The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are Samsung’s flagship true wireless earbuds, launched in early 2021. Designed to deliver premium sound quality, powerful noise-canceling technology, and seamless integration with Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem, these earbuds cater to audiophiles, professionals, and active users alike. Here’s an in-depth overview of the Galaxy Buds Pro, covering their design, features, audio performance, noise-canceling capabilities, battery life, connectivity, and more.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy Buds Pro have a polished, modern design aimed at balancing aesthetics with functionality:
- Stylish and Premium Look: Available in colors like Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Violet, the Galaxy Buds Pro sport a sleek, metallic finish that matches Samsung’s Galaxy line. This refined appearance sets them apart as high-end earbuds.
- In-Ear Comfort and Fit: The design follows a traditional in-ear fit, which offers a secure and snug fit for passive noise isolation. With three sizes of soft silicone ear tips included, users can choose the best fit for their ears, ensuring both comfort and optimal sound quality.
- IPX7 Water Resistance: The Galaxy Buds Pro are IPX7-rated, meaning they can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. This high level of water resistance makes them suitable for intense workouts and challenging outdoor conditions.
Audio Performance
Samsung has engineered the Galaxy Buds Pro to deliver an immersive audio experience with the following highlights:
- Dual-Driver System: Each earbud houses a two-way speaker system with an 11mm woofer for bass and a 6.5mm tweeter for treble, producing balanced sound across all frequencies. The dual drivers result in rich bass, clear mids, and crisp highs, making them suitable for various music genres.
- Advanced Audio Customization: The Galaxy Wearable app allows users to adjust the equalizer settings to their preference, offering profiles like Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Dynamic for a tailored sound experience.
- 360 Audio with Dolby Head Tracking: Samsung’s 360 Audio technology, powered by Dolby Head Tracking, provides a spatial audio effect that makes sound seem as though it’s coming from all around, creating an immersive listening experience, especially when watching movies or listening to high-quality soundtracks.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Sound
The Galaxy Buds Pro are equipped with robust noise-canceling and ambient sound features that adapt to various environments:
- Advanced ANC: The Buds Pro’s Active Noise Cancellation can eliminate up to 99% of background noise. Users can adjust the ANC levels within the Galaxy Wearable app, allowing them to set it based on their environment or preference.
- Ambient Sound Mode: Samsung has incorporated an ambient sound mode with four levels of amplification, letting users hear surrounding noises without removing the earbuds. This is especially useful for situations like commuting or holding conversations.
- Voice Detect Technology: The Buds Pro include a Voice Detect feature that automatically switches from ANC to Ambient Sound mode when they detect your voice. This feature is particularly handy for conversations, as it lets users hear their surroundings without manually switching modes.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life on the Galaxy Buds Pro is designed to support all-day use:
- Playback Time: With ANC enabled, the earbuds provide around 5 hours of playback on a single charge, and approximately 8 hours without ANC. The charging case adds an additional 13 to 20 hours of playback, depending on ANC usage.
- Quick and Wireless Charging: A quick 5-minute charge can give users up to 1 hour of playback. The case supports wireless charging and can be charged using compatible Samsung Galaxy devices through Wireless PowerShare.
Connectivity and Smart Features
The Galaxy Buds Pro utilize advanced connectivity features for seamless integration across Samsung and other Bluetooth-enabled devices:
- Bluetooth 5.0: The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring a stable and efficient connection. They also support AAC and SBC audio codecs, with Samsung’s Scalable Codec available for Galaxy devices, which enhances audio streaming quality by dynamically adjusting bitrate.
- Seamless Device Switching: For Samsung users, the Buds Pro automatically switch between Galaxy devices registered to the same account, so users can transition effortlessly between, say, a Galaxy phone and tablet without needing to reconnect.
- Bixby Voice Assistant: The earbuds support Samsung’s Bixby, as well as Google Assistant and Siri, allowing for hands-free control of calls, notifications, and other tasks with voice commands.
Controls and App Integration
The Galaxy Buds Pro come with customizable controls and a companion app for added functionality:
- Touch Controls: The earbuds offer touch controls for adjusting playback, volume, ANC settings, and activating voice assistants. These can be customized through the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Galaxy Wearable App: The app provides firmware updates, equalizer adjustments, ANC settings, and touch control customization. Users can also locate misplaced earbuds via the SmartThings Find feature, a handy addition for keeping track of the small devices.
Call Quality
Samsung has put emphasis on call clarity in the Galaxy Buds Pro, enhancing their usability for remote work and on-the-go calls:
- Three-Microphone System: Each earbud includes three microphones (two external and one internal), which effectively reduce background noise during calls.
- Voice Pickup Unit: The Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) detects when the user is speaking, ensuring voice clarity and reducing interference. This feature is especially useful for calls in noisy environments.
- Wind Shield Technology: Designed with a wind-shield chamber, the Buds Pro minimize wind noise during outdoor calls, making conversations clearer even when moving or in windy areas.
Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Design | In-ear with multiple ear tip sizes |
| Weight | 6.3g per earbud |
| Drivers | 11mm woofer + 6.5mm tweeter (dual driver system) |
| Microphones | 3 per earbud (2 outer, 1 inner) |
| ANC | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (99% reduction) |
| Battery Life | 5-8 hours (earbuds), 18-28 hours (with case) |
| Charging | USB-C, Wireless, Quick Charge |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0, AAC, SBC, Samsung Scalable Codec |
| Water Resistance | IPX7 |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Color Options | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet |
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro offer a well-rounded, premium true wireless earbud experience, with superior sound quality, customizable ANC, robust call features, and enhanced connectivity within the Samsung ecosystem. Their dual-driver system provides balanced audio across frequencies, making them ideal for both casual listening and audiophiles. Additionally, the combination of adaptive ANC and Ambient Sound modes adds versatility for different listening environments.
For Galaxy device owners, the multi-device switching, Bixby support, and Wireless PowerShare make the Buds Pro particularly attractive, as these features are seamlessly integrated into the Galaxy ecosystem. However, they are also compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device, making them a strong choice across both Android and iOS platforms.
Whether you’re looking for high-quality sound, effective noise cancellation, or a reliable companion for calls and workouts, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro stand out as one of the top choices in the true wireless earbud market, delivering a refined and versatile experience suitable for a range of activities and environments.