The wireless earbud market continues to evolve rapidly, with manufacturers constantly pushing boundaries in sound quality, battery life, and smart features. Let's dive into a detailed comparison of two recent contenders: the JBL Live Beam 3 ($179.99) and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($189.99).
Modern wireless earbuds have come a long way since the first AirPods debuted. They now pack impressive technology into tiny packages, offering features that were unthinkable just a few years ago. The key aspects buyers should consider are sound quality, noise cancellation, battery life, and ecosystem integration.
Both these models were released in mid-2024, representing the latest in wireless audio technology. They include advanced features like adaptive noise cancellation (which automatically adjusts how much outside noise is blocked based on your environment) and support for high-resolution audio codecs (special ways of transmitting music that preserve more detail than standard Bluetooth).
The JBL Live Beam 3 continues JBL's tradition of exceptional sound quality. Its 10mm drivers (the tiny speakers inside each earbud) deliver impressive bass response and clear highs. What's particularly notable is the support for LDAC, a high-resolution audio codec that can transmit about three times more data than standard Bluetooth audio. This means you'll hear more detail in your music, provided you're using a device that supports LDAC and high-quality music sources.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro takes a different approach, using a dual-driver setup with separate speakers for high and low frequencies. While this theoretically should provide better sound separation, in practice, the JBL's single, well-tuned driver often delivers more satisfying results. However, Samsung's buds excel at voice clarity during calls, thanks to advanced microphone processing.
I've tested both extensively with various music genres, and the JBL consistently provides a more engaging listening experience, especially for bass-heavy music and movies. The difference is particularly noticeable when watching action movies, where the JBL's superior bass response adds impact to explosions and sound effects.
Battery life is where we see a significant difference between these models. The JBL Live Beam 3 offers an impressive 12 hours of playback from the buds alone, with the case providing an additional 36 hours. That's enough for several days of heavy use.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro manages about 5.2 hours with noise cancellation enabled, and the case provides a total of 20 hours. While this is sufficient for most users, it's notably less than the JBL's endurance.
Both support wireless charging and quick charging features, but JBL's implementation gives you more listening time from a short charge - about 4 hours from just 10 minutes of charging.
Samsung has focused heavily on ecosystem integration with the Galaxy Buds3 Pro. If you're using Samsung devices, you'll get features like:
The JBL Live Beam 3 takes a more universal approach, working equally well with any device. Its standout feature is the smart charging case with a built-in display, which lets you control various settings without using your phone. This is particularly useful when switching between devices or adjusting noise cancellation levels.
Comfort is subjective, but there are some clear differences here. The JBL earbuds use a stem design similar to AirPods Pro, which many find more stable during exercise. They come with multiple tip sizes to ensure a good fit.
Samsung's design is more compact but can be trickier to get a proper seal. This is crucial because without a good seal, both sound quality and noise cancellation suffer significantly.
For home theater use, the JBL holds an advantage due to its lower latency (delay between video and audio) and better bass response. When watching movies, you'll notice more impact in explosive scenes and clearer dialogue. Both support multiple device connections, but the JBL's smart case makes switching between your TV and phone much easier.
At nearly identical price points ($179.99 for JBL vs $189.99 for Samsung), the decision comes down to use case rather than cost. The JBL Live Beam 3 offers better overall value for most users, with superior battery life and sound quality. However, if you're deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro's integration features might be worth the slight premium.
Consider these key factors when making your choice:
Remember that both are excellent products that represent the current state of the art in wireless earbuds. Your specific needs and preferences should guide your decision more than small technical differences.
| JBL Live Beam 3 ($179.99) | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro ($189.99) |
|---|---|
| Driver Configuration - Determines sound quality and detail | |
| Single 10mm dynamic driver (excellent all-around performance) | Dual driver system with separate tweeter and woofer (better separation but less cohesive) |
| Battery Life (ANC On) - Critical for all-day use without recharging | |
| 12 hours buds + 36 hours case (industry-leading) | 5.2 hours buds + 14.8 hours case (below average) |
| Noise Cancellation - Important for commuting and office use | |
| True Adaptive ANC (adjusts automatically, very effective) | Adaptive ANC (good but less effective than JBL) |
| Water Resistance - Crucial for workout use and durability | |
| IP55 (protected against dust and water jets) | IP57 (better water protection, can be submerged) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and functionality | |
| Smart case with display, universal compatibility | Galaxy ecosystem integration, real-time translation |
| Codec Support - Important for audio quality with compatible devices | |
| LDAC, AAC, SBC (high-res audio support) | Samsung Seamless (24-bit), AAC, SBC (best with Samsung devices) |
| Case Charging - Convenience factor | |
| Wireless Qi charging, USB-C, 10min = 4hr playback | Wireless Qi charging, USB-C, 10min = 2hr playback |
| Special Features - May influence buying decision based on use case | |
| Touch display on case, multi-point connection | Real-time translation, automatic device switching (Samsung only) |
The JBL Live Beam 3 is superior for movie watching due to its more powerful bass response and lower latency. When watching action scenes or dialogue-heavy content, JBL's single driver provides better overall sound coherence compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.
The JBL Live Beam 3 is priced at $179.99, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro costs $189.99, making them very close in price point.
The JBL Live Beam 3 significantly outperforms with 12 hours of playback and 36 additional hours from the case. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro only offers 5.2 hours with ANC on and 14.8 additional hours from the case.
Both models work with Bluetooth-enabled TVs, but the JBL Live Beam 3 has an advantage with its smart case display for easier device switching and better latency performance for TV viewing.
Both offer adaptive noise cancellation, but the JBL Live Beam 3 provides more effective noise reduction, especially for consistent sounds like airplane engines or air conditioners. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro performs adequately but isn't quite as effective.
While both can be used for gaming, the JBL Live Beam 3 has lower latency, making it the better choice. However, for serious gaming, dedicated gaming headphones would be recommended.
The JBL Live Beam 3 offers better universal compatibility and easier device switching through its smart case. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro works best within the Samsung ecosystem.
Yes, both are excellent for late-night TV watching. The JBL Live Beam 3 edges out with better sound isolation and more powerful bass for movie watching.
The JBL Live Beam 3 provides better overall sound quality with more balanced audio and stronger bass. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro offers good sound but performs best when paired with Samsung devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro has superior call quality with better voice clarity and noise reduction during calls compared to the JBL Live Beam 3.
Both are water-resistant, but the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro has a higher IP57 rating compared to the JBL Live Beam 3's IP55 rating, making it more suitable for heavy rain or sweat.
The JBL Live Beam 3 offers better overall value with superior battery life, sound quality, and universal compatibility, unless you're specifically within the Samsung ecosystem, in which case the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro might be worth the slight premium.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: audio46.com - target.com - walmart.com - crutchfield.com - whathifi.com - in.jbl.com - rcwilley.com - youtube.com - jbl.com - soundguys.com - jbl.com - store.utah.edu - head-fi.org - soundguys.com - yankodesign.com - youtube.com - techradar.com - phonearena.com - cdw.com - soundguys.com - youtube.com - samsung.com - cnet.com - samsung.com
