Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) vs Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
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 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — with case | 30 h | 26 h |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Multipoint | false | true |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 g | 5.4 g |
Between the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) comes out ahead in battery — with case / driver size, while the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wins on multipoint / water resistance. Overall, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) scores 74 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro scores 73.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (74 vs 73.2). 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 / driver size. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery — with case, driver size, weight per bud. The single most decisive one: Battery — with case — 15.38% more. 30 h vs 26 h.
Pick the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. Its strongest claims are multipoint, water resistance. The single most decisive one: Has Multipoint.
Both ship with comparable battery — buds, active noise cancellation, spatial audio, 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 Pro?
Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) leads the current Mars Score by 0.8 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare driver size, 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, driver size mm, weight per bud g.
Choose Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if…
Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has the measurable edge on has multipoint, 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 — 15.38% more. 30 h vs 26 h.
- ▲Driver size — 4.76% more. 11 mm vs 10.5 mm.
- ▲Weight per bud — 0.10 g less. 5.3 vs 5.4.
Why Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wins
- ▲Has Multipoint.
- ▲Water resistance: IP57 (vs IP54).
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Weight per bud | 5.3 glead | 5.4 g |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP54 | IP57lead |
Audio
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 11 mmlead | 10.5 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 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery — buds | 6 h | 6 h |
| Battery — with case | 30 hlead | 26 h |
| Wireless case chargingⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple - AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) | Samsung - Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pro?+
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro lasts 6h per charge vs 6h.
Do AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro support multipoint?+
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro supports multipoint pairing; AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) does not.
Which has ANC, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.