Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer excellent sound and strong noise cancellation with a new but familiar design. If you have a suitable smartphone, you will hardly find better earbuds at the moment, but there are cheaper alternatives.
Samsung took almost two years to launch the third generation of Galaxy Buds Pro. Visually, they have nothing in common with their predecessors, but they sound at least as good and also perform well in practical tests. This is especially true when used with Galaxy smartphones, with which the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which cost around 250 euros, form an almost unbeatable team.
Completely new but familiar design
Samsung has completely changed the design of the IP54 dust and water resistant buds. They now look like a slightly more angular version of the Apple Airpods Pro and are charged in a larger box with a transparent lid. This is a good thing, because the form factor is compatible with more ears than its predecessors. They are easy to place and the 5.4 gram buds are usually extremely comfortable.
Only three attachment sizes
Nice gimmick: There are LEDs on the sticks that light up, for example, when you open the case or activate the Bluetooth pairing.
(Photo: kwe)
As with the second generation, Samsung only supplies its new earphones with attachments in three different sizes. This is actually not a problem, because the buds usually stay in place even with attachments that don't fit perfectly. However, Samsung is also basing the controls on the Airpods Pro. This means that you press the earphones' rods once or twice to control playback and phone calls or to call up functions. You change the volume by sliding your thumb up or down on the rods.
This works great, but the buds slip quite easily if they don't fit perfectly. In the test, the right side had to be readjusted again and again after an action to ensure that the earphones seal well. You can test whether this is the case on Galaxy and other Android devices in the associated Galaxy Wearable app. You won't find them in the Apple Store, and the plugs are not an alternative for iPhone users.
Galaxy users have more of it
All Android users have access to the neck protection function, which allows the earbuds to detect and warn when the head remains in an unhealthy position for too long. The Buds 3 Pro can also pay attention to whether a siren sounds or you start a conversation. The earbuds then switch to transparency mode, which allows you to hear what's going on in your surroundings.
A feature exclusive to Galaxy users is Samsung's AI interpreter. If you want, you can listen to the translation in real time via the Buds 3 Pro during conversations in two languages. It is also possible to start the function via the earbuds if you set this in the settings.
Likewise, only owners of Galaxy smartphones can listen to high-resolution music with 24 bits. In addition to the higher sample rate, a current device also has a sampling rate that has doubled from 48 to 96 kilohertz. You also need a Samsung smartphone for 360-degree audio.
The Bluetooth LE audio function Auracast is also reserved for the Galaxy family. To find and listen to transmissions from other devices, you have to go into the Galaxy's Bluetooth settings, while other functions can only be found in the Galaxy Wearable app. This is a bit cumbersome and unnecessarily confusing, especially since it is not an isolated case.
Great sound, strong ANC
The wearable app also includes a comprehensive equalizer with various modes and manual adjustment. But you don't usually need it, because like their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound excellent. Equipped with two drivers, the earphones deliver powerful, elastic and deep bass that doesn't interfere with the well-defined mids. Together with crystal-clear, but never piercing, highs, these play great on a stage that is pleasantly wide and airy for earbuds.
The active noise cancellation (ANC) is also about as strong as in the second generation. You can adjust it manually, and at the highest level it suppresses constant noise such as traffic or the noise in an airplane very effectively. The function doesn't block out office noises such as clattering keyboards quite as effectively, but it's still good enough that you can listen to music undisturbed. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can handle wind well, as long as it doesn't blow too hard.
There is also an adaptive ANC that adjusts the strength to the environment and the individual ear shape “for a unique listening experience”. It basically works, but sometimes with a long delay, and the automatic function never blocks out noise as clearly as it does on the highest manual level.
In transparency mode, the volume can also be adjusted in several stages. The effect is characterized by low inherent noise and a natural sound. The earphones also cut a good figure when making phone calls, as long as the environment is not too loud.
The endurance of the Galaxy Buds 3 is okay, but not a highlight. With ANC activated, they last just over six hours. Without noise cancellation, the earbuds last about an hour longer. The charging case has reserves for about 23 hours and can be recharged via cable or inductively.
Conclusion
Demanding owners of Samsung smartphones in particular can hardly find better earphones than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which score points with great sound, strong noise cancellation, high wearing comfort and many functions. The plugs are also tempting for other Android users. However, you don't have to shell out 250 euros for similarly good earphones. Stiftung Warentest, for example, ranks Samsung's Galaxy Buds FE at the top with very good sound and ANC, which cost less than 80 euros.
