I have AirPods Max (Lightning) and I'm looking at the Galaxy Buds3 FE
Only the differences are shown. 2 specs stay the same.
+0you gain
−0you give up
AirPods Max (Lightning) came out in December 2020. Galaxy Buds3 FE came out in September 2025, almost 5 years later.
Note on AirPods Max (Lightning): One H1 chip in each ear cup. Apple gives the 20-hour listening time with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency mode on; it publishes no figure with noise control off. Apple brought lossless audio over USB-C only to the USB-C model.
Note on Galaxy Buds3 FE: Announced August 18, 2025; on sale progressively from September 5, 2025.
Price check
Galaxy Buds3 FE launched at $149.99
All 11 differences
Phone & features3 changes
Works with your phone
Works best with iPhone: AirPods features need an Apple device›Android: Android 11.0 or higher with more than 1.5GB of memory. Some features may not be available on non-Samsung devices. iPhone: Bluetooth onlyDifferent
AirPods features need an Apple device. Samsung US support: Galaxy Buds connect to iPhone 5 or later with iOS 9+ by Bluetooth; iPad and iPod touch are not supported. Only Buds+ and Buds Live had the Galaxy Buds iOS app (iPhone 7 or later, iOS 10+).
What does this mean?
Which phone each works with. AirPods features need an Apple device; Galaxy Buds work with Android phones and connect to an iPhone by Bluetooth only.
Both play music and take calls over Bluetooth, but most of what sets each apart needs its own maker's phone.
Matters most if: You are deciding between AirPods and Galaxy Buds: check which phone you have first.
Works best with Galaxy
None›360 Audio, Auto Switch, InterpreterDifferent
Samsung features that need a Samsung Galaxy device, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss. 360 Audio: Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 3.1 or later. Auto Switch: Galaxy phones/tablets with One UI 3.1+ and Galaxy Watch4 or later. Interpreter: Only with a Samsung Galaxy phone.
What does this mean?
Samsung features that need a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, such as 360 Audio, SSC UHQ sound, Auto Switch and Interpreter.
With an iPhone or another Android phone these features are not there, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss.
Works best with iPhone
Personalized Spatial Audio›NoneDifferent
Apple features that need an Apple device, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss. Hearing feature availability varies by country. Apple's feature availability page
What does this mean?
Apple features that need an iPhone or another Apple device, such as Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive Audio, the hearing features and Live Translation.
With an Android phone these features are not there, so they are not counted as a gain or a loss.
Price1 change
Price check
Galaxy Buds3 FE — launched at $149.99
What your AirPods Max (Lightning) sells for
- Apple Trade In and recycling
Apple recycles devices that are not eligible for trade-in credit, for free.
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Starting price
$549›$149.99−$399.01
Audio1 change
Codecs
Not listed by Apple›SSC, AAC, SBC
Apple does not list Bluetooth codecs for AirPods the way Samsung does, so the two are not compared.
What does this mean?
The ways sound is compressed to travel over Bluetooth. Samsung lists them for Galaxy Buds; Apple does not list them for AirPods.
Samsung's SSC codecs work only with Samsung Galaxy devices.
Battery3 changes · 1 not applicable
Listening time (each maker's figure)
Up to 20 hours (ANC on)›Up to 6 hours (ANC on)Different
Each maker's own figure from its own tests: Apple gives the time with Active Noise Cancellation on for models that have it, and Samsung its internal testing, ANC on by default. The test conditions differ, so the hours are not counted as a gain or a loss.
What does this mean?
How long each plays music on one charge, in each maker's own words and tests.
Apple and Samsung test differently, so compare the hours as a rough guide only.
With the case (each maker's figure)
Not applicable›Up to 24 hours (ANC on)
Each maker's own figure from its own tests: Apple gives the time with Active Noise Cancellation on for models that have it, and Samsung its internal testing, ANC on by default. The test conditions differ, so the hours are not counted as a gain or a loss.
Battery capacity, each earbud
Not published by Apple›53 mAh
Apple does not publish this for AirPods. Samsung's figure is the typical capacity.
Battery capacity, case
Not published by Apple›515 mAh
Apple does not publish this for AirPods. Samsung's figure is the typical capacity.
Design & durability1 unconfirmed · 1 not applicable
Weight, each earbud
Not applicable›5 g
AirPods Max are over-ear headphones, so there is no earbud weight to compare.
Water and dust resistance
None listed by Apple›IP54 (earbuds only)
Each maker's rating as it writes it. Samsung's rating covers the earbuds only, not the case, so the two are not ranked.
What does this mean?
Each maker's sweat and water rating as it writes it (IP ratings).
Apple says which of its ratings cover the case too; Samsung's rating covers the earbuds only.
What's new
RSS feedAdded AirPods vs Galaxy Buds
Compare any AirPods with any Samsung Galaxy Buds, on the AirPods and Galaxy Buds tabs or on the new AirPods vs Galaxy Buds pages. The first row says which phone each works with. Features that need one maker's phone are listed as works best with Galaxy (such as 360 Audio, SSC UHQ, Auto Switch and Interpreter) or works best with iPhone (such as Personalized Spatial Audio and the hearing features), without a gain or a loss. Codecs, battery hours, battery capacity (Apple does not publish it) and water ratings are shown side by side in each maker's own words. Popular comparisons: AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds4 Pro and AirPods 5 vs Galaxy Buds4.
Added Samsung Galaxy Buds
Samsung Galaxy Buds from 2019 to 2026 (Galaxy Buds4 Pro, Buds4, Buds3 Pro, Buds3, Buds3 FE, Buds FE, Buds Core, Buds2 Pro, Buds Pro, Buds+ and the first Galaxy Buds), from Samsung's own pages only: a page for each model, comparisons, a Galaxy Buds tab on the home page and a menu item. Battery life is Samsung's internal testing, with ANC on for models that have it, and battery capacity is the typical figure with the rated one in a note. Each spec page says which phones the earbuds work with and which features need a Galaxy phone. Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds Live and Gear IconX are on the timeline only, and Galaxy Buds On is on it as announced. The glossary adds SSC, Auracast, LC3 and Adaptive ANC, and Find my model has the Galaxy Buds model numbers Samsung's pages confirm.
Added eSIM guide
A new eSIM guide covers moving an eSIM to a new iPhone, Pixel or Galaxy, removing it before you sell or trade in, and setting one up on a used or foreign phone, in Apple's, Google's and Samsung's own steps with a link to each (a carrier's page where the makers have none). It also shows how many eSIMs each phone holds, which phones take eSIM only, and what to do if a transfer fails. The glossary adds Dual SIM, DSDS and Dual eSIM, and Buying used now lists iPhone 17e and iPhone Duo as eSIM only. The guide never asks for your EID, IMEI or phone number.