All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
16 hours ago
Two of the most compelling premium earbuds on the market today take notably different approaches to wireless audio. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) focus on delivering best-in-class active noise cancelation and comfort, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro emphasize AI-powered features and ecosystem integration. Both carry premium price tags and deliver solid performance, but which one deserves your money?
This article was originally published on July 18, 2025, and this is the first version.
What’s it like to use the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The daily experience differs significantly between these two premium earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are purpose-built for noise cancelation and travel, featuring a chunky design that may not suit smaller ears but provides excellent isolation. They’re rated IPX4 for moisture protection and use an ovoid nozzle design with concha fins for a secure fit.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro takes a different approach with its angular lollipop stem design borrowed from Apple’s playbook. They feature an IP57 rating, making them more suitable for workouts. The stems include LED lights with pinch and swipe controls and even support voice commands. Both offer solid comfort for extended listening sessions. However, the Bose earbuds may be challenging for those with smaller ears, while the Samsung earbuds can be harder to fit properly, but are more water and dust-resistant.
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Single tap | Left earbud Play / pause | Right earbud Play / pause |
| Input Double tap | Left earbud Track forward | Right earbud Track forward |
| Input Triple tap | Left earbud Track backward | Right earbud Track backward |
| Input Long press | Left earbud Left programmable shortcut | Right earbud Right programmable shortcut |
| Input Swipe up / down | Left earbud Volume up / down | Right earbud Volume up / down |
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Input Slide up / down | Left earbud Volume | Right earbud Volume |
| Input Pinch once | Left earbud Play / pause | Right earbud Play / pause |
| Input Pinch twice | Left earbud Track forward | Right earbud Track forward |
| Input Pinch three times | Left earbud Track backward | Right earbud Track backward |
| Input Long pinch | Left earbud ANC/ ambient mode | Right earbud ANC / ambient mode |
Do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have more features?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro pack significantly more advanced features, particularly for Samsung phone owners. They include Galaxy AI integration with real-time interpreter mode for live translation, Auracast support for audio broadcasting, “super wideband call” functionality up to 16kHz, and siren detection that automatically adjusts ANC levels. The earbuds also feature dual drivers (10.5mm dynamic and 6.1mm planar magnetic) with separate amplifiers.
The Bose earbuds focus on core audio features with CustomTune technology that adjusts sound based on your ear canal, spatial audio with head tracking, multipoint connectivity, and transparency mode with sound spike protection. They support aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound for a near-lossless listening experience but lack the AI-powered features Samsung offers.
- Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for feature count, though Bose focuses on audio-specific enhancements.
How do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro connect?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) use Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC, and the aptX Adaptive family of codecs. They’re compatible with Snapdragon Sound so long as you have a Qualcomm 8 Gen 3 or later device, and offer multipoint connectivity managed through the Bose app.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro features Bluetooth 5.4 with support for SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec, and Samsung Seamless Codec. However, the higher-quality Samsung Seamless Codec (supporting up to 24bit/96kHz) only works with newer Samsung devices running One UI 6.1.1 or above.
- Winner: Tie – both offer solid connectivity, but Samsung’s best features require Samsung devices, while Bose works better with Qualcomm-powered phones.
Is battery life better on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) deliver 5 hours and 34 minutes of playback in standardized testing, which is slightly below average for modern wireless earbuds but close to advertised figures. The case provides three full recharges and supports both USB-C and wireless charging.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro performed worse in testing, with 4 hours and 31 minutes of battery life. This shorter runtime is attributed to the dual-driver system and advanced processing hardware. The case is more compact and also supports wireless charging.
- Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) by about an hour of additional runtime.
Do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro block noise better?
Loading chart ...
According to our testing, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) excel in noise cancelation, reducing external noise loudness by an average of 85% (ANC + Isolation), placing them among the best-performing ANC wireless earbuds. This is aided by excellent passive isolation from the concha fins and ovoid nozzle design.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro provide decent but not exceptional noise blocking. With a good fit, they reduce about 57% of outside noise passively and 76% with ANC enabled. This represents a step back from the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and falls short of other premium earbuds at this price point.
- Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) by a noticeable margin.
Do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) sound better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
Both earbuds deliver good sound quality, but with different characteristics. The Bose earbuds emphasize bass and treble significantly, creating a “V-shaped” sound that some will love and others will find fatiguing. The 3kHz spike can be particularly harsh for extended listening. The bass can be distracting even at normal volumes, though the EQ can help with bass and mid,s but struggles with the highs.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer a more crowd-pleasing sound with notable bass emphasis and prominent highs from 4kHz to 9kHz, but generally more manageable than the Bose. The included EQ presets are superior, with the “Clear” preset providing particularly natural sound. The dual-driver system delivers good detail and instrument separation.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
Samsung edges Bose slightly in Immersiveness, but otherwise, both earbuds score similarly high in MDAQS testing, making sound quality a matter of personal taste.
- Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headphones reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
- Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
- Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
Objective Measurements
Loading chart ...
The frequency response chart reveals dramatically different tuning philosophies between these earbuds. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) show extreme deviations from our house curve, with massive bass emphasis reaching nearly +15dB at 20Hz and significant treble peaks around 3kHz hitting +13dB that can be fatiguing for extended listening.
In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro follow a more restrained approach, staying closer to the preference curve throughout most frequencies. While they still exhibit bass emphasis, it’s far more moderate at around +9dB in the sub-bass region. The treble emphasis is also more controlled, with peaks around 4-9kHz reaching approximately +8dB rather than the Bose’s more extreme +13dB spike.
The Samsung earbuds demonstrate better overall balance and would likely be more universally appealing, while the Bose tuning caters to those who specifically enjoy heavy bass and bright treble emphasis.
- Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for better EQ options and more manageable default tuning.
Do the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have a better microphone?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) struggle with microphone performance, allowing echo, wind, and nearby noise to come through clearly. The processing seems inadequate for rough real-world conditions, though this may only affect recording apps rather than actual phone calls.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also shows limited noise reduction in testing, with similar issues allowing environmental sounds to pass through. However, they support super wideband calling up to 16kHz on compatible devices, which should theoretically improve call quality when the network supports it.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro microphone demo (Wind conditions):
Which microphone sounds better to you?
- Winner: Tie – both show subpar microphone performance in testing, though Samsung offers higher-quality calling on compatible networks.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Price and availability
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) retail for $299.99 at Amazon, positioning them at the premium end of the market. They released on July 1, 2025, and are widely available.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro cost $249.99 at Amazon, $50 less expensive than the Bose. They were originally released in 2024 but experienced shipping delays due to quality control issues, which have since been resolved.
- Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for being $50 less expensive and often on sale.
Should you get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The choice between these premium earbuds comes down to your priorities and device ecosystem. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) excel in one key area: they deliver exceptional noise cancelation that’s among the best available. They’re purpose-built for travel and commuting, though their extreme V-shaped sound signature and $299 price tag may not appeal to everyone.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer better overall value at $249, with more balanced sound tuning, superior EQ options, and extensive AI-powered features like real-time translation. However, their noise cancelation is notably weaker, and many advanced features require a Samsung device to unlock. For most users, the Samsung earbuds represent the better buy unless you specifically need Bose’s superior noise-blocking capabilities for frequent travel or noisy environments.