Small buds, large sound!
There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2. They sound great-the bass response is pleasant, the ANC is strong, name high quality is nice, and Gemini is like one thing out of a comic book e book.
For
- Google Gemini integration may be very cool!
- Highs and sub-bass extension are nice
- Quantity degree/energy output is great
- Sturdy app with EQ choices
- Supremely snug
- Stunning colours
In opposition to
- Gemini rising pains
- Pixel Buds app “Discover machine” ringtone quantity
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional
Thrilling earbuds!
They give the impression of being cool. They sound nice! They’ve an superior feature-set in the event you’re a Samsung cellphone and watch proprietor. And so they even sound nice with the Bluetooth LE codec on telephones that assist it.
For
- Fingers-free, offline voice controls
- Readability and element with the SSC codec
- Ecosystem integration
- Earbud ergonomics
- Sturdy app with EQ choices
In opposition to
- Wants the Put on app for finest outcomes
- UHQ model of SSC codec obtainable on restricted units
The 12 months 2024 has been one of the fascinating years in latest reminiscence relating to Bluetooth earbuds. Broader assist for Hello-Res Wi-fi Audio codecs has leveled up many listening experiences. Synthetic intelligence has been onboard for a lot of units during the last couple of years, however solely within the background, strengthening ANC or name high quality. However this 12 months, AI has taken the primary stage in controlling features with out an web connection and is attempting to exchange Google Assistant.
Each Google and Samsung have carried out some noteworthy modifications of their earbud designs, with Samsung’s being probably the most radical in comparison with its earlier generations of merchandise. AI has been marketed closely with each, however there are marked variations between the implementation of AI with the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional.
Which pair of earbuds sound higher? Which pair is “smarter?” At this time, we’re serving to you determine which Bluetooth earbuds are finest for you: Google’s Pixel Buds Professional 2 or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Professional.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 vs. Galaxy Buds 3 Professional: Main Design Modifications
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The instances of every product really feel about the identical measurement whenever you maintain them subsequent to one another regardless of the numbers. The Pixel Buds Professional 2 measure 63.3mm x 49.9mm x 25mm, whereas the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional measure 58.9mm x 48.7mm x 24.4mm.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Professional case is a little more blocky. Due to the way in which it opens and its form, it resembles a tiny field of crayons, whereas the Pixel Buds Professional 2 is extra of an oval, sort of a “flat” egg aesthetic. Regardless of the distinction in form, each are simply pocketable.
Aesthetically, I desire the look of the silver Galaxy Buds 3 Professional case with its tinted, clear lid and silver case. It’s additionally obtainable in white with a clear lid, and the Pixel Buds Professional 2 case is out there with white instances solely. I’m no fan of both white case due to the potential further upkeep concerned in holding them clear.
Total, I desire the design and shade choices of the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 earbuds. The addition of twist-to-fit fins actually feels prefer it locks the earbuds into my ears, in order that they’re snug and keep in place for probably the most half throughout exercises. The buds themselves are so tiny that they don’t stick out a lot. Their vivid colours will stand out greater than they’ll stand out out of your ears. They’re fairly light-weight within the ear and haven’t felt fatiguing at any time.
On the identical time, the brand new blade design of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional with the Tron-like lights on the stems is sort of compelling. I like what they’ve achieved with these design touches on what might’ve been plain “grey” stem-style earbuds. Stem-style earbuds are enemies to my ear form and barely match effectively, however these do. They aren’t fairly as locked in throughout train because the Pixel Buds, however they don’t fall out like previous stem-style earbuds had once I tried to casually put on them outdoors of the fitness center, typically falling out even once I’m simply speaking or chewing.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 vs. Galaxy Buds 3 Professional: Specs In contrast
| Class | Pixel Buds Professional 2 | Galaxy Buds 3 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4; LE Audio, Tremendous Wideband | Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Swap |
| Audio system | Customized-designed 11 mm dynamic speaker driver | 10.5mm Dynamic + 6.1mm Planar |
| Codec assist | SBC, AAC, Opus | Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC), SSC UHQ (24bit/96kHz), AAC, SBC |
| Battery life | As much as 8hrs w/ANC on, 48 hours with case | As much as 6 hours (ANC on) / 26 hours with case |
| Charging | USB-C, Qi wi-fi | USB-C, Qi wi-fi |
| App assist | Pixel Buds (Android solely) | Samsung Wearable (Android solely) |
| Sturdiness | Earbuds: IP54 Case: IPX4 | Earbuds: IP57Case: n/a |
Though each units of earbuds assist Bluetooth 5.4 and, theoretically, Auracast, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 don’t assist Hello-Res Wi-fi codecs like LDAC, LHDC, or aptX Adaptive. The Galaxy Buds 3 Professional don’t both, however they do assist Samsung’s hi-res SSC codec, with additional assist for the UHQ model of that codec if in case you have the appropriate Samsung cellphone paired with them.
