Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Better Than Apple’s AirPods?

Fans might think that Apple’s AirPods are the best pair of truly wireless headphones today, but a report reveals that it’s not -- especially in comparison to one of its toughest competitors.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds have outscored Apple’s AirPods in Consumer Reports’ latest study of the market, Business Korea reported. The Galaxy Buds, in fact, outperformed every other pair of truly wireless headphones Consumer Reports reviewed and now sits in the top spot with “86 points.”

Now, where could Apple’s AirPods in that ranking be, compared to the Galaxy Buds? “Far away” is the answer: the “AirPods, which are used by about 60 percent of wireless earphone users, came in 49th with 56 points,” the report said.

How did it get there?

The nonprofit organization ranked wireless earphones based on their sound quality. The Galaxy Buds, the report said, achieved the “Excellent” grade, and is one of the first “portable Bluetooth headphones” to achieve the highest sound quality grade Consumer Reports can ever give. The organization also praised the Galaxy Buds for its overall design and battery life.

"The Galaxy Buds are a truly wireless design without wires connecting two earphones," Consumer Reports said. “It features easy-to-use touch functions and six hours of battery life.”

The best there is

Consumer reports stands by what it said about the Galaxy Buds.

In an article titled “Best Headphones for Every Activity,” the organization described Samsung’s wireless earbuds as “one of the best-scoring portable Bluetooth headphones Consumer Reports has ever tested,” listing it among other premium headphones like the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Grado Prestige SR325e and the Marshall Monitor Bluetooth.

In another article focusing on the best pair of truly wireless headphones in terms of sound quality, Consumer Reports proudly said the Galaxy Buds are way better than Apple’s AirPods, and that the AirPods feature a sound quality that’s “almost identical to the wired earbuds that come free with iPhones.”

The nonprofit then proceeds to list the Galaxy Buds along with other truly wireless headphones like the Bose SoundSport Free Wireless, Sony WF-SP700N (with noise cancellation), Jabra Elite Active 65t, JLab Audio Epic Air and JLab Audio JBuds Air.