Wireless Earbuds / Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
Wins overall by 1.3 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.3-point gap makes the Apple AirPods Pro 3 the straightforward choice here. Outstanding ANC and a real hearing-aid mode — if you own an iPhone.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE are both current-generation wireless Earbuds models, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE is $129 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($119.99 vs $249). On Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.5 vs 7.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed. On Battery, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. On Comfort & Fit, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. Overall, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $119.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Battery (ANC on) (hrs) | 8✓ | 6 |
| Battery with Case (hrs) | 24 | 24 |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Apple ANC on the H2 chip; Apple claims roughly twice the noise reduction of AirPods Pro 2 | Active Noise Cancelling with an additional microphone for background-noise reduction |
| Driver Size (mm) | Not published by the manufacturer | 11 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | No — Apple offers iCloud automatic device switching, which hands the connection over rather than holding two at once | Not listed on Samsung's US specification |
| Water Resistance | IP57 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No |
| Weight per Bud (g) | 5.55 | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Codecs | SBC and AAC only — no aptX or LDAC | Not listed on Samsung's US specification |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | 360 Audio, but without head tracking on this model |
| App EQ | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on tuning, detail and codec support. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.0 — a 2.5-point margin on how much ambient noise is actually removed. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort & Fit
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call Quality
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on microphone performance and background noise rejection. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on IP rating, build materials and case robustness. If that is what you are buying for, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE are level here, at 7.5/10 each. features and performance relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Apple AirPods Pro 3 if…
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.5/10 here (how much ambient noise is actually removed).
- • Battery matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 8.0/10 here (playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case).
- • Comfort & Fit matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions).
- • Call Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (microphone performance and background noise rejection).
- • Features matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores 9.0/10 here (app depth, spatial audio, multipoint and extras).
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $129 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Pros & Cons
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Pros
- +Among the best noise cancelling in any earbud, and a huge step over the Pro 2
- +The FDA-authorised hearing aid feature is a genuine health function, not a gimmick
- +IP57 is the toughest rating here
- +Heart-rate sensing and Live Translation
Cons
- −No EQ of any kind — you cannot adjust the tuning at all
- −No true multipoint, only Apple device switching
- −AAC and SBC only, with no hi-res codec
- −On Android you get playback and almost nothing else — you cannot even update the firmware without an Apple device
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE
Pros
- +Stem design and Galaxy AI features at well under Pro pricing
- +Real-time translation and Gemini on Galaxy phones
- +IP54 dust and water resistance
- +11mm driver
Cons
- −No head tracking, unlike the Pro models
- −6 hours with ANC on is mid-pack at best
- −No wireless charging
- −The Galaxy Wearable app is Android-only, so there is no iOS support at all
- −Most of the interesting features need a Galaxy phone
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FAQs
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — how much ambient noise is actually removed.
Which is better for Battery, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Battery (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — playtime in the buds and total runtime with the case.
Which is better for Comfort & Fit, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Comfort & Fit (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — weight, fit options and how they feel over long sessions.
Which is better for Call Quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 scores higher on Call Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — microphone performance and background noise rejection.
Is the Apple AirPods Pro 3 worth the price difference over the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE is the cheaper option at $119.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Noise Cancelling.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is the better fit if you mainly care about travel or workout. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE?+
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — $99.99
Premium Option
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro — $249.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.