DailyTechPricesDevice Comparison
| Galaxy Buds3 FE | AirPods 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| LAUNCH DATE | ||
| Released | — | 2026-09-18 |
| Status | — | Available |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | ||
| Environmental | — | 40% recycled material content overall |
| Launch Price (USD) | $149.99 (reference only — see Price in Nigeria above for the actual retail price) | $129 (AirPods 5 (USB-C case)), $149 (AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case) (US launch price) |
| Models | — | AirPods 5; AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case |
| Models and regions | — | Available in the U.S. and more than 65 other countries/regions |
| Price in Nigeria | ₦210,000 | ₦180,600 – ₦208,600 (estimate, converted from US launch price) |
| PRODUCT OVERVIEW | ||
| Brand | Samsung | Apple |
| Category | True Wireless Earbuds | Open-fit true wireless earbuds |
| Launch Date | September 4, 2025 | September 9, 2026 |
| Model Name | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE (SM-R420) | AirPods 5 |
| Price | $149.99 | $129 (US launch) |
| AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS | ||
| Driver Size | 11mm | — |
| Driver Type | 1-way dynamic driver, single amplifier | Custom high-excursion Apple driver, custom high dynamic range amplifier |
| Sound Features | 360 Audio, Enhanced ANC, Ambient mode, Adaptive EQ | Spatial audio: Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Chip: Apple H2 |
| FEATURES AND SOFTWARE | ||
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Yes, Enhanced ANC | Yes, Active Noise Cancellation (up to 50% more noise removed vs AirPods 4 with ANC), Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness |
| App Support | Galaxy Wearable app | — |
| Customizable EQ | Yes | — |
| Find My Earbuds | — | Wireless Charging Case version has a built-in speaker for Find My |
| Other Features | — | Adaptive EQ, multiport acoustic architecture, vent system for pressure equalization, Voice Isolation, studio-quality audio recording, Live Translation, hands-free Siri |
| Sound Modes | ANC / Ambient / Adaptive | Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency, Conversation Awareness |
| Touch Controls | Swipe (volume) + pinch (play/pause/skip) | Force sensor; force sensor with volume swipe (Wireless Charging Case version); head gestures |
| Transparency / Ambient Mode | Yes | Yes, Transparency mode |
| Voice Assistant Support | Bixby, Google Gemini (hands-free) | Siri ("Siri" / "Hey Siri", head gestures) |
| Wear Detection | — | Optical in-ear sensor, motion-detecting accelerometer, speech-detecting accelerometer, force sensor |
| CONNECTIVITY AND INTEGRATION | ||
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP | — |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Auto Switch (Galaxy devices + Galaxy Book 2020+) | — |
| Range | ~10m (typical) | — |
| Supported Codecs | SBC, AAC, Samsung Seamless/Scalable Codec | — |
| Wired Mode | Not supported | — |
| BUILD AND DESIGN | ||
| Colors Available | Black, Gray | White |
| Dimensions | Earbud 18.0 x 21.1 x 33.8mm; Case 50.0 x 50.0 x 27.7mm | Earbud: 30.2 x 18.3 x 18.1 mm; Case: 46.2 x 50.1 x 21.2 mm |
| Form Factor | Open-fit blade/stem design, matte finish | Open-fit true wireless earbuds |
| Ingress Protection | IP54 | IP57 (dust, sweat and water resistant) |
| Materials | Plastic, matte-finish housing | 40% recycled material by weight, 70% recycled plastic in the case |
| Weight | 5.0g per earbud | 4.3 g (each earbud); Case: 32.3 g (standard), 34.7 g (Wireless Charging Case) |
| BATTERY CAPACITY AND CHARGING | ||
| Charging Port | USB-C (cable not included) | USB-C; Wireless Charging Case version also supports Qi-certified and Apple Watch chargers |
| Device Battery Capacity | Earbud 53mAh; Case 515mAh | — |
| Fast Charging | — | 5 min charge = around 1 hour of listening |
| Total Playtime | Up to 8.5 hrs (ANC off) / 6 hrs (ANC on); 30 hrs / 24 hrs total with case | Earbuds: Up to 4 hours (ANC on), up to 6 hours (noise control off); Wireless Charging Case version: up to 5 hours (ANC on), up to 7 hours (noise control off); With case: Up to 20 hours with ANC (standard), up to 22 hours with ANC (Wireless Charging Case version) |
| Wireless Charging | Not supported | Wireless Charging Case version: Yes, Qi-certified and Apple Watch chargers; standard USB-C case: No |
| MICROPHONES AND VOICE FEATURES | ||
| Hands-Free Calls Support | Yes | Yes, with Voice Isolation |
| Mic Count | 3 mics per earbud | — |
| Mic Type / Noise Reduction | Enhanced background noise reduction | Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone |
| Voice Assistant Trigger | Hands-free Gemini activation, Bixby | — |
| BOX CONTENTS | ||
| Charging Cable | Not included | — |
| Ear Tips (if earbuds) | 3 sizes (S/M/L) silicone tips | None (open-ear design) |
| Extras (cases, clips, mounts, etc.) | None notable | Charging case (USB-C) |
| Main Device | Earbuds + charging case | AirPods 5 |
| User Manual | Quick Start Guide | Documentation |
| Warranty Card | Included (2-year in US) | — |
| COMPATIBILITY | ||
| Operating Systems | Android and iOS | iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS (latest versions) |
| Profiles Supported | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP | — |
| Supported Devices | Galaxy smartphones/Galaxy Book 2020+ (full), other Android/iOS (basic) | Full features with Apple devices on the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS or visionOS; works as Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices (limited features) |
| KEY HIGHLIGHT | ||
| Highlight | A mid-range refresh of the Buds FE with the Buds3 blade design, 360 Audio, and Galaxy AI hands-free translation. | The Apple AirPods 5 are open-fit earbuds powered by the H2 chip, with Active Noise Cancellation now standard, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Personalized Spatial Audio. |