Since late 2018, I've been a devout AirPods user. I love the feel, sound, and seamless pairing of Apple's earbuds with my iPhone, and I think I secretly love being part of the unspoken cult of AirPods-wearing commuters who fill subway cars every morning. But Samsung's new Galaxy Buds Plus may make me abandon my trusty Buds for good.

I've been using the Galaxy Buds Plus since it was announced this week along with the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Z Flip and fell in love almost instantly. Having never used the original Galaxy Buds, I was immediately struck by the lightness of these 0.2 oz. earbuds.

And while I've grown to like the AirPods' once extreme design, it's nice to wear wireless earbuds that don't dangle from your ears; I sometimes wish the Galaxy Buds Plus fit my ears a little more securely, but Samsung has the fit and multiple ear-tip and wingtip options to adjust the fit and feel.

I thought I would miss the seamless interactivity of the AirPods with my iPhone, but pairing the Buds Plus with my phone was just as easy. I had no problem skipping and pausing songs with the Buds' on-ear controls (although I wish they were a bit less sensitive), and a quick long press also allowed me to use Siri.

As for sound quality, the Buds Plus is sufficient; the AKG-tuned dual speakers provide a clean soundstage and allow me to listen to lively guitars, vocals, and drums while listening to pop punk on my commute. While I still prefer the fuller, bass-heavy sound of the AirPods, I appreciate that the Samsung Buds allow me to adjust EQ settings and take in ambient noise with the Galaxy Buds companion app. [But here's the real reason I have to keep my AirPods in a drawer forever. I used the Galaxy Buds Plus on and off for two days in a row, took long walks in San Francisco and New York City, kept it on throughout a six-hour flight, and did not charge the case once. As a result, the Buds Plus battery was at less than 50%.

This seems consistent with Samsung's bold battery life claims of 11 hours with the Buds and another 11 hours with the charging case. In contrast, I find myself nearly running out of the AirPods' 5-hour battery almost every day and charging the case at least every other day.

I'm very happy with my Galaxy Buds Plus right now, but will I be able to keep my AirPods forever? It's hard to say. I feel a strange attachment to my Apple Buds. Maybe it's because it's my first truly wireless earbud, or maybe it's because I'm secretly afraid of abandoning the cult of AirPods lovers.

But the fact that the Galaxy Buds Plus can make hardcore AirPods lovers think twice about turning is a good sign for Samsung's new headphones.