Galaxy Buds 3 Vs Airpods 3 Are Samsung Finally Beating Apple At Their Own Game

The battle between Samsung and Apple in the premium true wireless earbuds space has never been closer. For years, Apple’s AirPods dominated with seamless integration, iconic design, and strong audio performance. But with the release of the Galaxy Buds 3, Samsung appears to have closed the gap — and in some areas, possibly taken the lead. The question now isn’t just which earbuds are better, but whether Samsung is finally beating Apple at its own game: ecosystem synergy, user experience, and innovation.

This isn’t a simple “which sounds better” comparison. It’s about how these earbuds fit into your life — from battery life and noise cancellation to call quality and smart features. Let’s break down where each brand excels, where they fall short, and what it means for users caught between two tech giants.

Design and Comfort: A Shift in Philosophy

Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation) maintain the stem-based design that’s become instantly recognizable. While polarizing in aesthetics, the open-ear fit appeals to users who dislike in-ear pressure. However, this design sacrifices passive noise isolation and can feel less secure during workouts.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 take a different approach. They return to a compact, oval-shaped in-ear form factor reminiscent of the Buds Pro, offering improved seal and stability. The new ergonomic twist-fit design ensures a snug fit without discomfort, even over long listening sessions. Unlike earlier Buds models criticized for being too bulky, the Buds 3 strike a balance between comfort and acoustic performance.

Tip: Always test both earbud styles if possible — comfort is highly personal and affects long-term satisfaction more than specs.

The charging case for the Buds 3 is also slimmer and more pocketable than previous versions, while the AirPods case remains consistent — functional but slightly larger. Both support IPX4 water resistance, making them suitable for sweat and light rain.

Sound Quality and Audio Features

Audio performance is where Samsung has made the most aggressive improvements. The Galaxy Buds 3 feature dual drivers per earbud: a dedicated tweeter and woofer. This allows for greater dynamic range, clearer highs, and deeper bass — all tuned with input from AKG engineers. In real-world use, music with layered instrumentation reveals more detail, and podcasts benefit from enhanced vocal clarity.

AirPods 3 rely on a single driver per ear, but Apple compensates with spatial audio and dynamic head tracking. These features create an immersive, theater-like experience, especially when watching movies or using supported apps. The result is impressive for a one-driver system, though audiophiles may notice compression in complex passages.

“Samsung’s move to multi-driver architecture signals a serious commitment to high-fidelity audio in the mainstream segment.” — Marcus Lin, Senior Audio Analyst at SoundReview Labs

Beyond raw sound, both offer adaptive EQ and ANC, but here’s where differentiation begins. The Buds 3 introduce AI-powered ambient sound filtering, allowing users to selectively hear specific frequencies — like human voices — while still blocking traffic noise. AirPods 3 offer Transparency mode, but it’s less customizable.

Feature Comparison: Where Each Brand Shines

Feature	Galaxy Buds 3	AirPods 3
Driver Configuration	Dual driver (tweeter + woofer)	Single dynamic driver
Noise Cancellation	Adaptive ANC with AI filtering	Active Noise Cancellation
Transparency Mode	Intelligent Ambient Sound	Transparency Mode + Voice Boost
Battery Life (with ANC)	6 hours (earbuds), 24 total with case	5 hours (earbuds), 24 total with case
Charging	USB-C, Qi wireless, reverse wireless	Lightning, MagSafe, Qi wireless
Ecosystem Integration	Android (best), Windows, limited iOS	iOS (best), macOS, limited Android
Find My Device	SmartThings Find (ultra-wideband)	Find My network (crowdsourced)

The table highlights a key insight: both products are optimized for their native ecosystems. Galaxy Buds 3 deliver richer functionality on Samsung phones — including automatic switch between devices, voice detection for pausing music, and wellness tracking via heart rate monitoring through skin contact sensors. AirPods 3 shine on iPhone with effortless pairing, Siri voice activation, and seamless handoff between Apple devices.

User Experience: A Real-World Scenario

Consider Sarah, a freelance designer who uses an iPhone for work and a Windows laptop for editing. She travels frequently and values battery life and call clarity. With AirPods 3, her iPhone calls are crisp, and switching to FaceTime is instant. But when she connects to her laptop, she loses access to spatial audio and firmware updates require syncing through her phone.

