Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: Which are the better noise-cancelling buds?

This Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds face-off compares Samsung’s new AI-powered buds with Bose’s elite true wireless noise-cancellers. These are two of the most coveted models in the category, and Samsung’s push for intelligible active noise cancellation makes their latest creation an ideal competitor for the market’s best noise-cancelling earbuds.

These entries have as many similarities as differences. They each have adaptive technologies that optimize sound based on your environment, as well as upscaled features like spatial audio and the same long-stem design as the AirPods Pro 2. Where they vary are durability, usability, and wireless capabilities. Read on to find out which buds best suit your needs.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Bose QC Ultra Earbuds: Specs compared

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Price and availability

The newer Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sell for $249 / £191 / AU$399 worldwide. Color options include silver and white. You can purchase them directly from Samsung or at online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

Despite the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds being older (originally launched in October 2023), they carry a higher MSRP: $299 / £236 / AU$449. We’ve recently seen them for as low as $249 on Bose’s website and popular online retailers. These buds are available in black, white, and a special edition sky blue version.

A wide range of features and terrific performance in key areas make both models equally valuable.

Winner: Tie

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Design

Bose performed a copy and paste job with the QC Ultra Earbuds by giving them the same design as the QC Earbuds 2, which is inspired by the original AirPods Pro, and adding a metallic sheen to the touch panels. It’s still a gorgeous design wrapped in solid plastic with glossy and matte finishes. IPX4 certification provides sweat and water resistance. The pebble-shaped charging case is just as attractive.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro resemble the AirPods Pro most, though they aren’t as well built as the QC Ultra Earbuds. Details like the LED strip and sharply angled stems with “blades,” otherwise known as the force sensors, are striking. Everything else is generic. It’s surprising to see these buds carry a stronger IP rating (IP57) for dust- and water-resistant protection, considering their less-sturdy construction. The charging case with translucent lid is also a downgrade from the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s super-compact case.

Both sets of buds form a comfy and secure fit for lengthy listening sessions.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Controls

The QC Ultra Earbuds have the more reliable controls. Bose’s touch panels instantly respond to and execute input methods (single/multi-tap, long hold). Google Assistant and Siri perform well, to an advanced mic array that demonstrates remarkable speech recognition. The shortcut feature lets you cycle through listening modes or manually enable your phone’s native assistant. Features like Auto Transparency automatically place ANC at the lowest level when wearing one bud.

One of the major selling points for Samsung’s buds is AI functionality. This extends to the controls, though the voice-activated features don’t always impress. Call management and playback voice commands are spot-on. Bixby executes verbal inquiries with finesse…when it’s working. Samsung’s digital assistant consistently crashed or froze when speaking the wake-word phrase.

Ambient awareness features like Voice Detect worked well, but Siren Detect struggled to pick up high-frequency sounds. However, it’s not the finicky AI that diminishes the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s usability. It’s the force sensors. They can be difficult to locate and must be pressed firmly to initiate functions, which they often don’t execute anyway. It’s a shame, too, since they would have complemented the rear volume strip that seamlessly adjusts volume.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Sound quality

We prefer the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for audio consumption. The soundstage is nicely balanced with emphasized bass that’s deep and punchy. Expect a satisfying mix of lows, mids, and highs. Samsung built an adaptive EQ that tweaks the sonics based on your surroundings.

There are three ways to customize sound: Accessibility to adjust balance on each channel, Gaming Mode for less lag when playing mobile games, and the manual EQ with multiple presets. Samsung’s 360 Audio technology is compelling for immersive listens and has precise headtracking. Bluetooth playback is also exceptional through the Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC), which is only engineered on Galaxy devices. SSC dynamically scales bitrate (up to 512 kbps) and divulges more details in recordings with minimal latency.

The QC Ultra Earbuds don’t deliver the same audiophile-like results. Still, they’re a fantastic-sounding option with unbeatable spatial audio that works with all stereo content. You heard that correctly. These buds will take whatever you’re listening to and give it engaging surround sound presentation.

