Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) vs Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — with case | 30 h | 24 h |
| Multipoint | false | true |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 g | 4.7 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 |
Between the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) and Galaxy Buds 3, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) comes out ahead in battery — with case, while the Galaxy Buds 3 wins on multipoint / weight per bud. Overall, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) scores 74 and the Galaxy Buds 3 scores 74.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74 vs 74.4). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) if you care most about battery — with case. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery — with case. The single most decisive one: Battery — with case — 25.00% more. 30 h vs 24 h.
Pick the Galaxy Buds 3 if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. Its strongest claims are multipoint, weight per bud, water resistance. The single most decisive one: Has Multipoint.
Both ship with comparable battery — buds, active noise cancellation, driver size, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3?
Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 leads the current Mars Score by 0.4 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare weight per bud against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) if…
Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) has the measurable edge on battery life case h.
Choose Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 if…
Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 has the measurable edge on has multipoint, weight per bud g, ip rating.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) wins
- ▲Battery — with case — 25.00% more. 30 h vs 24 h.
Why Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 wins
- ▲Has Multipoint.
- ▲Weight per bud — 0.60 g less. 4.7 vs 5.3.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IP54).
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | in-ear | openlead |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 g | 4.7 glead |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54 | IP57lead |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 6 h | 6 h |
| Battery — with case | 30 hlead | 24 h |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.3 | 5.4lead |
| Codecsⓘ | AAC,SBC | SSC,AAC,SBC |
| Multipointⓘ | false | truelead |
| In-ear detection | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has longer battery, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Galaxy Buds 3?+
Galaxy Buds 3 lasts 6h per charge vs 6h.
Do AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Galaxy Buds 3 support multipoint?+
Galaxy Buds 3 supports multipoint pairing; AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) does not.
Which has ANC, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Galaxy Buds 3?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.