Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Buds 2 Pro: Which Should You Buy?

Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro over the Buds2 Pro? If you have Buds2 Pro, are the Buds3 Pro worth upgrading to, and at what price?

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I’ve spent over six months with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and after a few weeks of using their successor, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, I’m ready to share my thoughts on which one I’d choose based on price and whether I think upgrading is worthwhile. First, let’s talk about the fit. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have a wider design that offers a better seal in the ears. This improved fit enhances noise cancellation significantly—it’s about twice as effective as the Buds 2 Pro. This makes the Buds 3 Pro a better choice for noisy environments or when you’re on the go. The improved seal also boosts bass performance, giving the sound a fuller and less tinny feel compared to their predecessor.

One standout feature of the Buds 3 Pro is the new volume controls. You can now swipe up and down on the blade to adjust the volume, which makes it more convenient than the Buds 2 Pro. Additionally, the Buds 3 Pro allow you to pinch the blade for music controls, such as playing, pausing, and skipping tracks, similar to how the AirPods Pro operate.

As for the design, the Buds 3 Pro are quite different from the Buds 2 Pro. They have a more futuristic look, almost like a blend of a Cybertruck and a 1950s spacecraft. The case is less square, with a cool translucent design, and the earbuds have LED lights along the blade. These lights don’t serve any major functional purpose aside from lighting up when you first take the buds out of the case, but they do add a fun visual touch. You can even set the lights to blink or fade in and out. However, the LEDs flicker a bit due to a low refresh rate, which can be distracting.

Another advantage of the Buds 3 Pro is the transparency mode, which is noticeably better than that of the Buds 2 Pro. You can hear your surroundings more clearly, and your voice sounds less robotic when you’re talking. Speaking of voice, the mics on the Buds 3 Pro are solid, though I didn’t notice a huge difference from the Buds 2 Pro. The Buds 3 Pro also support Bluetooth’s new Auracast feature, allowing multiple sets of earbuds to connect to a single phone, which is pretty cool.

Now, if you’re in the market for both earbuds and noise-cancelling headphones, you might want to check out the new Space 1 Pro headphones from Soundcore. They’ve sponsored this video, and their headphones offer excellent noise cancellation, Hi-Res Audio certification, and up to 60 hours of battery life with ANC off. For $199.99, they’re a great value, especially when compared to higher-priced competitors. Check the link in the description for more details.

Back to the Buds 3 Pro—battery life is another improvement. While Samsung doesn’t list the exact battery life of the buds themselves, you get up to 30 hours with ANC off and 24 hours with it on, which is an upgrade from the Buds 2 Pro’s 18 hours.

However, the Buds 2 Pro still have their advantages. Many users might prefer the fit of the Buds 2 Pro for extended wear, as the Buds 3 Pro’s bulkier shape could cause discomfort for some. The Buds 2 Pro also have more durable ear tips, as the Buds 3 Pro has had issues with tips ripping, which even happened to me. Lastly, the Buds 2 Pro are more affordable, often available for $50 less than the Buds 3 Pro.

So, are the Buds 3 Pro worth upgrading to at $249? In my opinion, not really. At that price, I’d consider alternatives like the Sony WF-1000XM5s, which offer superior sound and noise cancellation. However, Samsung’s trade-in program is pretty good—if you have the Buds 2 Pro, you can trade them in to get the Buds 3 Pro for $150, which is a more reasonable price, especially for those invested in the Samsung ecosystem.

If you’re looking for another alternative to the Buds 3 Pro, consider the Nothing Ear (2), which have a similar shape and transparent design. They’re often available at a lower price without sacrificing many features.

For more thoughts on the Buds 3 Pro and other buds I’ve mentioned, check out the link to our blog post in the description. If you’re interested in a comparison between these buds and the AirPods Pro Gen 2, you can watch my video on that by clicking here. And to see my full review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, click here as well. Thanks for watching!