Still Mode uses highly accurate headtracking technology that directs sound to your head movement and Motion Mode places sound in front of your face to hear content fully. Bose’s ActiveSense technology lets you hear your surroundings clearly without compromising audio quality. Then there’s aptX Adaptive codec support (up to 420kbps) for hi-res sound on all the best music streaming services when paired to a compatible Android device.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Active Noise Cancelation

Bose’s noise-cancelling technology eliminates incidental sounds better than any true wireless rival. The QC Ultra Earbuds leverage proprietary technologies like ActiveSense and CustomTune to automatically adjust ambient listening on the go and analyze the listener’s ears for peak noise reduction.

Aware Mode (aka Ambient) is excellent for hearing conversations and increasing situational awareness, while Quiet Mode (ANC) blocks out up to 95 percent of unwanted noise across the frequency spectrum and has strong wind resistance. You even get 10 sound profiles to set a preferred ANC level (1 through 10) and spatial audio mode.

Samsung’s ANC technology has been solid across all Galaxy Buds releases, and the Galaxy Buds 3 is no different. Adaptive Mode relies on AI-powered mics and the adaptive EQ to adjust sound based on your surroundings and how you wear the buds. I didn’t notice any improvements in noise neutralization. Active Noise Canceling and Ambient Sound modes are dependable, though the former lets in more high-frequency noises than the QC Ultra Earbuds.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Special features and apps

These two models boast premium features, but only one lets you enjoy most of them across different platforms: the QC Ultra Earbuds. The Bose Music app (Android/iOS) gives all users access to the previously mentioned ANC and sound modes, including universal spatial audio. Other notables are the Earbuds Seal Test, one-tap Google Fast Pair, Shortcut for assigning the action command a special function (ANC, Immersive Audio or digital assistant), and several toggles to automatically enable different controls. Bose recently added Bluetooth multipoint to pair the QC Ultra Earbuds with two compatible audio sources at the same time.

Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app makes several Galaxy Buds 3 Pro perks available to Apple and Android users. These consist of select sound enhancement features (Accessibility, EQ, music presets), along with basics like ANC, Find My Earbuds (via Samsung Find), voice command activation, and Neck Stretch to detect and improve your posture. Prime features like 360 Audio, Game Mode, SSC, and PowerShare (more on that later) remain exclusive to Galaxy device owners. AI-powered features like Interpreter Mode to read and translate foreign languages in real time require Samsung smartphones that run the latest software update (One UI 6.1.1), which are currently the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Winner: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Call quality

It used to be rare to hear another company offer better call quality than Bose, but that has been more common lately. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have double the voice bandwidth and employ the AI-powered mics to reduce background noise, which they do superbly. I called my wife during an outdoor errand, and she never noticed the harsh winds or the loud squawking bird that wouldn’t shut its beak during our conversation. She mentioned my voice was moderately clear with minor muffle.

The QC Ultra Earbuds are a step down from the QC Earbuds 2, which themselves are a step down from the original QC Earbuds. We don’t know what has caused the decrease in call quality on Bose’s wireless earbuds, but the noticeable dips in ANC and clarity are apparent during voice and video calls. Be sure to use the Self Voice feature in the Bose Music app to increase vocal volume, so you can hear yourself louder during chats.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Battery life

Samsung rates battery life on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at 6 to 7 hours per charge, depending how you use the buds. That’s only an hour more playtime than the QC Ultra Earbuds (up to 6 hours) when listening with ANC off. Bose’s charging case holds more juice (up to 36 hours), but it requires a special Qi-enabled silicone case cover to wirelessly charge the buds. You’ll have to spend an extra $50 to own it. Meanwhile, Samsung’s charging case holds up to 34 hours and supports wireless charging, as well as PowerShare technology to recharge the case when placed on the back of a current Galaxy smartphone.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: Verdict

The Bose QC Ultra Earbuds are not only the better noise-cancelling model, but they’re a top-tier selection that delivers some of the best spatial audio and speech recognition out there. There isn’t an environment or situation where these buds won’t grant peaceful listening, no matter the frequency levels. Sound is crisp and detailed, and Bose’s Immersive Sound feature elevates audio output. Not everything is perfect, such as battery life and call quality, but the pros heavily outweigh the cons. 

Samsung put a lot of effort into making the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro stand out. Series staples like robust ANC and ultra-high-quality sound remain the same. Advanced call quality and a secure fit go a long way too. Unfortunately, not every new addition hits its mark. Some of the AI features don’t live up to the hype. The AirPods-like design and poor-performing force sensors also prevent these buds from reaching the true wireless upper echelon.

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