Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Buds 3 Pro: 7 Things that Improved
By Naila Syifa
Updated August 2024
Since its release in 2022, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has been one of the best wireless earbuds on the market, offering impressive sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit.
Now that Samsung has launched the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, it's time to compare the two models and see what improvements have been made. Are the upgrades substantial enough to warrant an upgrade? Let's find out!
Key Takeaways
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro adds 2 new features not offered by the Buds 2 Pro: Adaptive Noise Control and Adaptive Equalizer. It also offers a 96kHz sampling rate, double the 48kHz sampling rate of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The Buds 3 Pro now supports voice control without a wake word, while the Buds 2 Pro requires the "Hi, Bixby" wake word. Buds 3 Pro also has improved battery life and dust resistance over the Buds 2 Pro.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The Old Gem of Premium Audio
✓ Two-Way Speakers
✓ ANC & Ambient Sound
✓ Galaxy AI
✓ 5-29 Hours Play Time
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
The Latest Premium Audio
✓ Two-Way Speakers
✓ ANC, Adaptive Noise Control, Ambient Sound
✓ Galaxy AI
✓ 6-30 Hours Play Time
#1 Price
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro retails at US$249.99, which is $20 more than the launch price of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at US$229.99.
However, the Buds 2 Pro can now be found at a discounted price of around US$159.99, making the upgrade to the Buds 3 Pro a more significant investment.
#2 Design
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has a distinctive bulb-shaped design, with touch controls on the outer surface allowing users to easily access functions with a tap, double tap, triple tap, or touch-and-hold gesture. The earbuds come in a matte finish and are available in Bora Purple, Graphite, and White color options.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has an entirely different appearance, featuring a stem-like design similar to the AirPods Pro with glossy metallic finishes in Silver and White color options. The stem is where the touch controls are located, allowing intuitive control over the earbuds' functions with swipe and pinch gestures. There is also a Blade Light on the stem, which provides visual feedback on the earbud's status.
The design difference between the two is substantial but is also subjective. Different users may have different preferences for the design aesthetics. What's a more objective improvement is the additional dust resistance rating of IP57 on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro compared to IPX7 on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. This makes the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro more durable and suitable for use in various environments.
#3 Audio Features
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro both feature a 2-way speaker setup for impressive sound quality and clarity, as well as 3 microphones and VPU that ensure clear calls.
Both earbuds support 24-bit Hi-Fi audio, though the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has a higher 96kHz sampling rate compared to the 48kHz of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, resulting in even better audio fidelity.
They both also offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but the noise control settings in the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are more extensive. With the Buds 3 Pro, users can choose between ANC, Ambient Mode, and Adaptive Noise Control.
ANC filters out external noise, Ambient Mode allows ambient sound to pass through, while the new Adaptive Noise Control automatically adjusts a mix of ANC and ambient sound based on the user's environment.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is also equipped with Voice Detect and Siren Detect, so the buds can automatically switch to Ambient Mode when the user starts speaking or a siren is detected nearby, ensuring situational awareness and safety.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers ANC and Ambient Mode but not Adaptive Noise Control. It also supports Voice Detect for auto-switching to Ambient Mode when the user starts speaking, but lacks Siren Detect.
Another difference between the two relates to the equalizer settings. Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers six EQ presets, while the Buds 3 Pro adds a new Custom EQ for more personalized audio tuning. In addition, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offers a new Adaptive Equalizer feature, which adjusts audio based on how the user wears the earbuds to provide the best sound quality.
#4 Smart Features
Interpreter
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Buds 3 Pro support Galaxy AI, unlocking AI-powered smart features like Interpreter and Live Translate. The Interpreter is useful when conversing with someone who speaks a different language, while Live Translate can provide one-way translation.
Another smart feature both earbuds share is SmartThings Find, which allows users to easily locate misplaced earbuds using the SmartThings app on their smartphone.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has an edge with the Voice Control feature, allowing users to control the earbuds straight away with voice commands and without the need for a wake word. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro only supports Bixby, so voice command requires the "Hi, Bixby" wake word.
#5 Connectivity
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4 standard, which offers improved range and energy efficiency compared to the Bluetooth 5.3 used in the Buds 2 Pro. This is not a major consideration though, as both models provide reliable wireless connectivity for most users.
Both the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also support Auto Switch for seamless connection between multiple paired devices, as well as Auracast for sharing audio with multiple nearby listeners.
#6 Battery Life
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro boasts a larger battery capacity of 61mAh for the buds and 515mAh for the charging case, compared to the Buds 3 Pro with 53mAh for the buds and 515mAh for the charging case.
However, overall, the Buds 3 Pro has a longer battery life, providing up to 26 hours of continuous playback with ANC on or 30 hours with ANC off. Without the charging case, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can last up to 6 hours with ANC on or 7 hours with ANC off.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro only offers up to 18 hours of total battery life with the charging case, or up to 5 hours of standalone earbud usage with ANC on. With ANC off, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can last up to 8 hours or 29 hours with the charging case.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Final Thoughts
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
While the Buds 2 Pro offered impressive sound quality and noise cancellation, the Buds 3 Pro builds on those features with additional audio enhancements like Adaptive Noise Control, Adaptive Equalizer, and a higher 96kHz sampling rate.
The design changes may be a matter of personal preference, but the added durability of the IP57 rating on the Buds 3 Pro makes it a more versatile option for use in various environments.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also offers improved battery life and smart features like Voice Control, making it a more comprehensive upgrade over the already excellent Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
In conclusion, 7 improvements that the Buds 3 Pro makes over the Buds 2 Pro are:
1. Adaptive Noise Control
2. Adaptive Equalizer
3. 96kHz sampling rate (vs 48kHz on Buds 2 Pro)
4. Voice control without a wake word
5. Improved dust resistance rating of IP57 (vs IPX7 on Buds 2 Pro)
6. Longer battery life of up to 26 hours with ANC on (vs 18 hours on Buds 2 Pro)
7. Bluetooth 5.4 (vs Bluetooth 5.3 on Buds 2 Pro)
If you like to read more about wireless earbuds, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Wireless Earbuds
Galaxy Buds 3 vs Buds 3 Pro
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Buds 3
Galaxy Buds FE vs Buds 3
Don't miss out on tech
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest tech trends and guides on the best gadgets around.
Recommended reading
