Samsung released its flagship earbuds , theGalaxy Buds 3 professional , at theGalaxy Unpackedevent , which was soon followed by Google showing off its latest , thePixel Buds Pro 2 , atMade by Google . Both are price likewise , 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 manpower on them , but the Pixels outperform them in nearly every department . For a somewhat lower toll , the Buds Pro 2 do everything the Buds 3 Pro do but better .
See Pixel Buds Pro 2 at Amazon
See Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at Samsung
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
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 polarise designs . The former features a slim , sleek look with stretch stem or “ blades . ” The sharp , pointy blades look triangular from afar but bring out their unique pentangular shape upon a tight look . The Pro role model on the Samsung bud includes steel lights , too , that are trigger every time the bud are docked in or out of the commove case . I ground Samsung ’s marketing of the blade lights as one of the reasons to yield an excess $ 70 for the Pros quite lame until I got hands - on clock time with the bud . I ca n’t refuse the excrescence 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 theGalaxy Buds predecessorsbefore Samsung decided to switch to anAirPods - alike design . Except Google ’s flagship buds received a monumental diminution 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 . aesthetic - wise , Google ’s buds are chic , and Samsung ’s flash . If the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer an understated and subtle look , the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro exude a futurist , New vibration . The “ right pick ” 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 - smart , the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are far snugger . Google touts a young fit - to - conform stabiliser on them that locks them extra close in your ear canals when you twist them once . Their auricle - hugging fit is also help by little natural rubber wings that grew back on this generation after skipping the previous model . The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are n’t assisted by any protruding portion that complement their fit . Google also won me over by include an XS auricle tip size in the package . Accommodating uttermost sizes is always a good thought .
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
The Pixel bud ’ inconspicuous kind component played a role in their dogfight - free convulsion , too . Quietly nesting in my concha , they never interpose with the outside world , while the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro often clashed with my reading material glasses , hair , and earrings .
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Navigation
Contrary to my presumptions , the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ’s sharply - edged design work in your favor , give your fingers a fitting shape to adjudge on to . I realized that a five - shaped stem turn is easy to get the picture than a circular one since that ’s the shape my quarter round and index make when bring together . Despite that , the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ’s controls are an unquestioned succeeder for me .
You tweak the volume on Google ’s buds by hook horizontally on them . abstract from leave behind to right turns the volume up and vice versa . Samsung ’s bud have swiping up and down as the volume ascendance gesture which is n’t ideal on tiny peripherals that execute the peril of plunk down out of your ears when they ’re pull down .
The other big departure is the pressure - sensitive buttons ( like the force-out sensors on theAirPods Pro ) on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro versus a touch - capacitive interface on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 . It ’s surprising to see myself vouch for ghost motion over physical buttons , but Google make an irresistible case on its bud . Since the buds do n’t feature protruding root word , pink and cabbage on them without compromise the convulsion is well-heeled . On the Galaxy Buds 3 professional , messing around on the stem leads to a slight weightiness instability and often shifts the bud ’ position in your ears . They ’re also not help by the forcible buttons requiring heavy 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
The two - way utterer , dual amplifiers , planar tweeter , and a dedicated woofer make the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound as pleasant as the Tensor A1 crisp , 11 millimeter driver , and a new gamey - frequency ( treble ) sleeping room on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 . Both bud offer excellent sound overall , but the Galaxy bud put up from a slightly thickly - sounding low - remnant . This was also an issue on the first - gen Pixel Buds Pro but was fix on the flagship model . dual and mids on the Samsung buds sound all right , but cranking the volume higher than 50 % reveals the miry bass .
On the Pixel Buds Pro 2 , the bass , punchy , utterly tuned bass was one of the first element I noticed . It sits on a disjoined stratum from the eternal rest of the orchestra and is undisputedly its most defined part . Overall , the sound is extremely terse and elaborate , allowing you to yield close tending to each nuance in the song . The mids post sufficient space and speech sound quite aeriform , and while the gamy - end is comely , it remain overshadow by the dispirited - end ’s thud .
Again , both bud perform decent haphazardness cancelation , but the Pixel bud win by a slight margin . Their ANC is extremely powerful . I was amazed at how well it hold up to some of the most difficult sounds to cancel , such as the Subway rumble while walking right on on top of its vent or the fire truck ’s siren . I was on a headphone call when the blast hand truck lead , and I completely fall behind my company ’s spokesperson as the temptress took over . Switching to ANC instantly reduce that racket significantly . The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro were a little less effective in this heed .
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Battery Life
Google ’s buds are the clear success here . They romp 48 and 30 hours with ANC off and on , respectively . Samsung offers 30 and 26 hours with ANC off and on , severally . I easily squeezed hebdomad out of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 . Both buds commit wirelessly .
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Other Features
Compatibility is a big view to debate when your buds ’ brand makes phones . Pixel phoneusers on the Buds Pro 2 will have access to exclusive perks such as Spatial Audio and Conversation Detection . Gemini AIintegration is one of the most market features on these bud , though we were n’t its biggest fans since it was far more hand - on than promise . However , Gemini integration is n’t confine to the Pixel card anyway ; Android and iOS user can add the Gemini app to access it .
Samsung has build up higher walls around some of its features . The Galaxy - exclusive lineament on the Samsung bud make a better typesetter’s case for stay within the ecosystem . Galaxy Buds 3 Pro user bask spacial sound recording , EQ setting , lively rendering in up to eight languages , and improved sound and mic character withSamsung Galaxydevices .
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are rate IP54 against dust and pee , while the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feature an IP57 rating . However , the Pixels also tender IPX4 opposition on their charging case , which is rare for wireless earbuds .
Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Verdict
It ’s very patent who the winner is . We initially reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro positively , except for their onboard volume controls and sloppy bass . The Pixel Buds Pro 2 beat the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in every category while maintaining a similar price grasp . In fact , they ’re cheaper at $ 230 compared to the $ 250 Buds 3 Pro . Our only bitch on the Pixel bud was their underwhelming Gemini integrating , but you ’re not oblige to use that . If you ’re expert on a budget and the opposition is just the similarly price Galaxy Buds 3 Pro , then the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the better choice .
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