Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Galaxy Buds2 Pro: Should you upgrade?

Samsung has been a major player in the true wireless earbud market, delivering high-performance earbuds with ecosystem integration that rivals Apple’s AirPods. Their latest offering, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, marks an entirely new strategy in design philosophy from their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, while also leaning into a variety of AI features. But how do these two premium models stack up against each other when it comes to the essentials, such as sound quality and noise cancelation? After testing them both, we compare the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Galaxy Buds2 Pro to help you decide which one might be the better choice for your needs.

Editor’s note: This is the first version of this article, which was published on July 22, 2024. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro compared to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Buds2 Pro is in their design. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro features a new triangular lollipop stem design, almost like a cross between Apple’s AirPods and a “Cybertruck” aesthetic. They also have lights on them and utilize pinch and swipe controls. In contrast, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro maintains a more traditional bulb-shaped design. Their matte, rubberized texture makes them slightly easier to grasp and perform touch commands.

Personally, I find the Buds2 Pro’s bulb design more ergonomic and secure. However, some people might prefer the stem design for stability. It all depends on the shape and size of your ears.

Both models offer IPX7 water resistance, making them suitable for workouts and rainy conditions. However, the Buds3 Pro takes it a step further with an IP57 rating, adding dust resistance to the mix.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro’s case features a clear plastic window lid, allowing users to see the earbuds inside. The case is also thinner, easily fitting into most pockets. The Buds2 Pro’s case is fully opaque and has the same matte, rubberized finish as the earbuds, which makes it grippy but also prone to scratches. Both cases support wireless charging, and USB-C wired charging.

Both models come with multiple ear tip sizes to help you get a good seal. You should have no problem wearing them for an hour or more before heat and sweat may affect the fit, but as always, that can vary depending on the size and shape of your ears.

If you have color preferences, the new Galaxy Buds3 Pro only comes in silver and white, while the previous Buds2 Pro came in black, white, or purple.

How do you control the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

Both models utilize touch controls on the earbuds themselves. The Buds3 Pro introduces a new control scheme using pinches and swipes along the stems, while the Buds2 Pro relies on taping the surface of the earbuds. The Buds3 Pro offers some additional control options, including voice commands to adjust volume and play and pause music, so you can avoid touching your earbuds at all.

Galaxy Buds3 Pro controls:

Galaxy Buds2 Pro controls:

What you see above is what you get, as both models suffer from limited customization options for controls through their respective apps.

Should you use the Samsung Wearables app for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

Both earbud models are designed to work with the Samsung Wearables app, which provides access to various features and settings. The app is essential for accessing EQ presets, firmware updates, and device-specific features.

The Buds3 Pro introduces some new AI-powered features through the app, including a real-time interpreter mode for language translation. Both models offer EQ presets, but only the Buds3 Pro features a custom 9-band equalizer if you want to fine-tune it yourself.

It’s important to note that many features are exclusive to Samsung devices, which can limit functionality if you have a different Android phone or iPhone.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Galaxy Buds2 Pro connect?

Both earbud models use Bluetooth for connectivity. The Buds3 Pro utilizes Bluetooth 5.4, while the Buds2 Pro uses Bluetooth 5.3. They both support various codecs, including SBC, AAC, and the Samsung Seamless Codec (on compatible Samsung devices).

The Buds3 Pro introduces support for Auracast, a new Bluetooth feature for audio sharing and public broadcasts.

Both models offer quick pairing with Samsung devices and auto-switching between paired Samsung products. However, the fullest feature set and UHQ Audio (24bit / 96kHz) are reserved for users of recent Samsung smartphones.

Is battery life better on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro offers a slightly shorter battery life compared to its predecessor:

• Buds3 Pro: Approximately 4 hours 31 minutes with ANC on
• Buds2 Pro: Approximately 4 hours 50 minutes with ANC on

Both models’ cases provide additional charging cycles. However, neither model offers exceptional battery life compared to some competitors in the market.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Galaxy Buds2 Pro block noise better?

