Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Review – Controversially Attractive

Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

Let’s kickoff the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro review with the unboxing. The packaging is a simple black box akin to most mainstream Buds entry from the Korean giant. There’s not much information you can find around it. Inside the box, you can find the following items:

• Quick start guide
• USB-C cable
• Spare ear tips
• Charging case
• The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbuds themselves

Specifications

Drivers	10mm dynamic driver + planar tweeter
Microphone	6 microphones
Codec	AAC, SBC, SSC, SSC-UHQ
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20,000Hz (44.1kHz Sampling)
Headphone Type	In-ear
Connector	Wired USB-C Wireless Bluetooth 5.4 with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, PBP, TMAP
Wireless Range	10m
Noise-cancelling	Yes, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Battery	Earphones 53mAh Charging Case 515mAh
Dimensions	Earphones 18.1 x 19.8 x 33.2 mm, 5.4g x 2 Charging Case 48.7 x 58.9 x 24.4mm, 46.5g
Colour	Silver, White
Ingress Protection	IP57

Microphone

Since we’re testing out its capabilities, I’m sure a number of you are wondering how the microphone sounds like for phone calls and similar matters. I’m surprised it improved significantly over all its predecessors, and that’s likely due to them adding more microphones which improved voice quality. With that being said, it might still sound like a typical phone call when you’re making a phone call but if you’re doing online calls via the likes of Discord, it should sound better albeit a little soft without some additional tweaks.

The Good

There are a number of good reasons to consider getting the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. For starters, it has a new design that is attractive and rather distinctive thanks to the transparent top with colored accents on the charging case. The smaller lid also makes it easier to put it back in and take it back out whenever you need to. The Blade Lights add an extra bit of flair to the overall look while serving as an indicator, which is especially important when the batteries are running low. It’s also IP57 water and dust resistant.

While this pair of earbuds have come under fire on the internet for the move to incorporate stems, I personally love it as it makes it much easier to control the earbuds without using a smartphone. You can easily squeeze and slide to control media, which is a whole lot more precise and consistent than relying on touch-based controls for something so small as it often leads to accidental taps. The angular design of the stem is what makes it more intuitive and easy to use without looking.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro comes equipped with adaptive noise control, an upgraded version of active noise cancellation (ANC). These earbuds actively monitor ambient noise to filter out unwanted sounds, but they also intelligently detect your voice and automatically disable ANC when you start a conversation. Additionally, it uses AI to detect alarms / sirens, temporarily disabling ANC in case of emergencies. The strength of the ANC can be adjusted via the Wearable app, and at its highest setting, the noise reduction is quite effective. It excels at minimizing constant noise like running trains and air conditioners.

For those of you who aren’t aware, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro features a two-way driver with separate woofers and tweeters in each earbud. On the software side, they encode audio at up to 24-bit/96kHz and decode it with Samsung’s Seamless Codec, preserving audio quality. It delivers an impressive sound experience, with noticeable improvements in volume, soundstage, and dynamics compared to the Buds2 Pro. The bass is strong, with sub-bass frequencies providing a satisfying rumble when set to Bass Boost. However, it’s the midrange where these earbuds truly shine. Instruments and melodies are clearly defined, and vocals come across naturally with just the right amount of brightness in the higher frequencies.

Lastly, while the battery life of the earbuds themselves are pretty decent at about 6 to 7 hours per full charge (depending on ANC), the charging case is something I have to applaud for as it can provide at least 4 full charges worth, with usually a little bit more leftover after. Furthermore, the fact that you can charge via USB-C and Qi wireless charging makes it very convenient to use.

Looking for a stylish smartphone to go along with this? Check out our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 review by clicking right here.

The Bad

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro has its share of drawbacks as well. For starters, the new design of the earbuds bring a new issue when putting it back into the case as you have to align the flat-sided stems properly in order for it to fit inside correctly so it can be charged. For most of its predecessors, you can easily put it in without looking for the most part and it will be fine. It’s not a huge problem, just a minor inconvenience that you will have to get used to over time.

Next up, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is feature-packed, a number of them are locked behind the ecosystem. This includes the likes of 360 Audio, Galaxy AI’s Interpreter mode, multi-point connection, and voice control. Even if you use other Android smartphones and install theWearable app, it simply will not work until you’re on a Samsung device.

Speaking of features, the 360 Audio feature is still a rather hit-or-miss affair. It simulates the experience of being in a room with multiple speakers and while the soundstage is wide enough to feel a form of 3D spatial audio, it’s not as immersive or enjoyable as you think it is. The head tracking feels a bit off still and it sounds a whole lot better without it.

While I did applaud the use of ANC on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, the AI’s smart detection of your environment can be a bit wonky, particularly for human voices. At times, you have people trying to talk to you but ANC goes on like normal, but there are times where people are talking beside you and that’s when ANC decided to turn the ANC down. On the plus side, this is an issue that can be fixed over time, either when the AI grows smarter on its own or with a future software update so I’m still okay with this.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is rather pricey. It retails for RM999 and while I would still say that it’s worth buying if you’re a Samsung smartphone user who is looking for a good pair of TWS earbuds, the price is not an easy pill to swallow. If you do decide to get a pair for yourself, I recommend trying it out first to see if it fits well for your ears as I heard a number of users have been complaining about (though I had no such issues myself).

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is a great pair of TWS earbuds and while this might be a controversial statement in this day and age, I personally love the new design as it brings a more consistent experience, is certainly eye-catching, and is a breath of fresh air from their previous looks. While I would recommend this to more people, it’s only really worth it if you’re already a Samsung smartphone user or are about to jump into the ecosystem yourself.

At the end of our Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro review, I award this pair of TWS earbuds with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Samsung Malaysia for sending us this pair of TWS earbuds for the purpose of this review.