AirPods vs Galaxy Buds comparisons
AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds3 FE
Only the differences are shown. 2 specs stay the same.
+0you gain
−0you give up
AirPods Pro 3 came out in September 2025. Galaxy Buds3 FE came out in September 2025.
Note on AirPods Pro 3: Heart rate sensing needs an iPhone with iOS 26 or later. Hearing feature availability varies by country.
Note on Galaxy Buds3 FE: Announced August 18, 2025; on sale progressively from September 5, 2025.
Design & durability
5.55 g → 5 g each earbud
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, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Hearing Aid, Hearing Test, Hearing Protection, Live Translation, Heart rate sensing, Precision Finding›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 Pro 3 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
$249›$149.99−$99.01
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.
Battery4 changes
Listening time (each maker's figure)
Up to 8 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)
Up to 24 hours (ANC on)›Up to 24 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.
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 & durability2 changes
Weight, each earbud
5.55 g›5 g−0.55 g
Water and dust resistance
IP57 (earbuds and case)›IP54 (earbuds only)Different
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.