Speaking about hi-res, each units assist Tremendous Wideband calling. Each units sounded fairly pleasing to callers and had strong voice replica when listening again to recordings captured on our Pixel 9’s built-in Recorder app.
Regarding sturdiness, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 wash the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional — pun supposed. For the primary time, Samsung added mud resistance to its buds however left its case excessive and dry with no water resistance score. The Pixel Buds, alternatively, imbue their case with IPX4 water resistance.
Samsung doesn’t go into element in regards to the processor inside its buds, however Google leaned into the truth that its buds have its in-house processor, the Tensor A1. Regardless of that, each manufacturers closely market the built-in AI-enhanced calling high quality, energetic noise cancellation, and sound high quality. Within the subsequent part, we’ll dive into how they evaluate in the actual world.
It could look like a small element, however relating to long-term sound high quality and cleanliness, the Galaxy Buds 3 Professionals have ear suggestions with a built-in perforated protecting display screen close to their base to mitigate the ear wax accumulation that will occur throughout exercises and on a regular basis use. It’s a lot simpler to scrub than the mesh screens defending the internals beneath the posts. Once more, it isn’t a serious factor, nevertheless it’s a pleasant contact and exhibits that they’re actually taking note of element in terms of an in-ear product.
One of many areas the place the buds are effectively differentiated is of their speaker/driver design, with the Pixel Buds Professional 2 utilizing a custom-designed 11mm dynamic speaker driver and the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional utilizing a extra superior strategy. The Buds 3 Professional provides you a ten.5mm dynamic driver and a 6.1mm Planar speaker. How does that have an effect on the listening expertise between the 2? Let’s speak about that beneath.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional: Does “hi-res” sound matter?
I in contrast the sound high quality of each earbuds by sampling music from just a few completely different genres and enjoying songs famous for specific traits. Initially, I listened to extra acoustic-oriented music with each of their EQs set to Balanced. I then listened to EDM with Balanced EQs and a hyped bass response curve.
The Galaxy Bud 3 Professional sounded higher general. They’ve a bigger soundstage, with extra dynamic audio because of the SSC codec and its skill to stream a fuller information pipeline at 24bit/48kHz. As compared, the extra data-constricted AAC codec streaming 16bit/44kHz from Google’s providing surprisingly held its personal, coming shut sufficient to the standard of the Galaxy Buds. Each earbuds have extremely satisfying readability and reproduce fantastically layered stereo pictures when used of their superb technological configurations. Once more, for the Galaxy Buds, that meant being related to a Galaxy S22 Extremely (UHQ is just not supported right here), whereas the Pixel Buds have been related to a Pixel 9, enjoying music via YouTube Music.
Actually, in my testing, I discovered that the Pixel Buds Professional 2 produced richer sub-bass. Which will consequence from the only dynamic driver, however the low frequencies produced by the Pixel Buds Professional 2 had extra rumble and weight to them. That is doubtless due to the Planar magnetic driver within the Galaxy Buds, identified for embuing audio with lovely readability and tight, managed frequency response however is a bit lighter within the bass space. The separate dynamic driver ought to compensate for it, however, once more, subjectively, I give the “W” in bass response to the Pixel Buds.
With how they sound out of the way in which, let’s speak about how you will sound whenever you make calls or need to hop on a Zoom or Google Meet name. Fingers down, I’ll give the “W” to the Pixel Buds Professional 2. Name readability and background noise cancellation are audibly completely different as I recorded audio of a dialog in the course of a busy metropolitan space with visitors whizzing by. The one con to the Pixel Buds Professional 2 was that some digital artifacts include AI-enhanced background noise cancellation. Nothing distracting, nevertheless it’s there. Total, my audio from the mics was clearer and extra noise-free with the Pixel Buds Professional 2.
Rounding out how issues sound, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 case comes with a speaker with the intention to ring it when misplaced, along with the earbuds themselves with the ability to ring. You possibly can ring the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional earbuds, however the case doesn’t have a speaker for ringing individually. You’re much less more likely to hear the Galaxy Buds in the event that they’re in between sofa cushions than you might be to listen to the Pixel Buds Professional 2 as a result of quantity and tone of the sound every emits.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional: The AI elephant within the room
When mated to their ecosystem households of merchandise, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 and Galaxy Buds 3 Professional have pretty strong function units and apps. In the event you’re within the Pixel ecosystem, the Pixel Buds app exists, however on Pixel telephones, it’s mainly only a hyperlink that takes you to the cellphone’s Bluetooth settings for the Pixel Buds Professional 2. You’d entry the identical settings by going into the cellphone’s settings, then Linked Gadgets, then faucet the settings cog icon to the appropriate of the Pixel Buds Professional 2. A 3rd method to entry these settings can be to lengthy press on the Bluetooth fast settings shortcut within the Notification pull-down.
