Samsung's high-end pro earbuds come with a stem design for the first time, along with a transparent lid case and a neat translation feature.
For
- Fantastic sound
- Thorough ANC
- Lightweight design
Against
- High price
- Removing eartips is a fuss
- Key features require a newer Galaxy phone
Google's next-generation pro earbuds come in a much smaller size, have an in-ear stabilizing fin, redesigned noise cancellation and some exciting color options.
For
- Great noise-canceling mode
- Alright sound, if a bit soft and wooly
- Brilliant battery life
Against
- Smaller size might be an awkward fit
- Price tag is close to superior options
Samsung and Google have both put out new top-end earbuds with a Pro suffix, packing improved audio fidelity and suped-up active noise cancellation. But with a price point so similar and Pro naming, it’s tough for an onlooker to tell which pair is better and which is worth skipping.
It’s not just down to the aesthetics, with both buds being dramatically different to their previous incarnations at face value, but it’s also a matter of sound quality, user experience, ear feeling and the extra features that users get from one or the other – along with software incompatibilities for some features.
So without any further ado, let’s put the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro head-to-head with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Which pair is more pro?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: specs comparison
Before we get lost in the details, let’s go over the specs.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: price and availability
Kicking our comparison off with pricing, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sells for $249/£219/AU$399. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 goes for $229/£219/AU$379. Accurate as it may be for us to say the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is more expensive than the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in most markets, the prices are so similar that it puts these products in direct competition.
If you’re an audiophile and depending on where you live, you probably wouldn’t mind paying a little bit extra to get the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Though obviously, we’ll give credit where it’s due – the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are cheaper in most places.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: design
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro made headlines in July for its Apple-like design changes, while Google has opted to stick with a classic circular shape for its Pixel Buds Pro 2 — though they are a bit smaller than previous models. These design differences make the earbuds look quite different from each other.
Starting with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, the earphones have adopted a stem design akin to AirPods, with small bars shooting downward from the bud when placed in your ears. These bars are quite handy – they include buttons for adjusting playback and can be used to easily remove the buds from your ears.
Samsung’s also gone a bit sci-fi with the Buds 3 Pro, putting small ‘blade’ lights down the sides of the buds (more on what these lights do in the features section). The charging case is also quite distinctive, with a transparent lid allowing you to look right in and see your buds. You can buy the Buds 3 Pro in white or silver.
Meanwhile, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are much smaller. These buds don’t have as much overhang outside of the ear due to not having a stem, with the buds sitting quite firmly on the edge of your outer ear canal. Touch controls are located on the circular periphery of the bud.
To be extra certain that the buds sit firmly in your ear, Google has added a ‘stabilizer’ – a black plastic fin – that can be twisted to ensure the bud won’t fall out (this feature is intended for exercise). The case hasn’t been changed from the first generation Pixel Buds Pro, retaining the cute egg shape with internal changes to accommodate for the smaller buds' size. You can buy the Buds Pro 2 in porcelain, hazel, wintergreen and peony (pink).
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: sound quality
Both the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 represent the height of sound quality that both companies are bringing to their hardware, but in trying them out, you will likely notice a difference.
The sound profile of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is set up as ‘V-shaped’, with the bass and treble boosted for elevated depth, while the mids are a bit more stepped back. Sound is quite loud and dynamic, with a lot of customization offered to the user through an app if they want to adjust the levels.
The Pixel Buds Pro also has great sound, but in comparison to the Buds 3 Pro it’s a bit flatter. The bass, treble and mids feel a little more woolly, though if this is a problem, the user can customize the sound profile in an app.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: features
Obviously, we can’t talk about a pair of pro earbuds without mentioning the flashy features that make them so great (it isn’t just sound).
Kicking things off with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, these earbuds genuinely have one of my favorite features ever. When paired with a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone, the earbuds can translate the words of up to eight different languages.
The blade lights down the sides of the earbud stems are also quite handy, and can be activated with both buds out of your ears to give you an indication of battery life. Additionally, the earbuds have active noise cancellation, a transparency mode and an IP57 rating.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 also have a great feature worthy of note – the twist-to-adjust stabilizer. This is a small plastic fin that, when you twist the earbuds, makes them sit much more firmly in your ears, making them a great choice if you don’t want your buds to fall out during exercise. The buds also have support for hands-free Google Gemini, Google’s new AI, allowing you to have organic and seamless conversations with the chatbot by saying, ‘Hey Google, let’s talk live’.
The Pixel earbuds also include noise cancellation (improved with Google’s Silent Seal 2.0 tech) and a transparency mode for having conversations without removing the buds. These earphones have an IP54 rating. The case also has a handy built-in speaker: if you’ve got the case paired on Find My Device, you can activate the speaker to make finding it a little easier (my advice is to check between the couch cushions first).
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: battery life
Wrapping things up with battery life, both buds have impressive longevity, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 comes out on top.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can last for up to six hours with noise cancellation switched on, or up to 26 hours with the charging case factored in. If you have noise cancellation disabled, you’ll get up to seven hours of playback, or up to 30 hours with the case battery included. Battery life can be extended by having the blade lights turned off.
With noise cancellation enabled, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 can last for eight hours on its own, or up to 30 hours with the case battery factored in. Disabling noise cancellation will yield up to 12 hours of use, or 48 hours with the case factored in.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: verdict
While both pro earbuds certainly represent the best of what each company has to offer on the audio front, it’s clear that there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
If sound quality is most important to you, then it’s hard to look past the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. If you prefer a stem-based design, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are also the obvious pick, though you may also want to consider reading our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review. Pairing your earphones with a Samsung phone will also give you access to the cool live translation feature, ideal for if you’re headed to another country on holiday.
If you want a pair of earphones that can lock in your ears more snuggly, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 might be the pick, with the stabilizer fin making it harder for the buds to fall out when on a run. These earbuds also have an advantage when it comes to the battery and are cheaper in some parts of the world. Plus, with greater color variety on offer and a handy speaker built into the case, makes them easier to find.
We’re inclined to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro over the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for their better sound quality and more refined design, even if they look a lot like Apple’s AirPods. With such similar prices, Samsung’s offer feels more ‘Pro’.
