Getting My Hands on Both
Alright, so I finally managed to grab both the new Galaxy Buds Pro 3 and the Sony WF-1000XM5. Been hearing a lot about these two, wanted to see what the fuss was all about myself, you know? Got them delivered around the same time, which was perfect for a proper side-by-side test.
First Impressions and Setup
Opening the boxes, nothing too crazy. The Sony XM5 case felt really small and kind of nice, smooth finish. The Buds Pro 3 case was familiar, like the previous Samsung ones, maybe a bit sleeker. Getting them paired was easy enough. Flipped open the case near my phone, boom, prompt popped up for both. The Sony app needed a quick install, Samsung integrated nicely since I use a Galaxy phone, which was a plus right off the bat.
How They Felt In-Ear
Okay, putting them in. The XM5s use that foam-like tip. Took a second to get the right fit, kind of had to squish them in. Once they were set, felt pretty secure and sealed things off well. They are lighter than the older XM4s, which is good. The Buds Pro 3 have a more traditional silicone tip shape. For me, they slipped in easier and felt instantly comfortable. I wore both for a few hours straight. The Sonys felt okay, but I noticed the Buds Pro 3 a bit less over time, just slightly more comfy for my ears.
- Sony WF-1000XM5: Snug fit with foam tips, good seal, felt secure. Took a bit longer to get the fit just right.
- Galaxy Buds Pro 3: Easy fit, very comfortable silicone tips, felt lighter in the ear for long sessions.
Listening Tests – The Sound
Now for the important part – the sound. I threw on my usual playlist, lots of different stuff. The Sonys sounded really good, very detailed, maybe a bit warmer, bass was punchy but controlled. Really enjoyed them for most tracks. Then I switched to the Buds Pro 3. Honestly, they sounded great too! Maybe a tad brighter than the Sonys? The sound felt really clear and open. For vocals and podcasts, I think I slightly preferred the Buds Pro 3’s clarity. For music with heavy bass, the Sonys had a bit more oomph, but not by a huge margin. Both are top-tier, seriously. It really came down to subtle preference here.
Blocking Out the World – Noise Cancelling
I tested the noise cancelling on my commute and just walking around town. The Sony XM5s are killers here. They really silenced the low hum of the bus engine and general street noise incredibly well. That foam tip seal definitely helps. The Buds Pro 3 ANC is also very, very good, much improved over older models I’ve tried. It cut out a lot of noise, but the Sonys just edged them out slightly, especially with constant droning sounds. Neither gave me that weird ear pressure feeling, which is great.
Using Them Day-to-Day
Connectivity was solid on both. Didn’t get any annoying dropouts walking around. Multipoint connection, connecting to my phone and laptop at the same time, worked fine on both pairs after setting it up in the apps. The Sony Headphones Connect app has tons of options, maybe too many? The Galaxy Wearable app felt a bit simpler to navigate, especially for quick tweaks. Using the touch controls was fine on both, pretty standard tap gestures.
Battery Life Reality
Battery life seemed pretty close to what they advertised. I got maybe 7-8 hours with ANC on from the Sonys, and the case holds a good few charges. The Buds Pro 3 were similar, maybe slightly less, around 6-7 hours with ANC, but the case also topped them up easily. Honestly, both lasted long enough for any single session I had. Popping them in the case for a few minutes gives you a decent boost too.
Taking Calls
Made a few calls using both. People on the other end said I sounded clear on both the XM5s and the Buds Pro 3. Maybe the Sonys handled background noise a tiny bit better when I was outside near traffic, but both were perfectly usable for calls, which hasn’t always been the case with earbuds I’ve tested in the past.
So, Which Ones Did I Stick With?
This was tough, really. Both are fantastic earbuds. For me, I found myself reaching for the Galaxy Buds Pro 3 more often. Why? Mostly comfort and the slightly easier fit for my ears during long wear. Plus, the seamless integration with my Samsung phone was just convenient. The sound clarity also slightly tipped it for me for spoken word content. However, if absolute top-tier noise cancelling is your number one priority, the Sony WF-1000XM5s are hard to beat, they are truly amazing at silencing the world, and the sound quality is obviously brilliant too. It really depends on what you value most, but you can’t go wrong with either.