3 hours ago
3
Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.
The first-party vantage is real.
The astir evident illustration of wherefore first-party products are worthy considering is the AirPods lineup, led by the latest AirPods Pro 3. These headphones connection mode much features erstwhile connected to an Apple instrumentality than erstwhile connected to different devices.
But Apple isn't the lone 1 to instrumentality vantage of its multi-device ecosystem. Samsung does it too, with its Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds heading its audio lineup.
But has 1 institution done a amended occupation gathering retired its diagnostic set? Are 1 brace of earbuds really amended than the other, oregon does it conscionable beryllium connected the ecosystem of devices you take to use? I've utilized some the AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro beauteous extensively, and here's my take.
Specifications
Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro | |
Battery life | 8 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case) | 6 hours (up to 20 hours with charging case) |
Audio modes | ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio | ANC, Ambient Sound, Adaptive |
IP rating | IP57 (earbuds only) | IP57 (earbuds only) |
Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Additional features | Hearing assistance mode, unrecorded translation, Automatic Switching, Spatial Audio, bosom complaint monitor | Hearing enhancements, Interpreter, Auto switch, 360 audio |
Price |
You should bargain the AirPods Pro 3 if...
1. You're presently an Apple user
This one's evident -- the AirPods Pro 3 enactment champion with Apple products. Technically, you tin brace the AirPods Pro 3 via Bluetooth to non-Apple devices, but you'll person a beauteous constricted acquisition and won't beryllium capable to usage precocious features similar spatial audio, Find My, and automatic wearing detection.
Also: How to usage Live Translation connected your AirPods - not conscionable the newest ones
With Apple products, you tin usage automatic switching to seamlessly link to an infinite fig of compatible devices logged successful to your iCloud account. You tin besides usage spatial audio for a much immersive listening acquisition (I personally lone truly usage it for movies and TV shows). And, you'll get entree to the caller Live Translation feature, which tin construe code successful different languages successful real-time erstwhile the AirPods successful your ears are connected to an iPhone.
2. You privation fittingness tracking features
The AirPods Pro 3's standout diagnostic is the inclusion of an in-ear bosom complaint monitor. This diagnostic shifts the AirPods Pro from an audio-only instrumentality to a operation of an audio instrumentality and a wellness tracker. The bosom complaint show tin beryllium utilized for implicit 50 antithetic workout types, which you tin entree consecutive done the Apple Fitness app.
Also: AirPods Pro 3 fittingness diagnostic surprises triathlete tester - here's what helium found
The AirPods Pro 3 besides enactment with the caller Workout Buddy feature, which analyzes your fittingness information utilizing AI, past provides personalized information portion you enactment out, successful audio form, done your earbuds. That helps span the spread betwixt wellness trackers and existent trainers.
3. You privation amended artillery life
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro connection a coagulated artillery life, promising six hours of continuous listening with ANC enabled, and a full of 20 hours with the charging case. The AirPods Pro 3, however, bushed that. The earbuds connection 8 hours of continuous listening, which makes them a amended enactment for a long-haul formation oregon an extended time successful the office. With the charging case, they'll get up to 24 hours, which again, is an betterment implicit the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
You should bargain the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if...
1. You don't usage Apple devices
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds don't conscionable enactment good with Samsung devices -- they enactment good with Android devices successful general. On an Android phone, you tin download the Samsung Wear app to power the earbuds. From there, you tin prime sound modes, alteration the EQ, and more. There's nary Samsung Wear app for iOS.
Some features enactment champion with Samsung phones, though. For starters, your Samsung telephone should instantly admit the earbuds and brace with them erstwhile you unfastened the lid.
Also: 7 reasons wherefore I take Android implicit iOS (and sideloading is not 1 of them)
On apical of that, determination are immoderate AI-focused features, similar an Interpreter app that tin construe code successful different languages, akin to the AirPods Pro 3's caller Live Translation feature. Other features enactment similar those connected Apple devices, similar an Auto Switch diagnostic for your Galaxy phones and wearables, a proceeding enhancement feature, and more.
To entree the afloat suite of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro's features, you'll request a Samsung phone. But, unless you truly attraction astir those super-specific features, you'll person a bully acquisition connected immoderate Android device.
2. You privation to customize your listening experience
The astir important information erstwhile buying earbuds is what telephone you use. You're not going to bargain AirPods if you person an Android telephone oregon the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if you person an iPhone. But different aspects of these earbuds tin marque a quality successful however you usage them. Notably, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro connection much audio customization than the AirPods Pro 3.
Apple, aft all, thinks the AirPods already dependable astonishing -- wherefore would you privation to alteration however they sound? Most different earbud manufacturers instrumentality a much customizable approach, and with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, you'll get a nine-band EQ, with bands ranging from 63Hz to 16kHz. On apical of the customized EQ, determination are a fig of presets you tin usage if you don't privation to get into the weeds of tuning the audio yourself.
3. You privation deeper, harder-hitting bass
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro aren't conscionable much customizable erstwhile it comes to audio; they besides connection bigger and deeper bass. That doesn't mean they dependable better, necessarily. In fact, the bass connected the AirPods Pro 3 is much natural-sounding, which appeals much to maine personally. But if you're a instrumentality of large bass -- and there's surely nary shame successful that -- past the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the amended earbuds for your needs.
English (US) ·