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Samsung released its flagship earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, at the Galaxy Unpacked event, which was soon followed by Google showing off its latest, the Pixel Buds Pro 2, at Made by Google. Both are priced similarly, the Galaxy 3 Buds Pro at $250 and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at $230. We really liked the Samsung buds when we first got our hands on them, but the Pixels outperformed them in nearly every department. For a slightly lower price, the Buds Pro 2 do everything the Buds 3 Pro do but better.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Design and Fit
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have completely polarizing designs. The former features a slim, sleek look with elongated stems or “blades.” The sharp, pointy blades look triangular from afar but reveal their unique pentagonal shape upon a closer look. The Pro model on the Samsung buds includes blade lights, too, that are triggered every time the buds are docked in or out of the charging case. I found Samsung’s marketing of the blade lights as one of the reasons to pay an extra $70 for the Pros quite lame until I got hands-on time with the buds. I can’t deny the bump in aesthetic the lights lead to as well as how rare the feature is.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2, on the other hand, resemble little buttons in your ears, much like the Galaxy Buds predecessors before Samsung decided to switch to an AirPods-like design. Except Google’s flagship buds received a massive reduction in size and weight compared to the first-gen Buds Pro, so they’re excessively tiny now. They’re available in four gorgeous colors: Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, and Hazel. Aesthetics-wise, Google’s buds are chic, and Samsung’s flashy. If the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer an understated and subtle look, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro exude a futuristic, modern vibe. The “right option” is whichever better aligns with your taste. Not to sound biased, but Pixel’s interesting colorways might be more exciting to try out than the same old Silver or Grey on Samsung’s buds.
Fit-wise, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are far snugger. Google touts a new fit-to-adjust stabilizer on them that locks them extra tight in your ear canals when you twist them once. Their ear-hugging fit is also helped by little rubber wings that grew back on this generation after skipping the previous model. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro aren’t assisted by any protruding parts that complement their fit. Google also won me over by including an XS ear tip size in the package. Accommodating extreme sizes is always a good idea.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo The Pixel buds’ inconspicuous form factor played a role in their hassle-free fit, too. Quietly nesting in my concha, they never interfered with the outside world, while the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro often clashed with my reading glasses, hair, and earrings.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Navigation
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Contrary to my presumptions, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s sharp-edged design works in your favor, giving your fingers a fitting shape to hold on to. I realized that a V-shaped stem is easier to grasp than a circular one since that’s the shape my thumb and forefinger make when brought together. Despite that, the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s controls are an undisputed winner for me.
You tweak the volume on Google’s buds by swiping horizontally on them. Swiping from left to right turns the volume up and vice versa. Samsung’s buds have swiping up and down as the volume control gesture which isn’t ideal on tiny peripherals that run the risk of plopping out of your ears when they’re pulled down.
The other big difference is the pressure-sensitive buttons (like the force sensors on the AirPods Pro) on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro versus a touch-capacitive interface on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. It’s surprising to see myself vouching for touch gestures over physical buttons, but Google makes an irresistible case on its buds. Since the buds don’t feature protruding stems, tapping and swiping on them without compromising the fit is easy. On the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, messing around on the stem leads to a slight weight imbalance and often shifts the buds’ position in your ears. They’re also not helped by the physical buttons requiring greater force than the highly sensitive touch sensors on the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Sound and ANC
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
The two-way speaker, dual amplifiers, planar tweeter, and a dedicated woofer make the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound as pleasant as the Tensor A1 chip, 11mm drivers, and a new high-frequency (treble) chamber on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Both buds offer excellent audio overall, but the Galaxy buds suffer from a slightly thick-sounding low-end. This was also an issue on the first-gen Pixel Buds Pro but was fixed on the flagship model. Treble and mids on the Samsung buds sound fine, but cranking the volume higher than 50% reveals the muddy bass.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo On the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the deep, punchy, perfectly tuned bass was one of the first elements I noticed. It sits on a separate layer from the rest of the orchestra and is unarguably its most defined part. Overall, the sound is extremely crisp and detailed, allowing you to pay close attention to each nuance in the song. The mids carry sufficient space and sound quite airy, and while the high-end is decent, it remains overshadowed by the low-end’s thump.
Again, both buds perform decent noise cancelation, but the Pixel buds win by a slight margin. Their ANC is extremely powerful. I was amazed at how well it held up to some of the most difficult sounds to cancel, such as the Subway rumble while walking right on top of its vent or the fire truck’s siren. I was on a phone call when the fire truck passed, and I completely lost my caller’s voice as the siren took over. Switching to ANC instantly reduced that noise significantly. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro were a little less efficient in this regard.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Battery Life
Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google’s buds are the clear winners here. They sport 48 and 30 hours with ANC off and on, respectively. Samsung offers 30 and 26 hours with ANC off and on, respectively. I easily squeezed weeks out of the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Both buds charge wirelessly.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Other Features
Compatibility is a big aspect to consider when your buds’ brand makes phones. Pixel phone users on the Buds Pro 2 will have access to exclusive perks such as Spatial Audio and Conversation Detection. Gemini AI integration is one of the most marketed features on these buds, though we weren’t its biggest fans since it was far more hands-on than promised. However, Gemini integration isn’t limited to the Pixel lineup anyway; Android and iOS users can install the Gemini app to access it.
Samsung has built higher walls around some of its features. The Galaxy-exclusive features on the Samsung buds make a better case for staying within the ecosystem. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro users enjoy spatial audio, EQ settings, live translation in up to eight languages, and improved sound and mic quality with Samsung Galaxy devices.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are rated IP54 against dust and water, while the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feature an IP57 rating. However, the Pixels also offer IPX4 resistance on their charging case, which is uncommon for wireless earbuds.
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Verdict
It’s very apparent who the winner is. We initially reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro positively, except for their onboard volume controls and muddy bass. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 beat the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in every category while maintaining a similar price range. In fact, they’re cheaper at $230 compared to the $250 Buds 3 Pro. Our only gripe on the Pixel buds was their underwhelming Gemini integration, but you’re not obligated to use that. If you’re good on a budget and the opposition is just the similarly priced Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, then the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the better choice.
