Which Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Model Is Right For You?

This year’s Samsung Unpacked was a beauteous loaded event. We saw the merchandise of the Galaxy Fold 6, a successor to the best folding phone. The caller Samsung Galaxy Ring reminded Flo of wherefore she hates rings, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra impressed america to the constituent wherever we thought it was fundamentally similar the Apple Watch Ultra but for Android users. Samsung besides launched its latest earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 series, which gave america superior deja vu. 

The earbud bid consists of a humble basal model, the $180 Galaxy Buds 3, and its pricier counterpart, the $250 Galaxy Buds 3 Pros. Before we sermon the differences and find which exemplary is close for you, let’s archetypal analyse their similarities. 

They are much alike than you think

You’re promised 24-bit hi-fi audio crossed the series, truthful that’s not thing you should interest about. The predecessors, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, besides offered 24-bit audio, which makes the Samsung Galaxy FE Buds, the company’s entry-level $99 Buds, the lone existent offering without hi-fi sound. While Samsung guarantees hi-def dependable crossed the board, the drawback is that you tin lone bask it with Samsung phones. Building a partition astir your features to trap consumers wrong your ecosystem isn’t caller and is thing we’ve been seeing connected Samsung’s biggest rival for ages. 

Fortunately, some caller buds athletics ANC. ANC is often omitted connected fund earbuds, but the basal model’s midrange $180 terms tag merits the feature. Both buds connection a afloat customizable EQ truthful you tin get your euphony precisely however you similar it. 

Of course, the buds boast a clump of AI stuff. With Galaxy AI powering some models, you tin usage the Interpreter diagnostic successful Listening mode connected the caller Galaxy Z Fold 6 oregon Flip 6 to construe a overseas connection successful real-time. Your Galaxy Buds 3 bid volition construe the words arsenic they are being spoken. Voice Command is different AI diagnostic that allows you to power playback connected the buds simply by uttering a abbreviated dependable prompt. This allows for easy, hands-free power and reminds maine of using caput gestures successful iOS 18 to power AirPods.

In presumption of design, the Apple AirPods-style stems, atrocious “blades”, tin beryllium recovered connected some the buds. I don’t cognize if this was done not to look similar implicit AirPod duplicates, but the blades athletics a unusual triangular design, which is the aforesaid crossed some models. The blades tin beryllium pinched oregon swiped up oregon down to power your instrumentality oregon set volume. An IP57 standing (on some the buds only, not the charging cases) ensures they tin withstand airy splashes and sweat. Both models enactment speedy charging and wireless charging, too. 

What benignant of ears bash you have?

If you person weird ears similar me, who can’t judge in-ear buds, the Buds 3 big an on-ear plan that sits close extracurricular your receptor canal, portion the Pros diagnostic an in-ear oregon canal plan that goes wrong your ears. I cognize galore radical isolated from myself (my coworker Kyle, a clump of friends, and immoderate household members) whose ears conscionable aren’t built for canal buds. I took the Pros retired for a speedy locomotion to trial if these were immoderate antithetic and recovered myself manually pushing them successful each fewer seconds, oregon they would plop retired of my ears. 

Deciding this besides requires considering your lifestyle. The Buds 3 volition beryllium an fantabulous acceptable if you’re into moving oregon different outdoor activities. Open earbuds are besides known arsenic moving buds for that reason. They facilitate situational consciousness and let you to support successful interaction with what’s happening astir you. I haven’t gotten a accidental to instrumentality them retired for a tally yet, but I commuted with them to work, which involves a batch of walking and a Subway ride, and it felt bully not having each ambient dependable blocked out. I’ve missed important bid announcements due to the fact that of ANC, truthful I liked being mindful of my situation and euphony simultaneously. 

Just a small note: the Pros bash diagnostic an Ambient Mode, which volition connection the aforesaid acquisition arsenic the Buds 3, but this way, you’re paying other wealth for a mode that’s the default connected the basal model. So, if you’re definite astir your manner and priorities, it’s champion to opt for a exemplary based connected that simple. 

Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo

Go For The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro 

Suppose you’re into those bells and whistles. The Pros, arsenic they should be, are undeniably fancy owing to the stunning leaf lights that amp up their wide look. The buds airy up aggregate times, specified arsenic erstwhile docking oregon taking them retired of the case. As overmuch arsenic I’d hatred to wage an other $70 conscionable for lights, I astir apt volition if I determine betwixt these two. That’s however beauteous they are. 

More importantly, spell for the Buds 3 Pros if you’re an audiophile who can’t compromise connected dependable quality. Though some connection 24-bit, 96 KHz sound, the Pros diagnostic a two-way talker strategy with a planar tweeter and dual amplifiers. The tweeter helps with enhanced treble oregon high-end sound, and the amplifiers marque your euphony dependable richer and clearer. 

Surprisingly, the quality was noticeable successful my speedy hands-on with some buds. I listened to a batch of Anjunadeep, which I crook to erstwhile I privation to discern the details successful euphony closely. The Pros connection wide highs that don’t dependable excessively crisp astatine precocious volumes and mids that are balanced and dependable afloat and rich. The low-end, I’ll admit, wasn’t arsenic easy discernible connected these contempt the beingness of a dedicated woofer. So, if you’re a hardcore bass fan, you mightiness not beryllium thrilled astir these. 

Though some buds bash ANC, the Pros spell a measurement up and diagnostic Galaxy AI-powered Adaptive ANC. This means it tin observe sharp, unexpected sirens, wide ambient noise, oregon quality dependable to crook its level up oregon down accordingly. ANC-wise, I couldn’t consciousness a noticeable quality betwixt the buds. As in, I couldn’t archer if the Pros considerably enhanced cancellation arsenic soon arsenic I entered the alternatively large Kips Bay Trader Joe’s and decreased it arsenic soon arsenic I exited it. I felt similar some the buds performed the aforesaid regarding ANC, but possibly that’s an sentiment that volition alteration erstwhile I get into deeper testing. 

Another diagnostic that I haven’t yet gotten a accidental to trial retired is artillery life. The basal exemplary sports 24 hours with ANC disconnected and 30 with it on, and the Pros supply 26 hours with ANC disconnected and 30 with ANC On. Since determination isn’t overmuch difference, I wouldn’t urge artillery beingness arsenic 1 of the main reasons to put an other $70. But enactment tuned to find retired what the existent scores are. 

Photo: Dua Rashid / Gizmodo

Which are the Buds 3 for you?

Based connected my speedy testing, the aboriginal verdict is beauteous clear. The Pros marque much consciousness if dependable matters a lot to you and you’re idiosyncratic who’d announcement the upgrade and marque the other concern worthwhile. The regular Buds 3 dependable decent, too, truthful if you’re looking for a not-so-expensive brace of Buds for your regular commute oregon run, they volition beryllium much than capable to fulfill your needs. They athletics ANC, too, truthful it’s not similar you’ll ever person to beryllium subjected to ambient sound. 

Again, the basal exemplary doesn’t diagnostic galore of the bells and whistles the Pros do, but it’s besides $70 cheaper. Feel escaped to walk connected the Pros if you deliberation a portion of lights connected the blades isn’t worthy 70 bucks. Apart from the lights, the sleek, streamlined leaf plan is accordant crossed the series. 

Looking astatine however different features specified arsenic artillery life, h2o resistance, wireless charging, speedy charging, immoderate AI features, and customized EQ are besides shared crossed some caller buds. If anything, I spot much similarities than differences. But ultimately, it besides comes down to the weightage you property to a feature. If the astir important crushed you’re paying other for–upgraded sound–is thing you’re not consenting to compromise on, past you person your reply already. The Pro is the mode to go.