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With the launch of the Galaxy Buds3 and the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Samsung has taken its wireless earbuds to the next level, bringing improved hardware, command sensors, UHQ audio, and improved active (ANC) and passive (PNC) noise cancellation technologies. In this comparison review, we help you decide which one best suits your needs and lifestyle:
Design and construction
Os Galaxy Buds3 e Galaxy Buds3 Pro They are conceptually similar, but they have clear differences that change the way you use them and also which features are available for each of them. Starting with the similarities, let's look at the body of the headphones. Both now have a "leg" and are no longer a little ball that fits in your ear. This design innovation allows for new interactions on the body of the product, such as, for example, sliding up or down to increase and decrease the volume.
Another new feature here is that each side of the headphones has a color, with the right side being orange and the left side being blue. It's just a little mark on the bottom of the headphones, but it's an interesting design touch and I really liked it, especially in white. Speaking of colors, both models only have the colors White e Gray. The variety we had in past models is gone, although I really liked the look here.
Putting them side by side, despite being very similar, we have clear differences between each of them. In Galaxy Buds3, the area where it actually connects to your ear does not have an in-ear rubber. This made it the least invasive, but curiously the most uncomfortable after long periods of use.
On the other hand, in the Galaxy Buds3 Pro we have the good old in-ear model, with 3 different sized rubbers and much deeper sound isolation. The Samsung, in the announcement of the headphones, said he had analyzed many ears to create these products. They're really comfortable, but they're still not the kind of thing that disappears in your ear, at least not for me.
As for the legs of the headphones, there is an aesthetic difference between them as well. Although both have a black line on the outside of the body, only the Pro It has LEDs. And what impact does this have on the product? Absolutely nothing! It is a purely aesthetic function, very pretty, but it does not bring any extra functionality to the product. It is the kind of thing that would be very useful if it somehow indicated the battery level of the headphones, or if it could be made to flash according to the music.
I have one Galaxy Buds2 And one thing I really like is how easy it is to store the headphones in the case. In this aspect, the two new models are lacking for me. They are practically identical in this regard and despite this, it is not possible to use each other's case, probably due to the small differences in size.
In previous models, it was possible to store the headphones without much difficulty. Here it seems to me that it has become a little narrower when placing them in the case. It is a matter of habit, yes, but it is undeniable that there has been a slight setback in this regard.
Case
The case has also undergone a notable change in this new edition. If before they had a horizontal design, they are now vertical, following the new features of the headphones. It's true that everything is more similar to the competition, but we have some peculiarities here too.
For example, the top of both models is transparent — in a darker shade in the gray version — allowing you to see the headphones even when it is closed. The logo of the Samsung It remains at the top, but is almost invisible because it is in the transparent cover. At the bottom there is a USB-C port to charge the case and finally, the biggest novelty here, we have a button, which serves to pair the headphones with new devices.
Audio quality
Os Galaxy Buds3 e Galaxy Buds3 Pro have many sound similarities, so it is possible to overlook the improvements in the version Pro. Both bring high quality sound, that is, 24bit/96Khz, Also known as HiFi Audio. This sound technology can only be activated on newer models in the line. S e Z, from 2023 onwards. I tested everything in one Galaxy A54 and the sound quality is impeccable in the same way. There is a commercial appeal to have the latest models and enjoy such HiFi, but don't worry, there are some "buts" to all this.
I was able to test the HiFi audio on a Galaxy S23 and honestly, this feature only uses more battery and does not bring a significant sound improvement. The previous model, Galaxy Buds2 Pro already had HiFi audio and even though we now have an upgrade in Khz, in practice, we will not have any noticeable changes for a common user, which are worth the loss of battery.
For those interested in Galaxy Buds3 conventional, this is actually a nice upgrade compared to the Galaxy Buds2, which really has no sound difference. Furthermore, from what I tested in compatible apps (Amazon Music Unlimited, for example), you need the headphones, the device and the headband with technology HiFi to enjoy all the sonic glory on offer. The Spotify and the YouTube Music They don't offer the feature, but again, I didn't lose anything by not having it.
