Samsung is turning pro with its new Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless earbuds by putting in a number of new features to take them to the next level. This is both new and familiar territory all at once for Samsung. Familiar in that the Galaxy Buds Pro resemble the previous Galaxy Buds+, yet new in that they function considerably differently. It’s also a more seasoned effort for the company, having learned from past mistakes. It’s just that you have to temper all that newer features with the sacrifices made along the way.
Design and setup
Samsung chose to go with a more traditional design with these earbuds compared to the more recent Galaxy Buds Live, which were radical by design. In this case, the earbuds have drivers that protrude into the ear canal—much like many others do. The difference, however, is that there’s much more going on under the hood.
I’ll get to that a bit later, but the main standouts off the bat are the overall size. The case is smaller than any other one Samsung made to date. No small feat considering the earbuds themselves are slightly bigger than the Buds+. I say ‘slightly’ because the size difference is relegated to one key spot that impacts how well they work.
Somewhat surprisingly, they don’t come in bronze, which was a hot colour for Samsung in 2020. Instead, phantom violet is the colourful option, though there’s always the chance new ones may come out.
What makes these earbuds ‘Pro’
To compete with the best in the industry, Samsung had to address two key features that were either previously missing or lacking in performance. Chief among them was active noise cancellation (ANC). While the Buds Live did have ANC built-in, the open design handcuffed the feature from truly blocking out background noise. In this case, the feature is not only robust, but also dynamic.
For example, you have two levels to choose from: high or low. Additionally, it also works in tandem with Ambient mode through Voice Detect. Basically, the ANC tamps down, while Ambient mode kicks in whenever you start talking, so you can hear both yourself and others. It then goes back to the previous volume level after 10 seconds without talking.
Samsung claims the ANC can block out up to 99% of background noise at the high level, but I’m skeptical about that. While that does cover low-frequency noises on paper, which typically go up to 100 Hz, Samsung is saying the cancellation goes up to 118 Hz. That would then include some higher-frequency sounds, yet in my testing, I would quantify that more than 1% of the background seeped through.
There is also 360 Audio using Dolby Head Tracking technology, which is a fancy of saying that the earbuds can simulate surround sound in your ears. Watch a movie or show coded in 5.1 or 7.1 surround, and you will hear that spatial sound resonate.
There’s also a neat integration with multiple Galaxy devices. Pair the Galaxy Buds Pro with a Galaxy phone and tablet, for instance, you can watch something on the tablet, and automatically switch to the phone once a call comes in. I’ve asked Samsung to clarify which Galaxy devices work with this feature, and will update once I hear back.
Connectivity and controls
As always, the Galaxy Wearable app is the go-to for managing the earbuds. It was super easy to pair them with any phone through the app, including the iPhone. This is where you customize and control what they can do, including the newest features. They are all effectively optional, so you don’t have to turn ANC on or use Voice Pickup if you don’t want to.
Aside from the two levels of ANC, there are four levels of Ambient mode, giving you real latitude over how much of the background you want to hear. Unfortunately, Samsung still doesn’t include a manual equalizer to tinker with the sound. You do get the same six presets, but no way to create your own.
The onboard touch controls are also optional because you can turn them off completely. They are “touch and hold” controls, so should you use them, you have four choices for either side. By default, they switch between ANC and Ambient. Or you could choose to launch Bixby, Spotify or adjust volume. A simple tap plays/pauses, whereas a double tap answers/ends a call or skips to the next track, while a triple tap repeats it.
There is a Gaming mode that’s still under the “experimental” phase, but the gist is that you can play mobile games without worrying about latency. Other staples, like Find My Earbuds and Read notifications aloud are back again, too.
Audio performance
There’s actually a lot going on under the hood to produce the sound, starting with the dual driver design. The 11mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeter are shaped differently coming out of the earbuds themselves, which means the silicone ear tips are oval-shaped. The bigger design consequence, however, is the thicker inner body that doesn’t sink into the ear quite as much. I found these earbuds wiggled more than the Galaxy Buds+ did.
Samsung claims it boosted the audio quality, and while that is demonstrable, it’s not what I’d call a leap forward. There is a cleaner sound here, with a nice balance between the bass, treble and mids. The default sound profile is okay, but I highly recommend playing around with the custom EQ presets in the Wearable app. My personal two favourites are Dynamic and Bass Boost for the extra depth they add to every track.
The 360 Audio is also nice for movies and shows, adding a totally different level of depth. Action scenes feel bigger because of it, but it also helps dialogue feel closer to your ears. It appears to only work with content actually coded in surround sound, rather than with anything you’re listening to. Kind of a shame, since it would give music a concert-like feel, especially if you were to watch an actual concert on YouTube, for example.
Key to getting the best sound throughout is the fit. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating—the tighter the seal, the better the bass. The Galaxy Buds Pro are no exception. The Galaxy Buds+ and Buds Live were two of the comfiest earbuds released in 2020, and while these are up there, you may find they need a little more adjustment along the way.
Great for phone calls
I’m always impressed when true wireless earbuds perform really well with phone calls. Given the microphones are nowhere near your mouth, it’s a nice engineering feat. Samsung played this up with the Galaxy Buds Pro, and so far, it’s hard to argue. Callers had no idea I was talking to them using earbuds, assuming I had the phone to my ear.
That wasn’t necessarily the case if I was out in public, but callers also found they could barely hear any background noise. That’s the ANC at work in tandem with Ambient mode. It cuts off background noise for them, while leaking it in for you. It’s not perfect, and could use some refining, but is still no less impressive.
Battery life
Samsung took a major step forward in battery life with the Galaxy Buds+, but don’t expect that here. With ANC on, the best you’ll get is five hours per charge (it’s eight hours with ANC off). Once you raise the volume, however, that number goes down. I often cracked four hours, but that was it. The case has 18 hours (ANC) or 28 hours (ANC off), depending on how you listen, basically giving you at least three full charges.
Those aren’t great numbers when compared to competitors, though they are in line with Apple’s AirPods Pro. On the bright side, the case is smaller for much easier transport, and does support wireless charging. In a pinch, with the right Galaxy phone, you can charge these by placing them on the back of that device. With a quick charge via USB-C, plugging in for five minutes can get you an hour of playback.
Final thoughts
Samsung often positions its earbuds as part of device ecosystem, but you don’t have to be part of that to enjoy the Galaxy Buds Pro. They work just fine with other Android devices and the iPhone through the Wearable app. The Auto Switch feature between Galaxy devices is exclusive to Samsung’s products, but otherwise, the other stuff works the same.
Rather than a huge leap, Samsung took an iterative step from its two previous wireless earbuds by adding some features. There are a couple of fundamental changes, particularly in what the microphones can do, but these aren’t a must-have upgrade if you’re already sporting either of the other two—unless you really want whatever was introduced here. If you are in the market for true wireless earbuds, these would be worth a look.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are available now in phantom black, phantom silver and phantom violet.
I would love to test out the 360 Audio using Dolby Head Tracking technology for video games and movies.
The ANC feature to block out background noise…I can use these for work calls
I like active noise-canceling feature.
Although I couldn’t find any information in your review about these being waterproof. The feature I like about Galaxy Buds Pro is their IPX7 rating.
I am outside quite a bit, so with these having a good waterproof rating is why I like this feature.
Love the intelligent active noise-canceling and adjustable Ambient sound mode so that the headset senses when you speak, and automatically switches to ambient mode while reducing media volume. Love automated where I don’t need to manually do it.
The feature of the Galaxy Buds Pro the I like is the active noise cancellation.
Great for other android phones or iphones..
It would really be quite useful for a phone call.
the noise canceling feature and longer battery life
My favorite feature is the variable level of background noise cancellation. I could use the heaviest setting for office work and the lightest setting for situations where I want to be safe and still hear some of what’s around me, like walking down the street.
I love the long battery life. I hate being let down by electronics needing constant charging.
Best option is great for phone calls whole I’m working from home
The 360 Audio sounds super for watching TV 🙂 Great review!
I like the noise cancellation feature for when I am doing house work.
I like the quick charge because sometimes I forget to recharge
I have a Samsung TV, tablet and phone so the toggle feature would be great
Extra hours of battery life, great for when forgetting to recharge.
I own a Samsung phone and tablet so the auto audio source toggle is nice
I like the noise cancellation feature.
nice quick charge !
I like the noise cancellation so I can listen to my music without interruption.
As a runner it important to have the wind noise reduced. This is a great feature!
The noise cancellation feature is what intrigues me the most, hopefully these will be better than the amazon Bluetooth headphones I’ve purchased previously!
Noise cancelling
I love the ambient mode so I can hear what people say without taking them out
I like the noise cancellation feature !
I’ve never used ear buds before, I like the idea having wireless earphone !
The noise cancellation feature, which is sadly lacking in my current earphones.
Love Samsung products! I have many
Active noise cancellation is a must! Thanks for the chance to win.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
wind noise reduction for sure
As someone who is a commuter on the subway, the noise cancellation option is super appealing to me.
The best feature would be active noise cancellation especially with work from home and my son playing around
Active noise cancellation would be the best feature. I work in a very noisy environment and this would be really helpful and a perfect testing ground of its effectiveness.
I like the active noise cancelling the most. Now I have the Galaxy Buds+. When I want to talk to someone, I need to take out one of the earbuds out of my ear. That’s not necessary with the Galaxy Buds Pro!
The active noise cancellation would be handy when I am out walking.
I like the IPX7 rating, so I don’t have to worry about it getting wet.
I never had a Samsung Earbud before. I wounld like to try one. it looks great and features are awesome.
noise canceling
I love the 5-Minute Quick Charge feature! It doesn’t take much to talk myself out of my daily workout. It can be as simple as, “Oh, darn. My earbuds aren’t charged… no music, so no exercise today, I guess.” This is a game-changer for me! No more excuses!
I appreciate the wind-noise reduction features to reduce the wind noise.
I like the active noise cancellation feature the most.
Really like that it can simulate surround sound in your ears. perfect for when i want immersive sound while movie watching
ANC would help when Im riding my bike. Not in traffic of course.
I could use the five hours of playtime with noise-canceling enabled.
The fact that you can get an extra 20 hours of playtime with the case is cool!
I would love the wind noise-reduction feature!
I need a new set from Samsung – the ones before are not that great I like to be surrounded by -sound like ability – all in all. Samsung. does it best.
I like the active noise cancellation (ANC)
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