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 Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 ranks #358, rated 3.6/5, at $189. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the longer-running option. Battery life is strong at 12 hours per charge and 48 with the case, and the earbuds weigh only 0 lbs (4.7 g) each. It is rated for 12 hours of battery against 6 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. The tradeoff: A 9.4 dB dip near 4 kHz pushes vocal presence back, and a 7.6 dB peak near 7.9 kHz can make sibilance and hi hats sound edgy.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is the better-sounding, tougher pick. True wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling that still measure well, scoring 77.1 in the median of 5 squig.link measurements. It is rated IP57 against IP54 for the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. The catch: 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, and the $0.99 saving on the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.00 | $189.99 |
| Ranked | #358 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 | 69 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 77 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.42 dB standard deviation | 1.54 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.52 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.54 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.6 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) |
| Drivers | 1 x 11mm dynamic | 1 x dynamic woofer + 1 x planar tweeter |
| Weight | 0 lbs (4.7 g) per earbud | 0 lbs (5.4 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (48 with case, Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (26 with case, ANC on; 7 hours, 30 with case, ANC off, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC-UHQ |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP57 |
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- Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
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
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: $189.00 TWS Amazon $189.00 eBay
Pros: Battery life is strong at 12 hours per charge and 48 with the case, and the earbuds weigh only 4.7 g each. Active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.4 and an IP54 dust and splash rating round out the feature list. In hobbyist measurements on squig.link the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz stays within about 1 dB of target, so vocals sound natural.
Cons: A 9.4 dB dip near 4 kHz pushes vocal presence back, and a 7.6 dB peak near 7.9 kHz can make sibilance and hi hats sound edgy. Sub-bass sits about 4 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the deepest bass lacks weight. The Beats Fit Pro earns the same rating for noticeably less money.
Full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (48 with case, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | True wireless |
| Deviation From Target | 2.42 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 11mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.52 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (4.7 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