What makes the more expensive model stand out, however, is that it features a two-way speaker versus a one-way speaker. This difference makes the Galaxy Buds3 Pro deliver audio in two directions instead of just one, greatly improving sound quality and also features like Active Noise Cancellation.
Both also bring the 360 Audio, Samsung's 3D sound option, which works well with music, but ensures real immersion in movies, series, videos and games. In this option, you can also activate the Head monitoring, that is, the sounds become more realistic and seem like they are really coming from that direction.
Another really cool change here is that we can finally configure the equalizer however we want. We already have some pre-configured ones, but you can set them up however you want, creating a unique experience with your headphones. This will make a real difference in sound, as long as you know how to configure them.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Both models feature the already known Active Noise Cancellation (ANC for those in the know). This mode captures external sounds and, using headphone processing, reverses the sound waves, canceling out external noise.
Our Galaxy Buds3 Pro, the ANC brings three possibilities. The first is called Active Noise Cancellation same and lets you choose how much you want to cancel. Compared to my Galaxy Buds2, it is much better and more efficient. The other way, which also already existed in Galaxy Buds2 is Ambient sound. With this enabled, you can hear the world around you even with headphones on. Finally, we have the mode Adaptable. This last one confused me at first, because it just seemed like Ambient Sound, but over time I realized that, as the name suggests, it adapts to the environment you are in, using Artificial Intelligence.
Finally, this model has the option to switch to the Ambient sound automatically. The mode voice detection has existed since the Galaxy Buds Pro and when activated, it will activate Ambient Sound when you start talking. While it's cool, I don't like the feature because it's not very smart. I sing along to songs while listening to them and it keeps activating Ambient Sound all the time in the process.
The other way is to Sirens And now we have some news. Basically, the headphones will use their microphones to detect nearby sirens to activate Ambient Sound mode so that you can notice that something is wrong nearby. I had to simulate the use of this with a video and it actually worked. In real use, I can't say whether it's good or bad, as I haven't had any incidents where the feature needed to be activated.
now about the Galaxy Buds3, there is not much to say. They bring a way of ANC pretty conventional. You either turn it on or off. No customizations or tweaks. Although I see this as a step backwards from the Galaxy Buds2, I understand the idea of Samsung to bring the design without rubber bands to try to reach another audience.
Use
both the Galaxy Buds3, as for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, bring a renewed experience to accessories Samsung. Thanks to the new design, the way we use them has changed a lot here. If before we worked with touches, now we have gestures using the legs of the headphones.
For example, to pause a song, we now grab one of the earbuds and pinch them. The same logic applies to the new format, so if before it was two taps to skip a track, now it is two pinches in a row, or three to go back. Holding gestures also follow the same pattern. If before we pressed and held, now we pinch and hold.
This change to the pinch gesture requires some getting used to and sometimes seems uncomfortable, but over time I found it to be better than the previous method. However, the coolest change is the volume gesture. To do this, you just need to hold the headphone leg with two fingers and slide it up or down. It's very intuitive and useful.
As for their comfort, I was surprised, but I can already say that it is a matter of taste and also the type of ear. At first I liked the Galaxy Buds3 because they are less invasive and they are actually quite comfortable. The issue is that in the long run they tired my ears quite a bit.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro had the opposite effect. It was weird at first and I had to go through a period of adaptation, in addition to changing the rubbers to the medium size (I was wearing the large size). With that, in the long run, the more advanced model became more comfortable and pleasant to use.
They fit very well in my ears and I didn't have to fiddle around all the time to find the right way to put them in place, and they didn't feel loose in my ears. This means that you, my dear metalhead friend, can enjoy your music without worrying about the headphones flying away.
I'm a guy who loves to use headphones while lying down before falling asleep. I tested both models on these occasions as well and once again the more powerful model had the advantage. Regardless of the position, it was the one that caused the least discomfort.
Connectivity
As for the connectivity part, both models are super up to date, with Bluetooth 5.4. on devices Galaxy, the connection will be instantaneous, even if you've never connected with them before. It's part of the ecosystem experience, just like Apple does.
A Samsung brings the following codecs to the new headphones: SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec) HiFi, SSC UHQ (Samsung Proprietary) AAC, SBC. They may vary from model to model and may also influence sound quality.