Now imagine James, a Samsung Galaxy S24 user and fitness enthusiast. He tracks runs with his watch and listens to high-bitrate music. The Galaxy Buds 3 automatically switch to his tablet when he starts watching videos, pause when he removes one bud, and provide real-time heart rate feedback during warm-ups. On Android, the integration feels almost invisible — in the best way.

This contrast illustrates that superiority depends on context. If you’re deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem, AirPods remain the obvious choice. But for Android users — particularly Samsung owners — the Buds 3 now offer a more complete, intelligent experience.

Innovation and Ecosystem Strategy

Apple built its dominance on simplicity: plug in (or rather, open the case near your iPhone), and they work. That magic still works. But Samsung is responding not just with hardware parity, but with layered intelligence. The Buds 3 include on-device voice recognition that learns your speech patterns to improve call quality in wind or noisy environments. They also support Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 codec, future-proofing for higher efficiency and lower latency — something AirPods still lack.

Moreover, Samsung’s push into health tracking with ear-based biometrics could position the Buds as wellness companions, not just audio devices. While currently basic, heart rate and stress level monitoring lay the groundwork for deeper integration with Samsung Health — a strategy reminiscent of Apple Watch’s evolution.

Tip: If you value long-term feature updates and emerging tech like LE Audio, Samsung’s roadmap suggests stronger forward momentum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Galaxy Buds 3 work well with iPhones?

Yes, but with limitations. You can pair them via Bluetooth and get standard audio playback, but you’ll lose touch controls customization, firmware updates, SmartThings integration, and advanced features like 360 Audio or voice detect. Basic functionality works, but the full experience requires Android.

Do AirPods 3 have better noise cancellation than Galaxy Buds 3?

No. Independent tests show Galaxy Buds 3 achieve up to 25dB of noise reduction compared to AirPods 3’s ~18dB. The Buds’ dual-microphone system and adaptive sealing provide superior low-frequency attenuation, especially on planes or subways.

Which earbuds last longer on a charge?

Under mixed usage with ANC enabled, Galaxy Buds 3 last about 6 hours versus 5 for AirPods 3. Both offer similar total battery life with the charging case (around 24 hours). Fast charging gives 1 hour of playback in 5 minutes on both models.

Final Verdict: Has Samsung Closed the Gap?

The answer is yes — and in several key areas, surpassed it. Samsung hasn’t just matched Apple; they’ve redefined what true wireless earbuds can do. The Galaxy Buds 3 offer better sound hardware, more advanced noise cancellation, smarter ambient modes, and deeper ecosystem integration for Android users. They represent a maturation of Samsung’s audio strategy — no longer playing catch-up, but leading in innovation.

That said, Apple still wins on sheer ease of use within its ecosystem. The instant pairing, rock-solid connection stability, and polished software experience remain benchmarks. For iPhone users, switching isn’t worth the trade-offs — yet.

But the trend is clear: Samsung is no longer the underdog. By focusing on audio fidelity, health integration, and cross-device intelligence, they’ve created a product that challenges Apple’s dominance not through imitation, but through differentiation. This isn’t just a spec sheet victory — it’s a strategic shift.

“We’re seeing a turning point. Samsung isn’t copying Apple anymore — they’re building a smarter, more adaptive audio platform.” — Lena Park, Tech Correspondent, Wired Asia

Conclusion: The Game Has Changed

The era of Apple’s unchallenged reign in wireless audio is ending. Galaxy Buds 3 prove that Samsung can innovate beyond design mimicry and deliver a compelling, technically superior alternative. Whether they’re “better” depends on your device ecosystem — but for Android users, the choice has never been clearer.

If you’re due for an upgrade and own a Samsung phone, the Buds 3 aren’t just competitive — they’re the logical next step. And if you’re an iPhone user curious about alternatives, now is the time to test them side by side. The gap has narrowed, and Samsung is playing to win.

🚀 Ready to rethink your earbuds? Compare both models in person, test the fit and features, and see which ecosystem truly serves your lifestyle. The future of audio is smarter, more connected, and more competitive than ever.