Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

If you're considering a switch from Samsung to Apple, or Apple to Samsung, and are curious what their respective headphones are like, wonder no further. The Apple AirPods Pro (second gen) and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro both offer similar features and were designed to work best with their respective company's devices.

A company's headphones, on their own, aren't a reason to switch phone ecosystems, but they might be enough to push you one way or the other towards the best smartphones each company has to offer. Both models are true wireless, plus they feature noise canceling, reasonable battery life, and more. It's how they perform, and their various different features, that separate them. Here's a closer look.

Price 

Not surprisingly, the Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the same price. At $230, they're roughly mid-pack price-wise when it comes to premium true wireless headphones with noise canceling. Occasionally both earbuds go on sale, with the Galaxy buds 2 Pro usually having the deeper discount (we've seen them as low as $180), so keep an eye out for sales.

Our pick: Draw

Design

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are small, fit entirely inside your ear cup, and come in three colors: Graphite, White, and Bora Purple. As opposed to past Samsung earbuds that looked glossy, the Buds 2 Pro have a matte finish that causes them to look more understated. They're not unattractive, but they're certainly more functional than aesthetically pleasing.

The AirPods Pro are, for better or worse, iconic. Their white stem design is instantly recognizable. So much so that many brands have similar designs. These days the stem design is more of a liability than a benefit, far more likely to get caught on a backpack strap, mask, hat, stray hand, and so on. The earbud's greater interior volume doesn't seem much of a benefit either, since battery life isn't any better than models like the Samsung that fit entirely in your ear (we'll get to that).

For many people they just want the look of the AirPods. If that's you, this win is obvious. If it isn't, consider this more of a draw. 

Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro

Battery Life

Samsung lists up to 5 hours with noise canceling active (we got just short of that in our testing), and 8 hours with it turned off. The case adds another 30 hours. The AirPods Pro get very similar numbers—up to 6 hours with noise canceling, 7 if you turn it off, with the case also adding about 30 hours. Both earbuds have fast charging that will get you an hour of playtime after 5 minutes of charging.

The battery life for both isn't spectacular, but not out of the ordinary either. The ability to get an hour of playtime after just 5 minutes means in the real world the 5-6 hour single charge won't be a huge issue for most people.

Since the two earbuds are pretty close, we're going to call this one a draw.

Our pick: Draw 

Sound

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sound good. Bass response is full, without overpowering other frequencies, and the midrange is punchy with clear vocals that sit well in the mix. The treble can be overly energetic and a bit sizzly, but not enough to be a dealbreaker. If you're using a Samsung device, there are several sound profiles but no multi-band EQ. 

The AirPods Pro have a rich, full bass, excellent stereo spacing, and clear treble. They're a notable improvement over their predecessors, with foundational thump in the bass and sub-bass regions that outdoes what you'll hear in all other AirPods models. Even on iOS there are no EQ settings, however, so you can't fine tune the sound to your liking. 

While both models sound good, there are other options that offer better sound quality. Since the Samsung let you adjust the sound more to your liking, they're the winner here.

Our pick: Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

Features

The two earbuds are designed to be used within their respective ecosystems. In order to get full functionality, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro need to be used with an Android device, while the Apple AirPods Pro 2 require a device from Apple. They'll still work to an extent with other platforms as Bluetooth is fairly agnostic when it comes to devices. But you won't be able to adjust things like the noise canceling, the EQ, and what the buttons do, without the app.

Beyond the apps, there are some device-specific features as well. Samsung has fast pairing with Samsung devices, 360 audio, and control for their in-house Bixby voice assistant. Samsung Seamless allows for 24-bit audio from services like Qobuz and Tidal. 

On the Apple side, you've got automatic switching, audio sharing, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, hands-free Siri voice assistant, and the ability to find your earbuds.

When it comes to noise canceling, the AirPods Pro are the hands-down winner. The end of 2022 saw some significant noise-canceling improvements with earbuds and the AirPods have some of the best noise-canceling performance you can get. Even better than some over-ear options. The Samsung, on the other hand, have decent noise canceling, it just doesn't hold up to the AirPods.

Lastly, while both earbuds have water resistance, the Samsung are a more water-tight IPX7, versus the AirPods IPX4. Which means you can splash the AirPods, but they're likely toast if they fall in the sink. The Samsung you can submerge in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. If you're looking for earbuds to use primarily while working out, we have some recommendations better than either of these.

So we'll call this a draw, since overall both offer a variety of similar features, but lock many others to their respective company's devices. That said, if you often get your earbuds wet, the Samsung will be better. If noise canceling is at the top of your priority list, go for the AirPods Pro.

Our pick: Draw

And the winner is ... 

Picking a winner here is a bit of a challenge, since each is designed to work best with their corresponding brands. The AirPods can be used with Samsung devices and the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 will work with iPhones, but you won't get full functionality from either. For many people, the AirPods carry the additional feature of being AirPods. That alone is added value for many. If that's you, the Samsung's features likely aren't enough to pull you away.

On the other side of that argument, if you already have an iPhone, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro likely don't offer performance that makes them worthy to choose over the AirPods. Especially not for the same price. The higher IP rating is nice, but there are better headphones if you're regularly getting them wet.

Or to put it another way, if you don't want AirPods, there are other true wireless earbuds that will suit you better than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Check out the Jabra Elite 85t, the Sony WF-1000XM4, or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which are the best noise-canceling earbuds available. Because in the end, it's not worth switching phone ecosystems for the headphone choices alone. 

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.