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A celebrated basic
Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Apple ANC is among the greatest ANC
There’s no telling how a lot has been written in regards to the Apple AirPods, however we’ll be including extra letters and phrases to the reward pile! The AirPods Professional are among the greatest noise-canceling earbuds cash should buy, they usually sound completely unimaginable, too.
Execs- Nice sound and name high quality
- Terrific ANC
- IP54 rated
- Stable battery life
- Simple to change between Apple gadgets
Cons- No hi-res capabilities
- Much less suitable with non-Apple gadgets
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A beauty clone
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional
Hello-res playback with Samsung’s SSC codec
Even when the brand new and improved Galaxy Buds 3 Professional look loads just like the AirPods Professional, it’s laborious to argue with the clearly-inspired design. To not point out these flagship ANC Sammies sound superior, match very effectively, and may be custom-made by way of the Galaxy Wearable app.
Execs- Nice sound and name high quality
- Snug match
- IP57 rated
- Stable battery life
- Good companion app
Cons- Doesn?t play effectively with Apple gadgets
- ANC could possibly be higher
For those who’re on the lookout for a improbable pair of wi-fi earbuds, two of the highest manufacturers to think about are Samsung and Apple.
The previous is greatest identified for its Galaxy Buds lineup, now in its third technology. For the latter, you are AirPods, one of many O.G. earbud households to take the world by storm. And if cash isn’t an enormous concern, you’ll need to take a look at the premium fashions supplied by each firms: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional and Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Era with USB-C).
That will help you resolve which is greatest to your way of life, music preferences, and journey wants, we’ll be pitting these flagship buds in opposition to one another. We’ll weigh in on important standards like sound high quality, noise-canceling, software program, and general worth. We’ll even be offering hyperlinks to our hands-on opinions of each merchandise.
Value, availability, and specs
AirPods are inexpensive
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional (herein known as Buds 3 Professional) have a retail listing value of $250 and can be found in Silver and White colorways. You should buy these wi-fi earbuds from retailers like Amazon, Greatest Purchase, Goal, and straight by way of Samsung. The Apple AirPods Professional even have a listing value of $250 and may be bought in shops or on-line by way of firms together with Amazon, Greatest Purchase, Goal, or straight by way of Apple.
Each pairs of earbuds have already gone on sale, too. The bottom value we’ve seen the Buds 3 Professional promote for is $188, and we’ve seen the AirPods Professional go for as little as $153.
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Apple AirPods Professional 2 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional Battery Life 6 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with case 6 hours (ANC on); 7 hours (ANC off) Microphones Sure 3x per bud IP score IPX4 IP57 (buds solely) Supported codecs SBC and AAC AAC, SBC, Samsung Seamless Value $250 $250
Learn Our Evaluation
Apple AirPods Professional (2nd gen) assessment: Some restrictions apply
Shock: Apple’s earbuds aren’t almost nearly as good outdoors Apple’s ecosystem
Learn Our Evaluation
An unoriginal design and QC points are a priority
Design, match, and controls
Trying loads like twins
At first look, the Buds 3 Professional and AirPods Professional might look almost similar. Clearly, Samsung took inspiration from the basic AirPods design, with a few stylistic modifications thrown in for good measure.
Trying a bit extra angular than the AirPods Professional, the Buds 3 Professional have a shiny exterior from bud physique to stems. Faucet and long-press instructions are mapped to the touch factors on each stems (which you’ll customise utilizing the Galaxy Wearable app). The Buds 3 Professional are additionally IP57-rated, although the charging case doesn’t characteristic any weatherproofing.
The Buds 3 Professional case helps USB-C wired charging and Qi wi-fi. Samsung supplies further silicone ear tip sizes within the field, so that you’ll be capable of discover a pair that greatest matches the form of your ears. Our reviewer thought the Buds 3 Professional match securely and felt comfy for a number of hours. We have been additionally glad to seek out LED lights constructed into each buds, which gentle as much as point out pairing standing and may function a useful beacon must you lose both bud.
Whereas the AirPods Professional ditched the second colorway choice (sorry, silver followers), at this level, the uniform-white of the AirPods lineup is iconic. The place the Buds 3 Professional buds have sharper edges, Apple opted for a extra mild, rounded design for the AirPods Professional. An earlier model of the MagSafe charging case featured a Lightning port, however Apple has achieved away with its proprietary connection in favor of USB-C.
Just like the Buds 3 Professional case, the MagSafe holster helps wired and wi-fi charging and even has an Apple U1 chip. This enables the case to be tracked by way of the Discover My app. The case has a built-in speaker, too, which is able to emit a chime when Discover My is activated.
Faucet and long-press controls are mapped to the touch factors on the AirPods stems (which may be custom-made by way of iOS), and Apple supplies further silicone ear tip sizes within the field. The AirPods Professional match properly and snugly and are comfy sufficient to put on for hours on finish. The earbuds and MagSafe case have an IP54 score, too.
Sound and name high quality
Samsung could be just a bit higher
Whether or not you go together with the Buds 3 Professional or AirPods Professional, you’ll take pleasure in unimaginable sound high quality for music, podcasts, and even for sure motion pictures, reveals, and video video games.
The Buds 3 Professional are outfitted with 10.5mm dynamic drivers and 6.1mm planar tweeters. The earbuds run on Bluetooth 5.4 and assist the SBC, AAC, and SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec), plus spatial audio. One of many cool issues in regards to the Samsung buds is the inclusion of Galaxy AI, which routinely fine-tunes audio and noise-canceling to greatest align along with your typical listening preferences.
However how do these decibels shake out in your ears? After we examined the Buds 3 Professional, the sound high quality blew us away. Out of the field, they’ve a bass-forward signature, which properly compliments genres like rock, rap, and R&B. The decrease finish doesn’t trample the remainder of the soundstage both, with vocals and treble-range devices coming by way of crisp and clear. You can even use the Galaxy Wearable app to vary the listening preset or to create your individual EQ.