Something strange that happened with both models was that I put the headphones in the case, it recognized the headphones and when I used them again, only one of the headphones had charged. I don't know how much this has to do with the new shape of the headphones and the case, but it's still annoying and it happened more than once. In previous models, when I connected them to the case, I was always sure that they would charge, as long as there was battery in it.
Battery
The latest models of Galaxy Buds maintained an average of 6 to 7 hours of battery life and here it is no different. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro can achieve, according to the Samsung, up to 6 hours of use with ANC on. You gain about 1 hour of use if you disable the feature. In practice, the result was really this, easily managing a continuous work period of up to 7 hours.
In my use, the volume was almost always around 50 to 70% and with the Equalizer in Balanced or Dynamic mode. Additionally, I used 360 audio mode throughout the entire use. Even so, I didn't feel any negative impact on the battery, easily managing to get good hours of use. In fact, I had to force the use quite a bit to finally reach super low battery levels on the headphones.
With the case, I was able to charge it for about 3 times before needing to plug it in, giving me a total of 30 hours of use. Each full charge of the earbuds uses about 25% of the full charge of the case. This number matches Samsung's promise of 4 full charges.
And speaking of cases, in addition to the new pairing button, both models can be charged wirelessly, either on a base or via another smartphone with this option. Note that everything I said here about the Galaxy Buds3 Pro in battery, also applies to buds3, whether in battery life or in the use of cases.
Although the more advanced model offers unique sound features, they did not offer any more or less battery performance. I particularly liked the results of both in this area and I don't think people will use the headphones continuously for much more than 6 or 7 hours, in fact. Furthermore, reaching 4 charges with the case is a good number, after all, changes in volume, effects and other factors can impact reaching this number.
When it comes to charging, the headphones only need 5 minutes in the case to get a good amount of use. The case itself takes about 1 hour and a half to reach 100%. Just like previous models, it has an LED indicator. When it's green, it has 70% or more battery. Yellow indicates 30% or more and red indicates less than 30%. When the battery is low, the LED flashes red, begging for a power outlet.
Galaxy A.I.
Taking advantage of this year's smartphone launches, Samsung decided to implement AI features in the headphones as well, but it's not quite like that. The headphones themselves don't have any features on their own. However, on smartphones that support the function Interpreter, you will be able to use the headphones directly for this feature, receiving real-time translations directly on the headphones.
The integration is cool, but in this case it's more of a bonus for those who have one of these models than a differentiator for the headphones. As I said, I used the headphones all the time in a Galaxy A54 and all the great highlights of it are available to me.
The lack of Interpreter does not destroy my experience and furthermore, when trying to use the feature on a Galaxy S23 With the headphones connected, I had zero indications from the system that I would connect the feature to the headphones. It is clear that it is a function aimed more at marketing the product than an actual utility.
I managed to do some tests on Galaxy S23 also and honestly there was no difference in the experience. In the newer models that have the mode Interpreter, you will be able to enjoy this AI feature directly from your headphones. I tried using it on S23, but it's not like the functionality explodes onto the app screen Wearable. It remains the conventional function of the smartphone, but now it can be connected to buds3. For those who have doubts, I also tested the headphones in a Android not Samsung and the sound quality remained excellent, even with the voice functions active.
In addition, the feature also reached the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, as long as you have the smartphone with the new feature, once again questioning me about the values and real changes of the new headphones.
Galaxy Wearable App
This app is the soul of the devices Galaxy, because through them we can activate, customize and check each of their features. In the case of Galaxy Buds3 Pro e Galaxy Buds3, we have very clear differences. The app is the same and if you are using a Galaxy smartphone, everything will be installed automatically when you pair the headphones. Now if you are using another Android, you will have to pay a visit to Play Store. Anyway, everything is in the same app, but in different tabs.
Starting with Buds3 Pro, the home screen already brings us the main audio highlights, that is, Ambient mode, Adaptive Sound, Active Noise Cancellation or else Off where none of these are active. At the bottom, you can already find a quick configuration menu for whatever you activate. For example, if you are in Environment Mode, you can set its volume. The same goes for ANC.
The next part is called Sound quality and effects. Inside it is where we can change the 360 Audio and Equalizer settings, as well as being able to check if the fit of the buds3 Pro is correct in the ears. This is a function exclusive to the more expensive model and appears to be something related to the rubber bands, since it is also available in Galaxy Buds2 conventional.
One new feature of these two models is that we finally have voice commands to pause a song or answer a call. I was able to test this, but be warned that for now it only works in English or Korean. It's a super cool and useful feature, but it still needs more commands. You can do the basics, but you can't switch between the headset modes, for example, which would be really cool.
It is possible to use Bixby for more voice functions, but besides being slow, it is also necessary to call it for each of the functions. A warning here is that to be able to activate this I needed to use the app on the PC, since on the smartphone I only had the option to use Bixby available.
The next part of the app is the Headphone controls. This is where we define each person's gestures and whether we want them to actually react to the gestures. For example, in media controls, when activating it, we can join fingers to play or pause the music. Doing this 2x or 3x will call up the next or previous song, respectively. And of course, the new thing, we can slide up or down to control the volume.
It is also possible to define what will happen when we keep our fingers together and hold for a few seconds on each of the earbuds. By default, this is only used to change the noise controls (ANC, Ambient Mode), but we can also configure it to activate the Bixby ou Spotify. I think this part could be more customizable, allowing the user to choose more functions and apps. On this page, you can also define whether you want the gestures to answer and reject calls to work or not.
In the model Pro, there is also a button to configure the lights on the headphones. There is nothing innovative here, just the way the lights behave. As I said before, this is just an aesthetic feature, very pretty, but it doesn't add anything relevant to the headphones.
Finally, we have the headphones settings. This is where we find their most interesting functions. The first of these involves the voice controls which I already mentioned that I needed to use a PC to be able to activate it. Another cool option is the Headphone detection, which lets you pause the music when you take out one of the earbuds, or switch the call to the phone when you take out both.
Two other functions that deserve attention here are Read notifications aloud e Neck Stretching Reminders. The first one requires your permission, but it's very useful because it brings a summary of notifications directly to your headphones. The second one is good if you spend too much time looking at your phone or PC and end up tilting your head forward without realizing it. The headphones recognize the movement and send you a reminder to stretch.
O Labs counts only on the Game mode, which reduces the delay of the headphones to have a more synchronized game. Finally, the menu of Accessibility allows you to control the sound balance, that is, set more volume to the left or right, as well as noise controls with just one of the headphones and even hearing improvements for Ambient Sound, letting you choose the volume level on each side and even increase the volume of the voices in front of you. Taking a small jab at the competition here, this type of accessibility has been around for many years. Buds behind, even better in this version.
Price and availability
Os Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds3 arrived in Brazil in July, with prices starting at R$1.100,00 for the traditional version, and R$1.880,00 for the Pro version. In comparison, the MotoBuds+, a Motorola competitor with similar quality to the Pro, costs “only” R$ 784,00:
Galaxy Buds3 | Galaxy Buds3 Pro | |
Magazine Luiza | R $ 1529 | R $ 1.979,10 |
Mercado Livre | R$ 1.100 | R$ 1.880 (cheaper) |
Amazon | R$ 1.018 (cheaper) | R$ 2.199 |
What's in the box?
The headphone kit is very simple. The boxes themselves are very cute, changing only in color, being the Galaxy Buds3 Pro in black color and the Galaxy Buds3 blank. Upon opening the box, we are faced with the case and the headphones wrapped in greaseproof paper. As usual, hidden behind the lid of the box, we have a small notebook with the manuals and the cable. In the model Pro, we also have rubber bands so you can use them according to your ears.
Conclusion
Os Galaxy Buds3 Pro They bring some good sound improvements since the last version, but where it really won me over was in the change in usability. The pinch and swipe gestures on the new body of the headphones are much more accurate and functional than the touches of the previous models.
And of course if you already know the models Pro previous ones, you will like this one, because they are excellent. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) also deserves a lot of praise, combined with the passive cancellation (PNC), as it is able to isolate external sound very well, without causing discomfort.
