Fourth Generation Samsung Galaxy Buds Are Best Yet, Matching Design in the ear Galaxy Buds + with the active noise cancellation of Live Buds with excellent results.
But more than all that, this is Samsung’s attempt to match Apple’s AirPods Pro. Not in terms of specs or sound quality (although they do), but in unifying the Samsung ecosystem in headphones that have been designed by and for Samsung mobiles.
This means that the Galaxy Buds Pro perform better if you pair them with a recent Galaxy mobile, but they are still a very attractive option for other Android devices, but not so much for iOS users.
Quality design and construction
I’ve said before that the Buds Pro borrow the design from the Buds +, but that’s not really quite true. Like these headphones (which already copied the design of the original Galaxy Buds), these are small headphones with silicone shells and a glossy finish (available in silver, black or purple).
They have their own shape and the design has been changed from previous Buds, but not always for the better. The body is larger than previous models and it doesn’t have a silicone fin on the top to keep the headphones in place.
With all of this combined, that means the Buds Pro seem to be a bit tighter than most headphones and have some tendency to loosen over time as their weight is not well balanced.
Its shape, at the very least, serves to isolate noise well (unlike the bean-shaped Live Buds), while the IPX7 rating is one of the best. headphones True wireless up to date, making it a great option for exercising as long as you don’t worry about falling.
The Buds Pro come with a square, compact body which remains one of the smallest and most convenient that I have found for some headphones True wireless, perfect to store in a pocket and bag without getting in the way.
One of the design strengths of the headphones is also that they are compact. Puede que sean más grandes que modelos anteriores de Samsung, pero siguen siendo chiquitidos viendo lo que hay en el mercado, y se ciñen bien a los oídos sin que nada sobresalga ni se quede atrapado en correas de bolso, cintas para el pelo, o cualquier something else.
Sound quality
Like the previous Galaxy Buds, they are adorned with both the Samsung logo and the AKG audio brand (a subsidiary of Samsung). This audio expertise has helped Samsung’s latest earbuds outdo themselves, and it still does in headsets that look like an evolution.
The audio profile is wide and balanced, neutral enough to suit all tastes, although the accompanying app includes some options for equalizing if you prefer to make changes.
Samsung has managed to include a two-way speaker in each earbud, with a woofer 11mm accompanied by a Tweeter 6 mm. They deliver enough bass that you can enjoy Marvin Gaye or a Caribbean song, without compromising midtones or highs.
Sometimes he sound stage It’s a bit crowded (they don’t have the open sound of the Buds Live), but there’s enough room to place each instrument, and the end result is still impressive.
Of course, this helps Samsung bring back the active noise cancellation from the Buds Live and, coupled with the tight design of the earbuds, the result is the best noise canceling I’ve tried in a few. headphones, blocking practically everything around you.
Ambient mode can be used, which amplifies external sound to help you hear the outside world when you need it.
Software and controls
All of this can be controlled through the Galaxy Wear app or through limited device controls.
Let’s start with these first. The shiny outer part of each ear cup is touch sensitive. You can touch to play / pause (something which is also activated when you remove each earbud from your ear), or press and hold both to activate a customizable command: switch from ANC mode to ambient mode; activate the voice assistant; change the volume; or activate an automatic Spotify playlist.
The big thing is that the controls are a bit too sensitive and due to the small size of the headphones there isn’t too much room apart from a touchpad. It’s not a recurring problem, but it does mean that anytime you want to adjust them to your ear, you can pause, play, or activate the Google Assistant when you don’t need to.
Now it’s time for the application. It’s available for Android and iOS, but the iPhone version has yet to be updated to include the Buds Pro (so Apple users will be missing out on some features).
On Android, the app allows you to customize the noise cancellation level and ambient modes, change the controls, change the equalizer, and turn the voice detection feature on or off.
This may be the Buds Pro’s secret weapon, since Samsung is touting them as the best version of this technology to date. Activate ambient mode and turn down the volume of the music when it detects your voice (but not others’), allowing a conversation to continue without your experience being ruined just because someone near you in the room. bus speaks very loudly.
The sound settings revert to previous ones when they stop hearing your voice for 10 seconds, which should be enough to keep them active during a conversation without being too boring once it’s over and you want to listen to your music again.
Something strange is that, since it’s activated by your voice, it won’t do this when someone tries to talk to you, so the first thing you’ll probably do is ask them to repeat it, even if you do. avoids having to take a break every time you go to the supermarket checkout to pay.
I have said before that not all of these app functions are available for iPhone yet, but the truth is that some of the best features of the Buds Pro are also exclusive to Samsung devices (even some of the newer ones, as they will have OneUI installed 3.1).
If your mobile is compatible, you can use Dolby 360 audio, intelligently switch between devices (although they will have to be Samsung), link two pairs of Buds Pro simultaneously, and the SmartThing app to find them if they are lost. You’ll have access to Bixby, but nobody wants it anyway.
These features may be enough to qualify the Buds Pro as “excellent” and they clearly attempt to replicate the experience Apple offers with AirPods. Still, Buds Pro are already pretty good without all of those extras. I tried them with a non-Samsung Android mobile (ignore the photos, the S21 was scanned by my colleague) and they impressed me.
Battery and charging
Samsung once again offers solid battery life, although it doesn’t match the Buds + ’11 hours of playtime.
Instead, you get around five hours of use between charges, which increases to eight if you turn off the ANC (although you probably don’t). The case offers a little more than double, with around 18 hours with ANC and around 28 hours without.
I haven’t been able to verify all of these numbers myself, but in my experience they are quite accurate. Using ANC, they last most of the workday, but not all of it, and I only felt the need to shit the case after several days.
It helps that in addition to USB charging, Qi wireless charging is included again, a very handy addition if you already have a charging base or mobile that supports reversible wireless charging.
Price and availability
Priced at $ 239, the Buds Pro aren’t cheap, but they’re still below the AirPods Pro, priced at $ 279.
For any good pair of ANC headphones, you’ll end up paying around $ 200, and those from Samsung are actually cheaper than some of their closest rivals Sony or Bose.
If you don’t need ANC, you can spend a lot less. Samsung’s own Buds + cost $ 129 and are usually on sale, while our headphones favorites, the RHA TrueConnect 2.
Don’t miss our selection of the best headphones wireless for more options.
Verdict
Galaxy Buds Pro are premium, with a decent (if not nearly perfect) grip combined with premium sound, active noise cancellation, and smart features that make this ANC usable without interruption.
It’s a shame that some of the best features are only available to Samsung users, especially since the iPhone app is not yet compatible with the news. headphones. But they have a lot of advantages that make them a good deal for Android.
And they are surely the best headphones The true wireless noise cancellation on the market today.
Specification List
- Headset type: wireless earphones
- Woofer: 11mm bidirectional
- Tweeter: 6 mm
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Connections: Bluetooth 5.0, touch controls
- Water resistance: IPX7
- Charging case: USB-C and wireless charging
- Battery: 61 mAh (headphones) | 472 mAh (charging case)
- Colors: black | Money | violet
Original article published in Tech Advisor UK.
Product photos: Dominik Tomaszewski
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