Short answer: the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. It ranks #149 of 467 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $189.99; the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ranks #364, rated 3.5/5, and costs $199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Apple AirPods Pro 3: Sub-bass sits about 3 dB above the Harman target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link and still reaches 30 Hz with a slight lift, so bass lines and electronic drops carry real rumble. The tradeoff: A 6.4 dB dip near 3.4 kHz pulls vocals and guitars back, while a 6.3 dB peak near 8 kHz and about 6 dB of extra air above 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound splashy.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is the better-sounding choice. True wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling that still measure well, scoring 77.1 in the median of 5 squig.link measurements. Watch for: Presence sits about 3.5 dB below target with a 4.3 dB dip near 3.9 kHz, which recesses vocals and makes guitars and snares less defined.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $189.99 |
| Ranked | #364 of 467 in In-Ear Headphones | #149 of 467 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 77 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.43 dB standard deviation | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.58 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.54 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | True wireless | True wireless |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 planar magnetic) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5.55 g) per earbud | 0 lbs (5.4 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (24 with case, ANC on, Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (26 with case, ANC on; 7 hours, 30 with case, ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC-UHQ |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP57 | IP57 |
| Drivers | - | 1 x dynamic woofer + 1 x planar tweeter |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Apple AirPods Pro 3: $199.00 TWS Amazon $199.00 eBay
Pros: Sub-bass sits about 3 dB above the Harman target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link and still reaches 30 Hz with a slight lift, so bass lines and electronic drops carry real rumble. The response stays fairly even overall, with a 2.4 dB standard deviation from target and a gently warm tilt that suits warm and bassy tastes. Active noise cancelling, an IP57 rating that covers dust and immersion, and 8 hours per charge (24 with the case, ANC on) make it an easy everyday pair.
Cons: A 6.4 dB dip near 3.4 kHz pulls vocals and guitars back, while a 6.3 dB peak near 8 kHz and about 6 dB of extra air above 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound splashy. Codecs stop at SBC and AAC, and the Beats Fit Pro earns a slightly higher rating for less money.
Full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (24 with case, ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | True wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 2.43 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | IP57 |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.58 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5.55 g) per earbud |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: $189.99 TWS Amazon $189.99 eBay
Pros: True wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling that still measure well, scoring 77.1 in the median of 5 squig.link measurements. Bass lifts about 1.6 dB above target with full extension to 20 Hz, a warm tuning that suits commuting and pop. Battery runs 6 hours with ANC on and 26 with the case, IP57 handles sweat and rain, and the SSC codecs add higher-quality streaming on Samsung phones. It rates higher than the older Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.
Cons: Presence sits about 3.5 dB below target with a 4.3 dB dip near 3.9 kHz, which recesses vocals and makes guitars and snares less defined. The higher-quality SSC codecs only work with Samsung phones, so other phones fall back to AAC or SBC.
Full Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (26 with case, ANC on; 7 hours, 30 with case, ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC-UHQ |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | True wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 planar magnetic) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic woofer + 1 x planar tweeter |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | IP57 |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.54 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5.4 g) per earbud |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons