I did not just like the design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional however that’s simply my private opinion that did not have an effect on the great efficiency of the wi-fi earphones. I do not just like the design of the Galaxy Buds 3, both. Nonetheless, this design enormously impacts the person expertise this time round. On this Galaxy Buds 3 evaluate, I will share my ideas on whether or not this flaw is a purpose to show down a purchase order or not.
Good
- IP57 certification
- Environment friendly contact and haptic controls
- Good battery life & wi-fi charging
Dangerous
- Poor match within the ears
- Poor match affected the audio high quality
- Ineffective ANC
- Hello-Res audio reserved for brand new Samsung units
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: All offers
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 in a nutshell
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 has been obtainable since July 24, 2024. Samsung’s wi-fi earbuds are priced at $179.99 a pop. Not like the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional (evaluate), these are open-ear headphones. They don’t include a silicone tip that sinks into your ear canal. They merely relaxation in your ears.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are open-ear wi-fi earbuds. That is their main flaw and occurs to be near a deal-breaker for me. The just about non-existent match supplied by Samsung’s earbuds makes them tough to make use of in my eyes (and ears!).
Execs:
- IP57 certification.
- Compact case.
- Straightforward-to-handle triangular stems.
Cons:
- Nearly non-existent help because of the open-ear type issue.
- Coloured stripes on the backside of the stems spoil the design.
The Galaxy Buds 3 can be found in two colours: white and silver. They’re IP57-certified for water and dirt resistance. They’re pretty mild, weighing simply 4.6 g per earbud. These are open-ear earbuds. Like AirPods 4, there are not any tricks to push into the ear canal, not like different in-ear headphones. The earbuds merely relaxation within the ear.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3’s case is pretty compact. Its cowl is manufactured from clear plastic and every earbud has a small coloured strip on the backside of its stem to tell apart the proper from the left. The stem is triangular in design with tactile surfaces.
The angular form of the earphone stem makes them straightforward to deal with. I am not a fan of the semi-transparent case, but it surely makes it straightforward to examine whether or not the earbuds are inside or not. The IP57 ranking would not make the earbuds appropriate for sports activities, nonetheless, as they do not have grip in any respect.
It is primarily the open-ear format that gave me issues. The earbuds actually do not match effectively in my ears. As quickly as I transfer my head, placed on a hoodie, or chew, the earbuds get dislodged a bit of. I used to be continually afraid of dropping them when strolling down the road or taking public transport.
I feel this design flaw is an actual drawback. It impacts all the things from audio high quality to Lively Noise Cancellation. It is a disgrace as a result of the Galaxy Buds 3 has rather a lot going for it on paper. It will have been a good suggestion so as to add detachable retaining wings, or on the very least, a barely grippier coating across the tip of every earbud.
Audio high quality
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 has all the things it takes to ship wonderful audio high quality. Nonetheless, until you are in a quiet setting and do not transfer round an excessive amount of, you will not get sufficient out of them.
Execs:
- If the earbuds match effectively within the ear, the sound high quality is superb.
- Balanced audio signature below the proper situations.
Cons:
- If the earbuds do not match correctly, the sound high quality is poor.
- Samsung’s unique SSC-UHQ codec.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 options 11 mm drivers. In contrast with the Professional mannequin, the 6 mm planar driver is misplaced in transition. The wi-fi earbuds help Bluetooth codecs SBC and AAC, in addition to Samsung’s SSC codec and its SSC-UHQ model. This “Ultra high quality” codec allows listening to 24-bit tracks at 96 kHz. Technically, the Galaxy Buds 3 is Hello-Res licensed.
Nonetheless, this UHQ operate solely works with a reasonably new Samsung smartphone, so its usefulness is comparatively restricted. Samsung would not point out the bitrate both, however I doubt we’re speaking about lossless high quality right here.
Technicalities apart, the audio signature of the Galaxy Buds 3 relies upon largely on how they slot in your ears. Beneath perfect situations, with the earbuds firmly in place, you get a reasonably traditional W sound. Bass is a bit of flattered, with good depth and impression. The midrange is impartial, however voices and devices are clearly distinguishable. The sound is wealthy and detailed. Even with out the UHQ operate, I discovered the definition to be superb.
Nonetheless, usually, the earbuds did not match correctly in my ears. This meant having the audio high quality take a success. The bass grew to become far too absent, the midrange took a again seat too, and the treble took up far an excessive amount of area. In consequence, now we have lots of sibilance issues with “F”, “S” and “Ch” sounds, which had been too strident at instances. The remainder of the musical message sounded hole.
You may actually increase the bass through Samsung’s wonderful equalizer however you possibly can’t work miracles with that. The sound lacks texture, it is dry. I am satisfied that that is because of the open-ear format, which is ill-suited to my morphology. Technically, the Galaxy Buds 3 can produce superb sound. That is the most important disgrace.
Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 characteristic Lively Noise Cancellation (ANC). As with audio high quality, ANC high quality is way too depending on conserving the earbuds in your ears.
Execs:
Cons:
- ANC is ineffective because of the open-ear format.
- ANC shouldn’t be manually adjustable.
