killer audio feature remains spatial audio, which delivers compelling 360-degree sound for compatible content.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Special Features and Apps

Viewing Galaxy Wearable Apps on Samsung Galaxy Buds 3

(Photo credit: Alex Bracetti/Future)

The feature sets on these two pairs of buds are stacked. However, the Galaxy Buds 3 have the upper hand, as they have active noise cancellation, which slightly reduces unwanted sounds from the soundscape. The audio personalization and usability tools have been covered before: 360 Audio, Accessibility, Adaptive EQ, EQ with presets, Game Mode, SSC, and voice controls (e.g. Bixby, Google Translate). They’re rounded out by a battery level widget, customizable controls, Find My Earbuds mode, firmware updates, PowerShare technology, and seamless switching.

Spatial audio enabled on Apple AirPods 3

(Photo credit: Regan Coule / Future)

Apple has packed the AirPods 3 with several AirPods Pro features, including the aforementioned adaptive EQ, “Hey Siri” voice activation, and spatial audio. Other notable features include audio sharing, auto switching, Background Sounds mode (also known as soundscape mode), Find My integration, and Live Listen to turn your iPhone into a live microphone that sends sounds to your AirPods. The H1 processor pairs the AirPods 3 with iOS/macOS devices out of the box, leaving the door open for additional features to be introduced in future iOS updates.

Winner:Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Call Quality

Video call on Apple AirPods 3

(Photo credit: Regan Coule / Future)

Apple’s wireless earbuds have always provided excellent voice calls. The covered microphones with acoustic mesh help reduce wind noise when taking calls on AirPods 3. Their microphone array provides enough voice pickup that the other end of the line can hear you loud and clear, especially during FaceTime chats.

The Galaxy Buds 3 are sufficient for casual conversations in quiet environments, but that’s about it. We received complaints about muffled and loud ambient noise during outdoor conversations.

Winner: AirPods 3

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: Battery Life

AirPods 3 vs Galaxy Buds

(Photo source: Future)

If battery life is that important to you, look elsewhere. Each pair of earbuds can last up to 6 hours on a single charge, and each wireless charging case provides an additional 30 hours on a full charge. The high volume and special features reduce playtime by about 1.5 to 2 hours on both devices.

AirPods 3 feature better battery life management, letting you squeeze as much juice out of your battery as possible before recharging, while the Galaxy Buds 3 offer longer charging via PowerShare, which lets you charge your case when placed on the back of your Galaxy smartphone.

Winner: Tie

Apple AirPods 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: The Verdict

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Header Cell – Column 0	Apple AirPods 3	Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Price and value (5)	3	3
Project (15)	10	11
Control (10)	10	7
Sound quality (25)	16	17
Special Features and Applications (25)	17	18
Call quality (10)	9	7
Battery life (10)	7	7
Total Score (100)	72	70

AirPods 3 is a fantastic solution for Apple fans who love the lightweight feel of the series and want better sound quality and newer features. Adaptive EQ and spatial audio are huge additions. Improvements to battery life and connectivity seal the deal.

The Galaxy Buds 3 are much more impressive than the reviews suggest, they just don’t live up to the standards they’re trying to set. The AI integration, for example, isn’t overwhelmingly appealing, mostly because Samsung’s understandable features require the latest Galaxy smartphones. Plus, other areas like battery life, call quality, and controls are disappointing.

Ultimately, it will likely come down to the type of mobile device you use — Apple users will gravitate towards the AirPods, while Samsung fans will want to go for the Galaxy Buds 3. Either way, you’ll be getting a solid pair of earbuds.