Each units’ settings offer you all the standard controls, equivalent to customizing contact playback and cellphone calling controls, Discover machine, and firmware updates. Since each earbuds assist Spatial Audio, you’ll additionally get that in your menu when related to a appropriate cellphone.
There are just a few locations the place they diverge, although. For the reason that Pixel Buds case has a built-in speaker, you possibly can flip that on or off. The Pixel Buds even have an intuitive and informative Listening to Wellness menu baked proper into the settings, so that you don’t have to go to a well being app to get that information. With it, you possibly can see your quantity ranges, listening to well being developments, and the way your listening to well being is affected in real-time.
How about tailoring what you’re listening to? You’re fortunate sufficient to get EQ with some respectable options, however the Samsung Wearable app takes it additional than Google. With the Pixel Buds, you’ll get 5-band EQ with entry to 6 presets and the power to create one {custom} setting. The Samsung Wearable app brings 9-band EQ to the desk, with six presets and one {custom}. It makes extra sense that Samsung’s providing is extra expansive with its assist for the SSC codec, which has extra dynamic vary than Google’s AAC assist. Observe that neither choice means that you can save your {custom} EQ configuration. That {custom} isn’t persistent, so any modifications you make shall be what you’re utilizing till you alter it once more.
One of many important parts of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional’s EQ implementation is the power to vary EQ settings primarily based on the style of music you might be listening to. For me, meaning boosting the low for my Hip-Hop, EDM, Dubstep, and Huge Band Jazz tracks. Google’s Pixel Buds app doesn’t supply this skill.
Taking sound tailoring even additional, each apps have settings for Spatial Audio. Nevertheless, Samsung’s iteration makes use of Sony’s 360 Actuality Audio variant, which doesn’t fairly have the broad assist to make the most of it, when it comes to music streaming companies. However that isn’t all dangerous. In the event you’re within the Pixel cellphone ecosystem, it’s necessary to notice that Pixel telephones solely assist Google’s Spatial Audio implementation, not Dolby Atmos. Samsung telephones’ assist of 360 Actuality Audio does embody assist for Dolby Atmos.
Each earbuds have large AI-enhanced options, however for the newest options and a few machine exclusives like Gemini Nano with multimodality, Pixel Buds Professional 2 mated to Pixel telephones are the winners. Utilizing Gemini Stay on the Pixel Buds is unbelievable and a fantastic look into the way forward for what the digital assistant will appear like. It’s necessary to notice that these massive language mannequin generative AI assistants are of their infancy, so the know-how must mature extra to be as comparatively seamless as Google Assistant.
Some people might argue that for right this moment, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Professional’s AI implementation is extra useful. It options the power to make use of AI offline to manage earbud performance. I’ve loved the offline skill to manage music playback and quantity and reply or decline cellphone calls through voice outdoor or within the fitness center. I hate taking my cellphone on runs and like utilizing an LTE-connected smartwatch to play music domestically. I don’t stream from a watch as a result of it does kill battery life rapidly whenever you’re out for a run or hike, and also you’re monitoring your exercise, operating standalone GPS, and utilizing your LTE connection to stream music to the watch, then stream that to a pair of Bluetooth related earbuds.
Relating to different premium and AI-driven options like in-ear detection or dialog detection, each units of earbuds are near parity.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional: Which one ought to YOU purchase?
Of their respective ecosystems, I counsel utilizing earbuds that match your cellphone and smartwatch. You’ll get probably the most choices and the most effective connectivity.
Exterior of that, the competition turns into a special story of the tape. With no appropriate Samsung smartphone related, the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional lose their edge on dynamic vary over the Pixel Buds Professional 2, supporting solely AAC. At that time, dropping that vary and different Samsung-specific options, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 is the winner right here regardless of Spatial Audio with head monitoring being obtainable solely on Pixel units. Their match ought to work for a broader vary of individuals and needs to be locked in additional so that you simply’re not readjusting them each couple of minutes throughout extra dynamic exercises.
Pixel Buds even have the sting over Samsung in battery life. With ANC on, you’ll get round eight hours of playback with Google however six from Samsung, and twelve hours versus seven with ANC off, respectively.
As soon as once more, the general options are a win for Google. Regardless of your alternative of Android cellphone with the Pixel Buds Professional 2, extra options shall be obtainable. Lots of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional options shall be unlocked for you whenever you obtain the Samsung Wearable app, however there are nonetheless some you received’t get until you’re utilizing a latest Samsung cellphone. Options like reside translation (as much as eight languages), Galaxy AI, and 360 Audio, Auracast 2-device connectivity, and a number of the Gesture options.
Small buds, large options and sound!
There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2. They sound great-the bass response is pleasant, the ANC is strong, name high quality is nice, and Gemini is like one thing out of a comic book e book.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional
