If you want over-ear comfort, foldable portability, and a dedicated headphone fit for movies, choose Monoprice Over Ear Headphones; if you need compact true wireless earbuds with Ambient mode and Galaxy-device switching, choose SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3. The Monoprice design is the more natural match for settling in with a film, while Samsung is easier to carry and built around quick everyday listening.
Monoprice Over Ear Headphones vs SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3 at a Glance
• Monoprice’s biggest strength: over-ear cups, active noise cancellation, and up to 16 hours of playback without ANC; its trade-off is a larger, 8.3-ounce headphone design.
• Choose Monoprice if you want headphones for a movie session, a foldable travel pair, and longer stated playback without ANC.
• Choose Samsung if you prefer earbuds, want to move between Galaxy devices, or value the option to hear your surroundings in Ambient mode.
• Both include active noise cancellation, but neither product sheet specifies how much noise either one removes in particular environments.
The Monoprice BT-300ANC is an over-ear wireless headphone with 40mm drivers and active noise cancellation. Its external microphones detect surrounding sound and help reduce background noise. That design makes it a plausible choice for watching movies in a noisy room or listening while traveling, where an over-ear fit and noise-control feature may be more appealing than small earbuds. The product information lists a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, but that range alone doesn’t tell you how a film soundtrack will sound in practice.
Battery figures are a useful part of the decision. The listed playback time is up to 16 hours without ANC, while ANC operating time is up to eight hours. The product description elsewhere gives different playback figures, so I would treat the specific battery claims cautiously rather than assume one number applies in every use case. Either way, expect ANC use to change how long you can listen between charges. The headphones can also answer calls, with music resuming after a call ends.
The foldable construction, padded adjustable headband, and soft earpads suit someone who wants a traditional headphone fit and a pair that can be packed away more easily than a rigid over-ear design. The listed wireless range is up to 32 feet, and charging takes up to three hours. Those details may matter when you want to move around a room or plan listening around a charging routine. The sheet also names Bluetooth 4.0 in one field and Bluetooth 5.0 in the product description, so I wouldn’t make a version-based comparison a deciding factor.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip Monoprice if you strongly prefer the light, minimal feel of earbuds or want the listed battery duration to remain the same with ANC enabled.
The Samsung product sheet identifies the earbuds as Galaxy Buds3 FE. They are true wireless, in-ear earbuds with active noise cancellation and an 11mm dynamic speaker. For someone who wants a compact option for commutes, calls, or listening between other tasks, the small earbud format is the clearest advantage over Monoprice’s over-ear design. The listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but it doesn’t establish how music, dialogue, or sound effects will compare with another pair.
Samsung adds Ambient mode, which is intended to let some surrounding sound remain audible when you want awareness rather than full isolation. That gives the Buds3 FE a flexible role: ANC for a quieter listening setting, Ambient mode when you need to stay more aware, and earbuds you can carry without packing over-ear headphones. The product sheet also highlights background-noise reduction for calls and a microphone addition, making calls a relevant use case alongside films and music.
The stated battery life is 8.5 hours. Samsung does not specify the listening conditions tied to that figure in the supplied details, so it’s better to view it as a reference than a guarantee for every combination of features and use. The earbuds support touch controls: pinch to play, pause, or answer calls, and swipe to change volume. They also offer hands-free access to Gemini and automatic switching among Galaxy devices, including a phone, tablet, and PC. Those features make them more compelling for someone already moving between compatible Galaxy devices than for a buyer focused only on a long movie session.
Who should skip them: Skip Samsung if you dislike in-ear earbuds or want an over-ear fit for extended movie listening.
• Best fit for movies at home → Monoprice Over Ear Headphones. The around-ear design is the more straightforward choice if you prefer headphones that cover your ears while you settle in to watch.
• Best for portability → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3. They’re true wireless earbuds, while the Monoprice pair folds but remains an over-ear headphone weighing 8.3 ounces.
• Best for longer stated playback without ANC → Monoprice Over Ear Headphones. The listed figure is up to 16 hours without ANC; Samsung lists 8.5 hours.
• Best for awareness while listening → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3. Ambient mode is specifically included for situations when you want to hear more of your surroundings.
• Best for Galaxy-device switching → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3. The product sheet describes automatic switching among Galaxy phone, tablet, and PC.
• Best for a traditional headphone fit → Monoprice Over Ear Headphones. Its padded headband and plush ear pads are designed for over-ear use.
• Best for quick touch adjustments → SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3. Pinch controls cover playback and calls, while a swipe adjusts volume.
• Best for someone considering gaming headphones for movies → Monoprice, with a caveat. The over-ear form and ANC suit film watching, but the supplied information doesn’t specify gaming latency or a dedicated gaming mode.
My Verdict
Before choosing, decide whether you actually want earbuds or headphones that sit around your ears. That everyday comfort preference will shape your experience more than driver size or frequency-range figures alone. The Monoprice pair has an adjustable padded headband and soft earpads; Samsung is explicitly an in-ear design and includes S, M, and L ear tips. The supplied details don’t establish which fit will feel better to you.
Think about where you’ll listen. For films at home, over-ear headphones may feel like the more natural setup, particularly if you want a dedicated pair rather than earbuds you also carry for calls and errands. For a commute or a day moving between devices, Samsung’s true wireless form, Ambient mode, and Galaxy switching may be more useful. People searching for noise canceling on ear headphones for movies should note that Monoprice is described as over-ear, not on-ear, and that both products list ANC.
Battery claims also need context. Monoprice lists up to 16 hours without ANC and up to eight hours of ANC operation; Samsung lists 8.5 hours of battery life. These figures are not presented under identical conditions, so they don’t guarantee how long either pair will last in your routine. If you expect to use ANC throughout a long listening session, take Monoprice’s shorter ANC figure into account.
Finally, don’t choose based on a feature the sheets don’t confirm. Monoprice’s Bluetooth version is inconsistent across the supplied fields, and neither product’s listed information establishes movie-dialogue performance, gaming latency, or the amount of noise reduction in a given setting. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, then weigh it against the form, controls, battery information, and device features you’ll actually use.
For someone who prefers an over-ear fit, Monoprice is the clearer movie pick. Samsung is the more compact alternative, but it is an in-ear earbud design. Neither product sheet provides a direct movie-performance comparison.
Which has longer battery life?
Yes. Both list active noise cancellation. Samsung also includes Ambient mode for listening while remaining more aware of surrounding sound; Monoprice’s information describes ANC but does not list an equivalent mode.
They may suit you if you want true wireless earbuds, touch controls, call features, and automatic switching among Galaxy devices. They’re not a direct fit replacement for someone who specifically wants an over-ear design. Check the current price on Amazon if cost is part of your final decision.
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