Samsung Galaxy Buds+ vs. Apple AirPods Pro: Which should you buy?
It's safe to say the true wireless market for earphones has been growing really quickly over the past few years. Without doubt the most popular pairs sold are Apple branded, but there are - of course - others to consider.
One of the latest pairs from Samsung - the Galaxy Buds+ - has recently launched, and so we wanted to show you the differences between these and AirPods Pro to help you decide which one's going to offer the best value for you, depending on your preferences.
Design
- Buds+: 17.5 x 19.2 x 22.5 mm
- AirPods Pro: 30.9 x 21.8 x 24 mm.
- Buds: Touch sensitive control on outer
- AirPods: Touch sensitive control on stem
- Buds+: IPX2 splash resistant
- AirPods Pro: IPX4 water resistant
Already at the design stage there might be something here that makes you choose one over the other. Each has its benefits though.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds are a neat little rounded triangle shape, but have subtle built-in fins to help keep them in your ears securely, plus the silicone tip to create a seal within your ear to help cut out some noise from outside.
If you're after a pair that stays in while you're running or working out, this is going to be your best bet of the three. But, the we've the found design of the tips and earphones isn't quite comfortable enough to wear for long periods.
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Apple's AirPods Pro also have the silicon tips to help create that seal in the ear - but they're a little less secure in the ears, so not really for working out. They seem more comfortable over longer stints though.
We didn't find either of them fell out of the ears during every day listening while commuting or walking anywhere. AirPods are light enough that they sit pretty well-balanced in the ear.
The charging case
- Buds+: Type-C wired and Qi wireless charging
- AirPods: Lightning wired and Qi wireless charging
Both come with a charging case, and despite being different shapes and sizes, they're both neat and portable and made from glossy plastic.
The AirPods Pro case charges using either a Lighting cable (the same as an iPhone) or you can use a wireless charger. Samsung's uses either a Type-C cable or wireless charging. So either way, they're convenient to top up on the go.
Sound and noise cancelling
- Buds+: Ambient noise mode
- AirPods Pro: Adaptive Noise Cancelling
AirPods Pro is by far the best pair for noise cancelling. Once in the ears, it's almost as if they close you in a noiseless bubble, even when there's no music playing.
They're great for ensuring you can hear your music as intended when on busy trains or on a plane. It's also constantly monitoring and analysing external noise and adjusting to match, as well as using an internal mic to detect any leakage and adjusting the sound to compensate.
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Samsung's provide a something of a passive shield against the noise around you, although they don't have any active noise cancelling.
Walking near a busy road, they do a good job of cutting out the ambient noise, and they even have this really effective ambient mode that lets you choose how much external noise you want to let in using microphones on the exterior.
Like Samsung, there is a transparency mode you can use on the AirPods Pro, but you can't really adjust it. It's one setting, and it works well for hearing traffic and platform announcements.
As for sound quality overall, we like Samsung's approach of using the app to adjust the sound. Set to 'Normal', the Samsung seems a bit more bass and full than either of the AirPods, but then you can change it to be more treble heavy, or clearer or even add more bass.
AirPods Pro do sound good. In fact, they're probably the best sounding of the two pairs. You get a bit less bass overall, but it's better controlled and the sound overall seems a bit clearer with tighter treble. There's really not a lot in it though, and we think you'd enjoy listening to either of those two.
Samsung's in comparison sounds a bit harsher, with slightly boomy bass. It's not that it's bad at all, but to our ears, we didn't enjoy it quite as much. You may feel different of course, this is personal preference.
Battery life
- Buds+: 11 hours playback out of case (22 hours total)
- AirPods: 4.5 hours playback out of case (24 hours total)
Looking at the ever important battery life, and when it comes to pure out-of-the-case longevity, there's one winner here: Galaxy Buds+.
They can play music constantly for up to 11 hours before needing to be plonked back in the case again. They have one single charge in the case, meaning you'll get a maximum of 22 hours before needing that cable or wireless charger.
AirPods Pro max out at 4.5 hours in one stretch, with 24 in total including the case. Overall, the listening time - including the battery case is similar - for both of them.
But, if you regularly go more than 4-5 hours in one sitting where you need to be taking calls or listening to music, the Galaxy Buds are best, when used in stereo.
Convenience, control and features
If you're an Apple user, there's added convenience to using AirPods. That H1 chip inside means that once it's paired with one of your Apple devices, it's paired with all of them.
Of course, you can pair AirPods with Android phones too, it's just not as convenient as with an iPhone. One of the other benefits of AirPods however is that you can take them out and the music will stop automatically.
Samsung's don't seem to do that at all. In our testing, they just kept playing in both earbuds whether you had both of them out of your ears or not.
Apple AirPods also have the convenience of being able to use one at a time, so you can just use the right one for a long call, and if the battery runs out, put the left one in and seamlessly switch.
Samsung offers a bit more control overall using the app, where you can set the sound profile, see the battery level and choose ambient noise, and use it to find your earphones when lost.
Price
- Galaxy Buds+: £159
- AirPods Pro: £249
On the whole, it may come down to price for you. Galaxy Buds are £159 and include the wireless charging case.
AirPods Pro are the most advanced, in terms of noise cancelling and wireless connectivity, and cost £249, also with a wireless charging case. Comfortably more than Samsung's. And that's quite a difference.
So, if you're in the Apple ecosystem and want that advanced noise cancelling and convenience, or even if you're not and just want a good pair of noise cancelling in-ears it may just be worth it for you.
If you just want a solid pair of buds to listen to music with, Samsung's will save you a lot of money.
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