In the world of wireless earbuds, AirPods are decidedly the king of the pack. While they probably didn’t invent the category, as most Apple products go, they took them to a new level of polish and quality that allowed them to quickly grab of most of the market share within the product category.
What’s a poor Android user to do then? While you could certainly buy a pair of AirPods and use them with an Android device (they are Bluetooth compatible after all), the experience will not be anywhere as polished as iPhone users would enjoy, not to mention the fact that firmware updates, etc. are impossible without an iOS device.
Android users are better off exploring one of the many AirPod alternatives out there, so we decided to take a look at 2 of the most common models, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, and the Beats Studio Buds.
Round 1 – Design
Both the Samsung Buds Pro and the Beats Studio Buds share a similar “stemless” design with a simple rubber tip that fits into your ear canal. Unlike some workout inspired buds, there is no additional wing or support structure. The charging cases are likewise very familiar with the Beats case resembling the AirPods greater than the Samsung Buds.
Both charging cases are sleek, with the Samsung ones edging out the Beats in terms of compactness.
As for the materials on the buds themselves, the Samsung ones are definitely more flashy with a subtle chrome finish vs the shiny plastic of the Beats. Overall preference will ultimatly be a matter of personal opinion, but we’re giving a slight edge to the Samsung buds for their more compact case and shiny finish.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Round 2 – Fit and finish
This is the category where subtle differences can make a huge difference. Both models of buds come with a conventional set of rubber tips that can be swapped to suit the ear anatomy of the individual wearer. A perfect fit is accomplished in each case by inserting, then twisting the buds toward your head to lodge the body into the upper cavity of your ear.
Whole both pairs of buds are comfortable to wear, I found that the flatter design of the Galaxy buds made them more prone to slipping and even falling out over time. My wife has a pair of the Galaxy buds and she can barely get them to fit snuggly at all, even when using the smallest available tips.
As for the control functionality, I prefer the Beats physical button if nothing else because it’s harder to accidently trigger them when adjusting the fit. With the Galaxy buds I found myself turning off the noise cancellation toggle feature because I was constantly triggering it accidently when adjusting the fit after they slipped out of my ears.
Winner: Beats Studio Buds
Round 3 – Setup and phone integration
The main advantage of AirPods for Apple users is their seamless integration and easy setup. I was interested if any third-party Android compatible buds could come close to matching the experience of a first-party product.
Setting up the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro was similar to using most other Samsung products. That is to say, it began with downloading a completely separate app from Samsung. I have no problem with Samsung per se, but their insistence on carving out their own design aesthetic and eco-system makes someone like me, who prefers a bare bones, “stock Android” setup, perturbed.
As for the Beats on the other hand, I was pleasantly blown away by the attention to detail and amount of care that went into making the setup feel like a “native” experience. I’m not even sure how they pulled it off from a software standpoint honestly, but when I setup the buds, it presented in my settings app with a custom image and controls as if it was a product made by Google itself, product images and all.
All of this is in the stock Android Bluetooth setting menu. Beats went out of the way to make the setup feel seamless and integrated.
The thing that’s most impressive about the Beats Studio Buds is that they are made by none other than Apple! For a company that’s built its reputation on supporting its own ecosystem above all other competitors, I was surprised to see that in Dr. Dre’s side of the house, there are still people that care about creating a great experience for Android users.
Winner: Beats Studio Buds
Round 4 – Sound quality
This is the area that I feel that I, as a non-audiophile, am less qualified to give an objective assessment. What I can say is that I listened to several hours of music using both pairs of buds, and each experience sounded, pretty good. I mean, you inherently aren’t going to get the bassiest, punchiest sound from a pair of wireless buds that operate on a limited protocol like BLuetooth, and that’s ok. I didn’t have any problems with clarity, volume, or noise cancellation with either pair of buds.
The Beats Studio Buds share a lot of the DNA of Apple’s AirPods, and Samsung has been making wireless buds for a few generations now building a reputation for offering decent quality at a fair price. Which one you choose probably won’t come down to the audio quality as either option will be sure to please.
Winner: Tie
Conclusion
I was very impressed by the fit and finish of the Beats Studio Buds, and was surprised by the care and attention that went into the Android software experience. While they lack a bit of the design flair of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, I think they are a great choice for any Android user suffering from AirPod envy. Frankly if you find the Galaxy Buds on sale, they would be a great option as well.
