[IT Experience] Galaxy Buds Pro vs AirPods Pro... Similar Noise Cancelling, Samsung Leads in Calls

After 2 Weeks of Direct Purchase and Use
Good Noise Cancelling Function That Blocks Subway and Cafe Noise
Design is Simple... Satisfied with Calls

On the morning of the 14th, a comparison is being made between the premium wireless earphones 'Galaxy Buds Pro' and 'AirPods Pro'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Premium wireless earphones in the 300,000 KRW range resembling a bean sprout steamer. Once a subject of ridicule, the legendary 'AirPods' series that captivated hipsters worldwide now faces a new challenge from Samsung Electronics. The protagonist is the company's first-ever noise-canceling wireless earphones, the Galaxy Buds Pro, unveiled at last month's 'Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021.' Among IT YouTubers, it received a generally favorable review of 'better than expected' and has settled into the market, making it seem like Samsung has somewhat regained the pride it lost with the previous 'Galaxy Buds Live.'

On the 3rd, I purchased the new Galaxy Buds Pro from Coupang and used them for two weeks. Wearing them constantly at cafes and on the subway, I noticed different pros and cons compared to my usual AirPods Pro. Despite being a high-priced IT product with a list price of 239,800 KRW, it was surprisingly delivered to my doorstep by dawn the next day as a Rocket Wow item. Samsung started domestic sales alongside the Unpacked reveal and drove marketing by offering Galaxy Buds Pro as a gift with pre-orders of the flagship Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone.

The unboxing ceremony was as solemn as always. At a glance, the distinct external features clearly differentiated it from the existing AirPods Pro. The rear design of the Galaxy Buds Pro has a glossy, smooth surface like traditional mother-of-pearl, reflecting surrounding objects and faces clearly. It is a short, round, and plump in-ear type. Available in three colors?Black, Silver, and Violet?I chose Phantom Violet, a purple hue. Compared to the AirPods Pro, which come only in pure white and feature a bold design resembling a bean sprout steamer, the Galaxy Buds Pro feels relatively moderate. Unlike Apple's hip image, it seemed suitable for a broad age range, including the 50s and 60s generation, the parents' generation.

The Galaxy Wearable application screen after the smartphone is connected with the Galaxy Buds Pro.

When I activated Bluetooth on my Galaxy S9 smartphone, the earphones were recognized automatically. The 'Galaxy Wearable' application (app) appeared on the screen naturally. The app allows users to adjust noise control, noise-canceling intensity, conversation detection, touch blocking, and equalizer functions to their preference. It also enables finding lost earbuds by playing a signal sound. While using expensive AirPods Pro, I was dissatisfied with the inability to use one of Apple's biggest advantages?the synchronization feature. For Samsung's enthusiastic users who also use Galaxy tablets and other devices, integration with existing products should become more convenient. Features like voice notifications for incoming messages and simply placing the earphones on a wireless charger before sleep were also convenient.

The most anticipated feature was the noise-canceling function that blocks surrounding noise. The Galaxy Buds Pro calls it Intelligent ANC (Active Noise Cancelling). When activated in crowded and noisy places like the subway, the noise-canceling function significantly reduced ambient noise. Even in cafes, turning on the noise-blocking feature made conversations around much less audible, enhancing work efficiency such as writing articles. Playing music amplified the effect. According to Samsung, the ANC function can reduce external noise by up to 99%. However, although Samsung explained that the earphones automatically raise ambient sound during announcements or conversations, this was not very noticeable in the complex real world. Compared to AirPods Pro, the level felt similar.

Call quality felt noticeably better with the Galaxy Buds Pro than with AirPods Pro. Previously, when using AirPods Pro for calls in cafes, ambient noise was not properly blocked and was absorbed, making calls seem noisier than usual. This was an unavoidable fate for wireless earphones without dedicated microphones, and I had resigned myself to it. However, calls made through the Galaxy Buds Pro were relatively clear with less mechanical noise and interference. This seems to be a demonstration of Samsung's technological prowess as a leading smartphone manufacturer.

The price is set at 239,800 KRW, about 90,000 KRW cheaper than the AirPods Pro (329,000 KRW). On online price comparison sites, AirPods Pro are priced in the 240,000 KRW range, while Galaxy Buds Pro are around 210,000 KRW at the lowest. Although clearly more than seven times the price of budget wireless earphones like QCY or Xiaomi in the 20,000 to 30,000 KRW range, considering the noise-canceling feature and synchronization with Samsung devices such as smartphones and tablets, I personally did not find it expensive. Preferences between Samsung and Apple, or Apple and Samsung, may vary individually, but from the perspective of 'buying technology that changes the world,' it seems like a purchase without regret.