Christian de Looper/ZDNET
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The first-party advantage is real.
The most obvious example of why first-party products are worth considering is the AirPods lineup, led by the new AirPods Pro 3. These headphones offer way more features when connected to an Apple device than when connected to other devices.
But Apple isn't the only one to take advantage of its multi-device ecosystem. Samsung does it too, with its Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds heading its audio lineup.
Also: The Nothing Ear 3 have a clever feature I wish my other earbuds had - and they're less than $180
But has one company done a better job building out its feature set? Are one pair of earbuds actually better than the other, or does it just depend on the ecosystem of devices you choose to use? I've used both the AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro pretty extensively, and here's my take.
Specifications
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Battery life 8 hours (up to 24 hours with charging case) 6 hours (up to 20 hours with charging case) Audio modes ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio ANC, Ambient Sound, Adaptive IP rating IP57 (earbuds only) IP57 (earbuds only) Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.4 Additional features Hearing aid mode, live translation, Automatic Switching, Spatial Audio, heart rate monitor Hearing enhancements, Interpreter, Auto switch, 360 audio Price $249 $250
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