In the dynamic world of wireless audio, both Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, stand out for their impressive sound and advanced features. This detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro covers what each model does special in terms of noise cancellation, battery life, and audio performance. This article will help customers who get confused about choosing between the two premium offering earbuds from Galaxy. Knowing the detailed differences between the two devices, customers could make an appropriate choice. Learn about exceptional features, designing subtleties, and overall user experience with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro the best fit for your needs.
This design of the Galaxy Buds 3 takes its cue from the third generation of Apple's AirPods with its open-type design. If anything, the Galaxy Buds 3 more closely resemble Apple's standard AirPods in design and feel. It will come in a gray color variant, offering a unique spin on the familiar design. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, on the other hand, is an AirPods Pro clone with a few angular stems and a grey color option to slightly distance them from their Apple cousins.
Both have a very intuitive design: Samsung's "blade" stem houses swipes for volume adjustments and pinches for playback and noise controls. This sliding action works well, though the pinching control mechanism can take a little time getting used to. Similar to the AirPods case, the case for the Galaxy Buds 3 has a clear lid that allows one to see if the earbuds are inside without opening the case. It also has a USB-C port and a Bluetooth pairing button at the bottom, unlike Apple, which places its pairing button at the back.
One of the notable design quirks is how the buds are supposed to be rotated 180 degrees to be placed in the case, which can become quite a hassle if done frequently. Another criticism comes with the inclusion of the Blade Lights, which function as a sort of secondary pairing mode indicator and thus make them redundant since there is already one on the case in the form of an LED indicator. Both models in the Galaxy Buds 3 feature an IP57 rating and are very resistant to sweat if one exercises while wearing them.
The ear tips of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are specially made to bring additional stability to the earbuds when conducting high-intensity exercises. However, with the Galaxy Buds 3, there won't be similar problems with quality control where the ear tips could be too weak.
In terms of features, both Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sport Adaptive EQ and Adaptive ANC. The former means that the device can adjust the sound levels of your music dynamically according to the environment, and the latter is dynamic noise cancellation depending on the environment. Most of these features work in the background to make sure that the audio levels are attuned to the best quality possible for the surrounding environment.
But the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro moves even further ahead with certain crucial advanced features, including Adaptive Noise Control for switching between ANC and ambient sound depending on the environment, and Voice Detect for lowering the volume and switching on transparency mode when the user starts speaking. One feature stood out: Siren Detect, which reduces the volume automatically and switches ambient sound mode on when it detects an emergency vehicle siren.
While these features are advanced, there is a slight delay in volume reduction and then switching to transparency mode. Voice Detect works well without accidental activation from background noises such as coughing. The Galaxy Buds 3 series further supports Real-Time Interpreter functionality for real-time language translation, but it only works with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Flip 6.
In the case of the Galaxy Buds 3, the audio performance would be balanced between strong bass and clear highs. Concurrently, their sound quality suffers because of the fit that needs slight adjustments for optimal sound. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro features two-way speakers and dual amplifiers, all capable of producing richer and more immersive sound.
The Pro model can support UHQ audio and 24-bit Hi-Fi streaming for better performance, particularly with the newest Samsung phones. While both share support for 360 Audio, this feature doesn't improve sound quality that much; more often than not, it leads to an unbalanced audio experience.
It's in robust sound that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro flexes its muscle, rivaling some of the best earbuds out there. With punchy bass and clear sound, the Pro model is hard to beat—though a few users might still prefer the tuning of rivals like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. That said, with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Samsung has finally made huge strides in audio quality.
The Galaxy Buds 3 have ANC, but it is very minimal due to their open-type design. For actual noise blocking, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro does pretty well in regards to ANC against low-moderate background noise but pretty terribly against human voices. The transparency mode on the Pro is superb at replicating a natural ambient sound that comes close to the AirPods Pro.
Call quality is acceptable on both models. Voice passage on the Galaxy Buds 3 seems clear due to its open design, while the transparency mode on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro does a good job of allowing one to conduct hands-free calls easily without straining their voice too much. These models offer acceptable call quality, though not great against other high-end earbuds.
With active noise cancellation on, the battery life on both models of the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer battery life matching Samsung's claims: up to five hours of use for the former and up to six hours on the latter. The charging case also brings 20 hours of additional noise-canceling use for both and comes with wireless charging. Currently, no specific charging times or quick-charge features are mentioned.
Now, considering competition, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have to contend with options such as Sony's WF-1000XM5. Sony's earbuds incorporate Speak-to-Chat voice recognition and adjust automatically based on a person's activity or location; however, they have longer battery life and offer improved comfort. Even though the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro deliver strong performance on their own, the competition never makes it easy.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro foray into wireless earbuds with the most remarkable progress in audio quality and feature set. The Galaxy Buds 3 offers regular performance while improving on comfort, and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro brings better sound quality along with more advanced features. While it is quite clearly shown that actual effort is being put in by Samsung into offering an AirPod-like experience to Galaxy users, much is still left on the innovation side. It's a Galaxy Buds 3 series variant designed for all users looking to have quality earbuds with strong features.
The Galaxy Buds 3 offers solid audio performance and a more accessible price point with essential features. In contrast, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro provides superior sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, and additional features such as adaptive controls and a more premium design.
The Galaxy Buds 3 delivers a balanced sound with good bass and clear mids and highs, suitable for general listening. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, however, offers more immersive and detailed sound with dual amplifiers and two-way speakers, making it ideal for audiophiles seeking high-fidelity audio.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro includes advanced features like Adaptive Noise Control, Voice Detect, and Siren Detect, which enhance user convenience and noise management. It also supports high-resolution audio streaming and offers better noise cancellation compared to the Galaxy Buds 3.
Both models are designed for comfort, with the Galaxy Buds 3 featuring an open-type design and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro including customizable ear tips for a secure fit. Users generally find both models comfortable for extended listening sessions, though the Pro model may offer a more secure fit for active use.
The Galaxy Buds 3 offers up to 5 hours of playtime with ANC on and an additional 20 hours from the charging case. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro provides up to 6 hours of playtime with ANC on and similarly benefits from a 20-hour boost from the case. Both models support wireless charging.
Consider the Galaxy Buds 3 if you seek a more affordable option with solid performance and essential features. Opt for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if you prioritize superior sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, and additional features like adaptive controls and enhanced comfort.