Blog

Since entering the true wireless space, Samsung has been trying to catch up with Apple, Bose and Sony. The company’s Galaxy Buds series, while critically acclaimed, hasn’t enjoyed the same acclaim as Samsung’s beloved Galaxy smartphones. Attempts to unseat the category-leading AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5 — two of our longtime picks for best wireless headphones — also failed.

The mobile giant needs something innovative right now and is hoping that the all-new Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are enough to get them back in the game. These two premium models have been updated with new features and an all-too-familiar aesthetic that clearly draws inspiration from Apple’s flagship models. The biggest addition, however, comes in the form of artificial intelligence, around which Samsung has developed certain features to simplify usability.

Series staples like active noise cancellation and high-resolution audio continue to shine. Connectivity and ecosystem integration are also highlights, mostly for Samsung users. Unfortunately, the AI ​​functionality is not as advanced as advertised. The apparently copied AirPods design and average battery life don’t serve as attractive selling points either.

Are the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro still worth pairing with your current Galaxy smartphone? Let’s find out.

Sound has always been a force to be reckoned with in the Galaxy Buds series. These two records continue the tradition. Samsung’s Adaptive EQ is comparable to Apple’s version of the AirPods Pro and effectively optimizes sound on the go. The design of these Galaxy models creates a different listening experience. Regardless, the audio performance is elite and enhanced by robust customization features, some of which are exclusive to Galaxy users.

Using a current Galaxy smartphone will give you the best sound quality as they use the Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC) to dynamically scale the bitrate and reveal more detail in recordings with minimal lag. What I’ve heard so far from Tidal and some of the other top music streaming services has been nothing short of fantastic.

Classics like The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” sounded relaxed. Instrument separation was stellar, with every guitar strum and tambourine strum beautifully reproduced. This brought a lively atmosphere to the soundstage that only true audiophiles like the Master & Dynamic MW09 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 usually achieve.

The transition to modern hip-hop songs was even more enjoyable. Megan the Stallion’s “Body” blasted my eardrums with monstrous 808s that sounded crisp and absurdly impactful. I had never noticed the rocking cymbals on this record; they were transparent, a testament to the well-balanced frequency range of both models.

The open-ear design of the Galaxy Buds 3 results in negligible leakage, but still produces a satisfying, natural sound that surpasses the AirPods 2. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro provide a more immersive experience thanks to its ultra-secure in-ear design with silicone tips .

Active noise cancellation (ANC) gives a slight boost to the bass, which is evident when switching between the different listening modes. Samsung’s EQ is refined with presets that complement their sound categories. There’s a low-latency gaming mode hidden in the Labs section of the Wearable app that reduces lag when playing mobile games and watching videos. Anyone with hearing loss can also adjust the sound balance between the left and right channels in the accessibility setting.

Samsung’s surround audio doesn’t beat Apple’s, Bose’s, or Sony’s. That doesn’t mean 360 Audio won’t make your favorite songs or TV content more entertaining. Bass and mids are boosted on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and turning on headtracking will give sound effects and vocals a more immersive presence. Spatial audio performance falls short on the Galaxy Buds 3.

There are three selectable noise cancellation modes: Ambient, Adaptive and Active Noise Cancellation. The first two modes rely heavily on Samsung’s improved microphone array, which analyzes random sound in real time. Ambient Sound features strong vocal pickup to hear conversations clearly and picks up noises from afar for increased situational awareness. Adaptive doesn’t perform well, although I suspect the feature requires several hours (or maybe even days) of use to reach its full potential. ANC is the way to go and handles low and midrange sounds with ease. Many household distractions (such as cats’ meows, family chatter, and kitchen appliances) went unnoticed. There were high-frequency sounds and white noises, but none were very loud or distracting.

ANC on wireless open-ear headphones makes no sense since they are designed to let you hear music and your surroundings at the same time. However, the Galaxy Buds 3 support the feature and it is somewhat useful. The technology reduced background noise by about 20%.

