JBL Tour Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
The JBL Tour Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro land in the same premium wireless earbuds category, so the comparison is fair, and the differences are telling. On the overall scorecard, the JBL Tour Pro 3 is ahead: 1 of 3 areas, with battery & charging doing the heavy lifting. Add $50 of difference in launch price, and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has a strong argument before a single spec is compared.
At a glance
- Sound & Noise Cancelling Tie
- Battery & Charging JBL Tour Pro 3 wins
- Features & Connectivity Tie
- Price Galaxy Buds 3 Pro wins
- Sound & Noise Cancelling10.0
- Battery & Charging6.5
- Sound & Noise Cancelling10.0
- Battery & Charging2.3
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The JBL Tour Pro 3 has 2 h more listening per charge
The JBL Tour Pro 3 clearly leads on battery (single charge), and 8 h versus 6 h is a difference that reaches well beyond the spec sheet. The JBL Tour Pro 3 runs longer before needing a break, so you’re less likely to be interrupted mid-podcast.
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The JBL Tour Pro 3 has 6 h more total battery with the case
Think of it as a tiebreaker rather than a deal-breaker: 32 h for the JBL Tour Pro 3, 26 h for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. A bigger total means fewer case charges per week, a small but real convenience.
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The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has
On case weight, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro posts 1.64 oz against 2.53 oz for the JBL Tour Pro 3, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s case is lighter, one less thing weighing down your pocket.
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The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has a tougher IP57 rating
On paper, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is a touch ahead here, listing IP57 against IP55. A higher water resistance rating gives more protection against sweat and rain during workouts.
Design & Size
There’s no meaningful weight gap here.
Fit & Build
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | In-ear with stem | In-ear with blade stem |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IP57 (winner) |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.20 oz | 0.19 oz |
| Case weight | 2.53 oz Heaviest case in class | 1.64 oz (winner) |
Sound & Noise Cancelling
Too close to call
Both the JBL Tour Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro cover sound & noise cancelling equally well on paper. Treat sound & noise cancelling as common ground and look elsewhere for the deciding factor.
Driver size
JBL Tour Pro 3: 0.39 in Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: 0.41 in Larger drivers can move more air, while smaller ones allow a more compact design; neither guarantees better sound.
Battery & Charging
JBL Tour Pro 3 leads
The battery & charging comparison is one-sided. The JBL Tour Pro 3 leads where it counts. Choose the JBL Tour Pro 3 and you get 2 h more listening per charge. Longer listening per charge matters on long flights, workdays and road trips. Weighing only battery & charging, the JBL Tour Pro 3 comes out ahead.
Battery (single charge)
JBL Tour Pro 3: 8 h Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: 6 h Ratings usually assume moderate volume and specific settings, so real results vary.
Battery (with case)
JBL Tour Pro 3: 32 h Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: 26 h Total battery with the case tells you how long you can go before plugging anything in.
Features & Connectivity
Too close to call
This area ends level; whatever separates these two, it isn’t features & connectivity. The takeaway: features & connectivity is not where these two differ.
Full Specifications
Sound & Noise Cancelling
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Driver size | 0.39 in | 0.41 in |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial audio | N/A (not specified) | 360 Audio (head tracking) |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SSC (incl. UHQ 24-bit/96 kHz), AAC, SBC, LC3 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (single charge)Manufacturer rating, ANC on where available | 8 h (winner) | 6 h |
| Battery (with case)Manufacturer rating | 32 h (winner) | 26 h |
| Wireless charging | N/A (not specified) | Yes |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
Features & Connectivity
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio) | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Heart-rate sensing | No | No |
| Controls | Touch on earbuds + touchscreen on case | Pinch and swipe on stem |
Fit & Build
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | In-ear with stem | In-ear with blade stem |
| Water resistance | IP55 | IP57 (winner) |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.20 oz | 0.19 oz |
| Case weight | 2.53 oz Heaviest case in class | 1.64 oz (winner) |
Price
| Spec | JBL Tour Pro 3 | Galaxy Buds 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $300 | $250 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
A launch price gap of 20% is hard to ignore, and in this case it amounts to $50 in favor of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Step up by $50 to the JBL Tour Pro 3 and you gain 2 h more listening per charge and 6 h more total battery with the case.
Launch prices in the US as of September 2024; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the JBL Tour Pro 3 if…
- you listen for hours at a stretch (8 h vs 6 h per charge)
- you travel a lot and rarely want to charge the case (32 h vs 26 h)
- you’re comfortable with how JBL does things
Choose the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if…
- you want the lighter case (1.64 oz vs 2.53 oz)
- you work out hard or get caught in the rain (IP57 vs IP55)
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($50 less)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the JBL Tour Pro 3 or the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
We’d point most buyers to the JBL Tour Pro 3. The main exception is if having matters more to you than the rest.
Which has better battery life, the JBL Tour Pro 3 or the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
On paper, the JBL Tour Pro 3 has the edge: 8 h of battery (single charge) against 6 h for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Is the JBL Tour Pro 3 cheaper than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The JBL Tour Pro 3 launched at $50 more than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, based on prices as of September 2024.
Which weighs less, the JBL Tour Pro 3 or the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The difference between the JBL Tour Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is too small to notice, so call it a tie.
Executive Summary
Here’s the short version of how I’d choose between the JBL Tour Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. I keep coming back to one thing: the JBL Tour Pro 3 gets 2 h more listening per charge. Still, if you care most about, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro deserves a look.
A quick self-test: do you care more about battery & charging or a lighter case? The first answer means the JBL Tour Pro 3, the second means the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
My pick: the JBL Tour Pro 3, though the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro makes sense if you value above everything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.