As for the conventional model buds3, its sound has gained notable improvements compared to Galaxy Buds2, but lost some technologies, such as the Ambient sound and other possibilities only available with an in-ear headset.
In short, if you want to stay in the Samsung ecosystem and enjoy exclusive features like Galaxy AI, they are the best option. Buds3 Pro for bringing a slightly fuller and more powerful sound and more attractive noise cancellation and the buds3 for being able to bring high sound quality even in a non-in-ear design.
But it's also good to keep an eye on competitors, like AirPods Pro 2 from Apple, WF-1000XM5 from Sony and, one of our favorites, the Moto Buds+. And, as with any release from Samsung, it is worth waiting a few months to get these products in more advantageous promotions and discounts.
Technical specifications
Model | Galaxy Buds3 | Galaxy Buds3 Pro |
Trademarks | Samsung | Samsung |
Colors | White or Gray | White or Gray |
Dimensions and weight | Headphones: 18.1 x 20.4 x 31.9 mm Case: 58.9 x 48.7 x 24.4mm Weight: Phone: 4.7g, Case: 46.5g | Headphones: 18.1 x 19.8 x 33.2 mm Case: 58.9 x 48.7 x 24.4mm Weight: Phone: 5.4g, Case: 46.5g |
Speaker | 1-Way: 11mm Dynamic Driver | 2-Way: 10.5mm Dynamic + 6.1mm Planar |
Microphone | 3 Mics + VPU | 3 Mics + VPU |
Sound quality | UHQ* 24bit/96kHz Hi-Fi** 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel*** *Requires Galaxy S24, S23, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and Tab S9 with One UI 6.1.1 or later. **Galaxy with OneUI 4.0 or higher and Galaxy Buds3 required. *** Android One UI version 4.1.1 or higher required, 360 Audio supported on One UI 3.1 or higher. | UHQ* 24bit/96kHz Hi-Fi** 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel*** *Requires Galaxy S24, S23, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, and Tab S9 with One UI 6.1.1 or later. **Galaxy with OneUI 4.0 or higher and Galaxy Buds3 required. *** Android One UI version 4.1.1 or higher required, 360 Audio supported on One UI 3.1 or higher. |
ANC and Ambient Sound | ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) only | ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) PNC (Passive Noise Cancellation) Smart Ambient Mode |
Battery | Headphones: 48mAh Case: 515mAh *up to 5 hours of music with ANC on (up to 6 hours with ANC off) **up to 3.5 hours talk time with ANC on (up to 4.5 hours with AND off) | Headphones: 55mAh Case: 515mAh *up to 6 hours of music with ANC on (up to 8 hours with ANC off) **up to 4.5 hours talk time with ANC on (up to 5 hours with AND off) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Compatibility | Android 10 or higher with more than 1.5GB of Memory | Android 10 or higher with more than 1.5GB of Memory |
Water resistance | IP57 *For headphones only | IP57 *For headphones only |
Price | Galaxy Buds3 by R$ 1529,00 on Pix at Magazine Luiza; Galaxy Buds3 by R$1.100 cash on Mercado Livre; Galaxy Buds3 by BRL 1.018 in cash on Amazon | Galaxy Buds3 Pro by R$ 1.979,10 on Pix at Magazine Luiza Galaxy Buds3 Pro by R$ 1.880 cash on Mercado Livre Galaxy Buds3 Pro by R$ 2.199 at Amazon |
What did you think of Galaxy Buds3 Pro? Are you planning to invest in them? Comment below and take the opportunity to check out our other reviews and articles too!
See also other features
Verdict: Galaxy Buds3 vs. Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Verdict: Galaxy Buds3 vs. Galaxy Buds3 Pro-
Design and construction10/10 Excellent
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Usage and connectivity9/10 Amazing
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Audio9/10 Amazing
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battery and case7/10 Good
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Galaxy A.I.4/10 Acceptable
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Galaxy Wearable App8/10 Great
Pros
- Crystal clear, high quality sound
- Great Active Noise Cancellation mode
- New design improves usability
Cons
- Case sometimes doesn't charge the earphones
- Price may be high for some people
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