Reliable protection and portability

It hurts to see that these two models have a lower IP rating (IP57) than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (IPX7). Fortunately, the buds remain dust- and water-resistant, and are made of tough plastic that won’t crack if dropped on concrete or stepped on. The build quality of the charging cases is decent. Samsung Find integration ensures you never lose either set of buds by pinpointing their location even when you’re offline.

Despite the different sound port designs, both versions are comfortable to wear. They are equally pleasant on the shell and provide a stable fit.

Samsung could have duplicated many concepts from their competitors. Clever case. Compatibility with ChatGPT. Universal spatial audio. What is he satisfied with? A long-handled design that’s been copied to death and lacks the ingenuity of those Galaxy models, even with the polygonal look that gives off Tesla Cybertruck vibes.

They stick out uncomfortably. The “blades”, which is just a name created by Samsung to identify the multi-functional force sensors, are not as practical as those of the AirPods Pro 2 or the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The super thin case makes it difficult to find the squeeze mechanism, and when find, it must be pressed hard. Tactile feedback is also not good. At least the volume bar is functional and seamlessly adjusts volume via swipe gestures.

Only the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro come with LEDs to show enabled features and pairing/power status. Each charging box has an LED on the front. Speaking of which, the cases look similar to the AirPods Pro’s curved rectangular case, except they sport a dark gray color and a translucent cover. Samsung’s previous oval design and miniature charging cases were much more attractive, durable and stylish.

Limited and unconvincing AI

For many, the AI ​​may be the most compelling attraction in these two versions. Galaxy AI features are automatically activated when any headset is paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone. Adaptive EQ and ANC adjust the sound based on your surroundings and how you wear the headphones. At least that’s how it’s advertised. I tested the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for several hours over a four-day period and never noticed any improvements in noise reduction.

Intelligent voice capture is also related to AI integration and extends to several voice functions. Translator mode reads and translates foreign languages ​​in real-time, but is only available on devices that support the latest software update (One UI 6.1.1), which at the time of writing is limited to the new Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Bixby works well in early testing and executes commands as quickly as it receives them. Then it stopped working for some reason. Every time I said the wake phrase, the feature turned on and immediately turned off. Only AI-powered call control and voice commands for playback were in place.

Ambient detection features like Voice Detect functioned well, but Siren Detect wasn’t as adept. I encountered very few sirens when walking around my neighborhood with both sets of buds, and when I did, the buds didn’t pick up those high-frequency sounds.

Three generations in and the Galaxy Buds series continues to have a dead battery issue. A full charge gives the Galaxy Buds 3 up to 6 hours and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro up to 7 hours, depending on how you use them. ANC cuts playback time by an hour, and spatial audio cuts it by another 1.5 hours. Those are poor numbers compared to luxury rivals like the WF-1000XM5 (up to 10 hours) as well as budget noise cancelers like the $69 JLab JBuds Sport ANC 4 (14 hours). Each wireless charging case lasts a maximum of 30 hours.

There’s a lot to digest with Samsung’s latest true wireless creations. Of greater interest is the more powerful Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which offer remarkable sound regardless of mobile platform, along with adequate ANC and comfort. Those looking for an alternative to the AirPods 2 can enjoy the same hallmarks of the cheaper Galaxy Buds 3.

Some of the key changes that Samsung has implemented, however, are more failures than progress. The AirPods-inspired design wouldn’t be a problem if the controls worked efficiently and the size of the earpiece was smaller. But heavy AI pressure fails to achieve the result. Adaptive ANC and side features like Siren Detect need a lot of polishing, and none of them feel like real game changers.

AI has a lot of potential for wireless audio, but it just doesn’t perform well on the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Pairing both models with your new Galaxy smartphone is still the right move, but you’ll want to check out the other options on the market if you want more complete wireless headphones.