Interestingly, the newer Buds3 Pro seems to have taken a step back in terms of noise cancelation performance. With ANC enabled, the Buds3 Pro blocks out about 76% of perceived noise. While that’s fine enough for most, it’s definitely a cut below what other products at this price point provide, and it’s unclear whether a firmware update will fix this or if this is as good as it gets.

For comparison, the Buds2 Pro blocks out 84% of outside noise, which does make a perceptible difference. Here, the ANC affects sounds below 100Hz (down to about 30Hz), and it’s among the best ANC earbuds out there.

Both models also offer a transparency mode to allow environmental awareness when needed.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro sound better than the Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro has full and detailed sound. The default tuning might have slightly overemphasized highs, which could be fatiguing for some listeners. We found the “Clear” EQ preset to be the best for a more balanced sound.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro also has good overall sound quality. In our review, we found that hi-hats could be a bit loud relative to other elements, and bass was prominent but not overpowering.

Objective results

Both models follow a consumer-friendly frequency response curve with some similarities and deviations from our house curve:

• Bass: Both models feature a slight bass emphasis, with the Buds3 Pro potentially offering more sub-bass extension.
• Mids: Generally well-balanced on both models, closely following target curves.
• Highs: Both models show some emphasis on the high frequencies, with the Buds3 Pro having a notable boost around 10kHz.

Both models support Samsung’s 360 Audio feature for spatial sound effects, though this is limited to compatible Samsung devices.

Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Galaxy Buds2 Pro have a better microphone?

Both earbud models offer decent microphone performance for casual calls or conferences, but they each have their strengths and weaknesses.

The Buds3 Pro comes with several advanced features, such as a “super wideband call” functionality that allows you to record up to 16kHz instead of the usual 8kHz, depending on your network speeds. For whatever reason, we couldn’t get much noise reduction out of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro in our testing, as you can hear in the Street conditions recording samples below. Still, it is possible you could get different results depending on which client or device you use. A firmware update could also fix this.

On the other hand, the Buds2 Pro provides reasonable noise rejection, even if voices don’t consistently sound true to life. One of the useful features you can toggle on in the Galaxy Wearable app is activating Ambient sound mode while you’re on a call. This can offset the disorientation of hearing your own muffled voice and works like a sidetone effect.

Galaxy Buds3 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Galaxy Buds2 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Galaxy Buds3 Pro microphone demo (Street conditions):

Galaxy Buds2 Pro microphone demo (Street conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro vs Galaxy Buds2 Pro: Price and availability

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro launched at a price of $249.99 at Samsung, positioning it as a premium offering in the true wireless earbud market. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro, being an older model, can often be found at a lower price point ($179 at Amazon), sometimes around $180-$200, depending on sales and promotions.

Due to quality control concerns, Samsung has temporarily halted shipments of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which may impact availability until late August. Once that is resolved, both models should be available through Samsung’s official channels, major electronics retailers, and online marketplaces.

Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro or Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

The choice between the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Buds2 Pro largely depends on your priorities and whether you own a compatible Samsung device.

If you just got yourself a new Samsung smartphone and value the latest Galaxy AI features like real-time translation, the Buds3 Pro can be a good audio companion. However, if ANC performance is a top priority or you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Buds2 Pro remains an excellent choice.

If you already own the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, upgrading to the Buds3 Pro is not necessary unless you really prefer stem designs or something like Auracast will make a meaningful difference in your life. The Buds2 Pro still nails the basics, offering excellent sound quality, strong ANC performance, and most of the core features found in the newer model.

For users of non-Samsung Android phones or iPhones, the differences become less pronounced due to limited access to some features. In these cases, the lower-priced Buds2 Pro provide better value.

If neither option seems ideal for your needs, you can check out our list of the best wireless earbuds in 2024 for more options.

Frequently asked questions