With open-ear earbuds just like the Galaxy Buds 3, passive noise isolation is nearly non-existent. There’s nothing to impede your ear canal and forestall ambient noise from seeping in. To rub salt into the wound, Samsung’s Lively Noise Cancellation shouldn’t be manually adjustable. You may flip it on and off, however you possibly can’t improve its depth.
Personally, I did not discover the Galaxy Buds 3’s ANC to be efficient. You may actually really feel the distinction when ANC is enabled and disabled. Nonetheless, ambient noise shouldn’t be sufficiently attenuated. Even structure-borne noises, which is the best to attenuate, seep by. Airborne noises corresponding to voices, doorbells, wind, and many others., go by all too simply.
That is when the earbuds match correctly within the ears. It is because ANC can solely be enabled when the earbuds are detected as worn. Nonetheless, the issue of them getting dislodged all too simply interrupts the ANC.
I sincerely imagine that Samsung might have accomplished with out Lively Noise Cancellation for this mannequin. The Galaxy Buds 3 haven’t got a transparency mode both. For as soon as, this is a bonus made potential by the extra open format. You do not want it as the earbuds allow you to keep conscious of your sound setting it doesn’t matter what.
Options and functions
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 retain many of the performance of the Buds 3 Professional. That is factor. A number of features are unique to the Samsung ecosystem. Apple additionally does the identical with its AirPods, so we will not blame Samsung for following of their stead.
Execs:
- Exact equalizer.
- Full Android utility.
- Put on detection.
Cons:
- No true multi-touch functionality (works with Samsung units solely).
- Haptic controls aren’t very customizable.
The Galaxy Buds 3 works with the Galaxy Put on utility for Android units solely. You may join them to an iPhone, however you do not have entry to any of the settings. I would not suggest shopping for them should you’re utilizing an Apple iPhone. In case you have a Samsung smartphone, all settings will be carried out through the smartphone settings with out the necessity for an app.
Samsung headphones help multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, but it surely solely works between two Samsung units. Samsung’s app right here could be very complete throughout the Samsung ecosystem. There’s the Discover My Gadget operate and, above all, put on detection.
The Galaxy Buds 3 is provided with contact and haptic controls. Contact controls merely contain sliding your finger alongside the entrance of the earbud’s stem. This raises or lowers the amount. These controls aren’t customizable however you possibly can change the haptic controls. These contain pinching the earbud stem.
| Left earbud | Proper earbud | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 pinch | ||
| 2 pinches | ||
| 3 pinches | ||
| Lengthy pinch |
|
|
Battery and charging
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 boast a battery lifetime of 6 hours with out ANC and 5 hours with ANC. With the charging field, whole battery life is rated at as much as 30 hours. That is fairly common numbers.
Execs:
- Good battery life.
- Wi-fi charging is supported
Cons:
Personally, I used the Samsung wi-fi earbuds based on these settings:
- 100% charged.
- Put on detection was disabled.
- No charging in any respect.
- Lively Noise Cancellation was at all times on.
- 50% listening quantity.
- Paired with an Android smartphone.
- SBC/AAC codec.
I used to be capable of obtain and really barely exceed the 5 hours of battery with ANC as claimed by Samsung. Battery life is respectable, effectively throughout the common for this worth vary, however not more than that.
I used to be pleasantly stunned Samsung supplied wi-fi recharging for its earbuds’ case. The producer might effectively have reserved this operate for the Professional mannequin however nonetheless went the additional mile. The earbuds will be recharged not less than 4 instances through its case.
Technical specs
| Technical specs | |
|---|---|
| Gadget | Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 |
| Picture |  |
| Design |
|
| Weight |
|
| Dimensions |
|
| IP ranking | |
| Audio |
|
| Frequency response | |
| ANC |
|
| Bluetooth | |
| Codec | |
| Multipoint | |
| Battery life |
|
| Autonomy with case | |
| Wi-fi recharging | ✔️ |
Conclusion
Would I like to recommend you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 for $179.99? No.
I hesitated rather a lot earlier than ranking these wi-fi earbuds. The open-ear format did not go well with my ears in any respect. The earbud saved on dislodging and this enormously affected the audio high quality in addition to the standard of the Lively Noise Cancellation.
Nonetheless, I am conscious the open-ear format could be very standard. Lots of people hate in-ear earbuds, that are too intrusive and uncomfortable. Should you occur to fall into this class of customers, I would advise you to strive the earbuds out before you purchase them. Ensure that they match snugly in your ears.
This design “flaw” is all of the extra unlucky as a result of technically, the Galaxy Buds 3 is an excellent pair of wi-fi earbuds. Personally, I do not use my wi-fi earbuds at dwelling, which is quiet more often than not. I transfer round with them, on my solution to work, on the road. If I’ve to tape them to my ears to get pleasure from all the great issues it affords, the idea is redundant to me.
What do you consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 after this complete evaluate? Do you suppose I have been too harsh on Samsung? I hope to have the ability to evaluate Apple’s AirPods 4 quickly. They’ve the identical open-ear format. I will let you recognize if I undergo from the identical issues and I’m curious to know if any of you share my emotions about open-ear wi-fi earbuds.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
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