Associated
The AirPods Professional run on Apple’s H2 chip and have 11mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 assist, and assist for the SBC and AAC codecs, together with spatial audio. Whereas they lack any AI options, the H2 chipset permits the Professional buds to ship among the greatest sound high quality and noise-canceling of any TWS product. And just like the Buds 3 Professional, you’ll be able to anticipate a exceptional steadiness of highs, mids, and lows, with somewhat further oomph on the low finish.
Whereas there isn’t a devoted app for AirPods options and customizations, iPhone and iPad machine homeowners will be capable of use an Apple machine to entry sure dashboard settings (like ANC modes and contact level controls) by way of the iOS Settings app. These subscribed to Apple Music will even be capable of change between audio presets within the app, however you received’t be capable of use a multi-band EQ to create a preset all your individual.
Cellphone calls sound fairly respectable with each pairs of earbuds, too, and the Buds 3 Professional and AirPods Professional use superior microphone methods to make talking voices sound as full and loud as doable whereas lowering background noise.
Noise-canceling
Apple wins this class
Each the Buds 3 Professional and AirPods Professional use energetic noise-canceling expertise to cancel out undesirable sounds in your listening atmosphere. Historically, ANC achieves the very best outcomes with low-end seems like bus, prepare, and airplane engines, development zones, and HVAC methods. Constant midrange sounds (like coworkers chatting) are properly dealt with by ANC, too.
We thought the Buds 3 Professional did a great job at canceling environmental noise, however the AirPods Professional delivered stronger and extra constant ANC general. This is smart, although, as firms like Apple and Bose have been perfecting in-ear ANC for years, whereas Samsung is just a few generations into this type of TWS tech.
Each pairs of earbuds carry glorious transparency modes to the desk, and also you’ll be capable of toggle between ANC modes with earbud instructions, the Galaxy Wearable app, or by way of iOS.
Battery life
One other level for the Apple
In contrast to noise-canceling headphones, wi-fi earbuds are likely to have a shorter battery life to work with. The Buds 3 Professional ought to ship as much as six hours of playback with ANC enabled and as much as 26 hours whole with a totally charged case. The AirPods Professional hold the identical six-hour runtime of the Buds 3 Professional with ANC turned on, and 30 hours whole with a topped-off MagSafe case.
Each pairs of earbuds assist wired and Qi wi-fi charging. Apple additionally claims that simply 5 minutes of recharging the AirPods Professional will internet you an additional hour of playback.
Software program
Two walled gardens, one large choice
In contrast to Bose, Sony, and a number of different earbud manufacturers, Samsung and Apple get somewhat tough in the case of first-party software program.
Suppose you already personal a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, pill, or smartwatch. In that case, you’ll need to obtain the Galaxy Wearable app to entry further Buds 3 Professional options, settings, and updates (together with Google Quick Pair).
For those who’re utilizing an iPhone or iPad, the AirPods Professional can have further options and settings you’ll be able to entry straight by way of iOS. Because of this for those who’re rocking an Android cellphone and pair your AirPods Professional to it, you received’t be capable of customise or replace them.
Associated
ICYMI: The AirPods Professional 2 are listening to aids now
Final week, at its iPhone 16 occasion, Apple made an announcement that is fairly important for the business as a complete: the AirPods Professional 2 would quickly operate as FDA-approved over-the-counter listening to aids. Official certification got here later that week.
OTC listening to aids usually are a comparatively new creation. Since 2022, producers have been capable of apply for FDA clearance to promote listening to aids that do not require a prescription or customized becoming. The change made assistive listening to gadgets extra accessible to individuals who expertise delicate to average listening to loss; whereas prescription choices can price 1000’s of {dollars}, OTC fashions are usually a lot inexpensive.
The authorization makes the AirPods Professional 2 the primary general-purpose shopper earbuds to select up authorised listening to help performance, and given Professional 2 retail for $250 and are usually accessible for about $190 on sale, they’re now among the many extra reasonably priced assistive listening to choices available on the market. After all, they require an iPhone — however
That being mentioned, each the Galaxy Wearable app and AirPods iOS settings are straightforward to make use of and full of consumer changes. Take an ear tip match take a look at to find out which silicone measurement is greatest to your ear and head form; use a graphic EQ to fine-tune the sound of each buds to your liking; cycle between noise-canceling presets; customise what sure faucets and long-presses; obtain firmware updates and extra!
Oh, and for those who personal multiple Apple machine, so long as they’re all signed in with the identical Apple ID, your AirPods can change between all of your Apple devices with ease!
Which is best for you?
Apple is true for us
This was a extremely robust option to make, however on the finish of the day, we’re going to advocate the Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Era with USB-C) over the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional. The AirPods Professional delivers among the greatest ANC within the enterprise, together with glorious sound high quality and strong battery life.
The winner
Apple AirPods Professional (2nd Gen, USB-C)
$170 $249 Save
$79
The Apple AirPods Professional are a basic pair of wi-fi earbuds that simply hold getting higher. Count on phenomenal sound high quality, top-shelf ANC, and intuitive ecosystem perks for Apple machine homeowners.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional remains to be an important selection, although. These buds could also be greatest served by a Galaxy cellphone or pill (the identical goes for the AirPods and Apple {hardware}), however in the case of sound high quality, consolation, and Samsung customizations, it’s straightforward to see why the Buds 3 Professional are so extremely rated.
The runner up
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional
Whereas it’s our second-best selection on this aspect by aspect, we might proudly stand behind the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional any day. They appear superior, sound improbable, ship strong ANC, and have some nice Galaxy exclusives.