Samsung sends the Galaxy Buds Pro into the race against the Apple AirPods Pro. The two wireless in-ear headphones share features such as active noise cancellation, but are not equally suitable for everyone. Here you can find out what makes the headphones different and which are the better choice for you.

Design: Independent

The AirPods Pro and the Galaxy Buds Pro look quite different. The AirPods Pro rely on the iconic stem below, on which a microphone sits and which is used for gesture control. The Galaxy Buds Pro rely on a more oval shape . Here as there, there are silicone ear pads in three different sizes so that the earphones sit firmly and comfortably.

While the AirPods Pro are only available in white, the Galaxy Buds Pro are available in Phantom Black, Phantom Violet and Phantom Silver. "Phantom" means the reflective, highly polished outside. Both manufacturers supply a charging case in a matching color.

Galaxy Buds Pro Buy now at

Noise cancellation: Galaxy Buds Pro can do more

Both the AirPods Pro and the Galaxy Buds Pro offer active noise cancellation, also known as Noise Canceling or Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It is used to suppress noise, especially in the train or on the plane, or in the vicinity of construction sites.

Compared to the Galaxy Buds, Samsung has improved the function and now calls it "intelligent ANC". The new headphones can block 99 percent instead of 97 percent of the noise. You can set the strength of the noise suppression on the Galaxy Buds Pro to " high " or " low ". There is also an ambient mode that puts outside noise through to you. You can determine in four stages how much of the environment you want to perceive. Thanks to the automatic conversation mode, you can hear the other person's voice when you speak.

The AirPods Pro are more minimalistic. You can switch between active noise cancellation and transparency mode. There are no more precise control options. But not everyone needs them either.

Apple AirPods Pro Buy now at

Sound & microphones: two drivers against one

A two-way loudspeaker is responsible for the sound of the Galaxy Buds Pro. It consists of an 11 millimeter woofer for the bass and a 6.5 millimeter tweeter for the treble. There are three microphones built into each handset and screened microphone openings that are used to suppress wind noise.

Both earbuds offer " 360-degree audio " with head tracking. This means that the sound seems to come from the direction of the playback device such as the smartphone and at the same time that it sounds around you and from above. The idea is like a simulated Dolby Atmos home theater system and the smartphone takes the position of the television in front of which you are sitting.

The AirPods Pro only offer one driver , which Apple calls "high-excursion woofer". But that doesn't have to mean that the sound is worse or better. An "adaptive EQ" automatically adapts the sound to the shape of the ear with the help of an inward-facing microphone. An enlarged microphone opening of the outward-facing microphone with mesh fabric serves to suppress wind noise.

Loading & running time: Similar good

The Galaxy Buds Pro offer a runtime of 5 hours with activated noise cancellation and a runtime of 8 hours with deactivated ANC. The charging case provides a further 13 or 20 hours of playback time. 5 minutes of charging are enough for 1 hour of playtime. Thanks to "Wireless PowerShare" you can also charge the Galaxy Buds Pro on the back of a compatible Galaxy smartphone.

The AirPods Pro can play music for up to 4.5 hours on a single charge with noise cancellation activated. If the ANC is switched off, it becomes 5 hours. With additional charges in the case, a running time of 24 hours is possible. Charging for 5 minutes provides 1 hour of running time, just like the Galaxy Buds Pro.

Other features: Galaxy Buds Pro are water-repellent

The Galaxy Buds Pro are IPX7 protected, so you can theoretically submerge them in clear water one meter deep for up to 30 minutes. In practice, however, it is more of a protection against penetrating sweat or rain – so you can safely wear the earphones while jogging.

You can use "Music Share" to share the sound with a friend, provided they also have Galaxy Buds. You can find lost Galaxy Buds using the SmartThings app on your smartphone. Samsung uses Bixby as the voice assistant, so you can answer a call or adjust the volume using voice inputs.

The AirPods Pro are perfectly designed to work with an iPhone . To pair, you simply have to hold the charging case to the iPhone. With automatic switching, you can switch seamlessly from iPhone to iPad, Mac or other Apple devices, which then play the sound. Playback stops automatically when you take the AirPods Pro out of your ears. The Apple Siri is used for voice control. The function of Samsung's "Music Share" takes over the audio sharing to another pair of AirPods at Apple.

Price-performance: costs comparable

Samsung sells the Galaxy Buds Pro new for 229 euros, Apple charges 279 euros for the AirPods Pro. However, the actual retail price of the two earphones is now at a similar level .

Overall, the Galaxy Buds Pro offer more features than the AirPods Pro, such as different ANC modes. Some functions such as MusicShare, SmartThings Find and PowerShare of the Galaxy Buds Pro are reserved for compatible Galaxy devices. Similarly, the AirPods Pro are better optimized for the iPhone and many smart functions can only be used with Apple devices.

Conclusion: Galaxy Buds Pro for Galaxy phones, AirPods Pro for iPhones

A lot of people are interested in whether the Galaxy Buds Pro or the AirPods Pro are better. The two True Wireless In-Ears are not actually competitors. Rather, the Galaxy Buds Pro have been optimized for Android and especially for Galaxy smartphones and the AirPods Pro for iPhones.

Otherwise, it can be stated that the Galaxy Buds Pro offer more features such as various ANC and ambient noise modes, and they are also water-repellent. The ANC should also be more effective, Samsung's information can be trusted. We do not know which sound of the earphones better because we so far only the AirPods Pro in the test had. To a certain extent, it's a matter of taste anyway.

Ultimately, the AirPods Pro are ideal for iPhone users and the Galaxy Buds Pro for Galaxy smartphone users . In each case, buyers will likely be satisfied – both are high-tech earphones.