Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Wireless Headphones Phantom Black (UK Version)
Discover the Galaxy Buds Pro
Add VideoThanks to impressive sound technology with Sound by AKG and the 2-way speakers, you can enjoy your favourite songs with a rich bass foundation and delicate highs. With the intelligent, active noise cancellation you can block out up to 99% of all background noise.
A sound that can adapt to you
Intelligent Active Noise Controls
You get to control how much of your surroundings to block out or let in, so you can tune in without tuning out. With earbuds Ambient Mode², you can amplify the outside noise levels you want. Sports headphones that let you listen to music on a morning jog
Automatic Voice Detection
Voice Detect¹ automatically detects speech, turns down what you’re listening to and switches to conversation mode. So when you order a coffee, you can hear the conversation – without taking Galaxy Buds Pro headphones out of your ears. What could be easier?
Sound the way it should be
The dynamic 2-way speakers with Sound by AKG bring your songs to life. With a balanced sound and a wide frequency range, you can immerse yourself even more in your sound world.
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Crystal Clear Phone Calls
Say Goodbye To Background Noise
Telephone calls without background noises thanks to 3 integrated microphones and voice pickup unit6
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Auto Switching Function
Smart Switch
The Galaxy Buds Pro recognise what is currently being asked and connect to the compatible device.⁷
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Long Lasting Battery
Power for the whole day
Enjoy a whole evening of music, long conversations with friends or video conferencing.⁸
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SmartThings-App
Never Lose Your Buds Again
Emits a loud locating sound to your in-ear headphones so that you can find them again.⁹
New Design
Thanks to the newly designed shape, the Galaxy Buds Pro sit comfortably in the ear for hours and do not fall out so quickly when you are wearing them during your fitness program. In addition to the curved fit, the air channels equalise the pressure in the ear.
Play on & on, whatever the weather
Whether you’re in the gym or jogging in the rain – the Galaxy Buds Pro are protected against water thanks to IPX7, so you can continue to give your all with your favourite songs. This protects them if they are submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.¹⁰
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Samsung Ecosystem
Get more out of your Galaxy S21 5G with Samsung’s wearables, the S Pen and other accessories. Experience the seamless interaction of the products and increase your productivity.
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Galaxy Buds Pro
Discover the true wireless headphones that make every moment sound: With an appealing design, powerful speakers, active noise cancellation and an ergonomic fit.
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Galaxy Watch3
The Galaxy Watch3 combines mobile productivity and practical fitness technology in a smartwatch in a classic premium design.
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Silicone Cover
Protect your Galaxy S21 5G from small bumps and scratches with the slim silicone cover made of flexible material.
¹ Active noise cancellation is activated by default. The “tap and hold” gesture can be configured in the Galaxy Wearable app.
² Compatible Android device and Galaxy Wearable app required – at least Android 7.0 and available RAM of at least 1.5 GB required. Galaxy Wearable app required.
³ The control of the ambient mode is only compatible with Android devices – at least Android 7.0 and available RAM of at least 1.5 GB required.
⁴ Requires activation of conversation mode via the Galaxy Wearable app. In the app, you can specify after how many seconds of pause the mode should be deactivated again (5, 10 or 15 seconds).
⁵ If the conversation mode is switched on, it will be activated automatically, regardless of whether the noise cancellation or the ambient mode is switched on or off.
⁶ The results are based on internal tests by Samsung and were carried out with POLQA, a globally standardized test for voice quality.
⁷ Auto Switch is only available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 3.1 or higher. Some devices and applications may not support Auto Switch. Galaxy devices must be signed in to a Samsung account to enable Auto Switch.
⁸ The earphones and the charging case can provide up to a total of 18 hours of playback time if the battery charge level of the charging case is 100%. Based on internal tests with standard settings and activated noise cancellation. Actual battery life and charging time may vary based on network environment, usage patterns, and other factors.
⁹ The offline location function of SmartThings Find only shows the approximate location where you were last connected. The SmartThings Find function is only available on Galaxy devices with Android 8 or higher.
¹⁰ Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
| Weight: | 33 g |
| Size: | One Size |
| Dimensions: | 2.08 x 1.95 x 2.05 cm; 33 Grams |
| Model: | SM-R190NZKAEUA |
| Colour: | Black |
| Batteries Included: | 3 Lithium ion batteries required. (included) |
| Colour: | Black |
| Size: | One Size |
My son loves these, never takes them out of his ears, due to colour easy to find when dropped, he loves the colour and are not girly. He loves the noise canceling and quality of music good, easy to use.
To set the scene, I LOVE audio – I own some Focal Clear headphones (1k headphones) and have tried all sorts over the years in terms of low, mid and high-end audio.
Now the issue with most popular TWS or Headphones, such as the Sony or Apple products, is they try to tune their audio performance to suit untrained ears in a ‘v shape’ of frequency response, where it’s thought users tend to think lots of bass and treble means a product sounds good. In reality, this has actually been proven wrong multiple times by Harman and various academic studies that use the ‘Harman frequency curve’ as their basis for studies on this matter. Worth looking that up actually if you’re curious but anyhow, fortunately Samsung now own AKG so have a company with good history of audio performance working on their tech whilst also, amazingly, being parent company of Harman. The combination? A very balanced set of earphones that, by far, offer the best audio performance for any TWS sub 500 and even in the IEM space for products double the price of these and even still, you’d need a decent DAC for a IEM so these are truely amazing value for the 99-150 they are on sale for. They aren’t flawless to be fair, the highs can be a touch harsh at times but most wouldn’t notice if they don’t daily drive 1k headphones and I mean, genuinely, if I did a blind audio test I’d suggest these cost 300+
Active noise cancelling is decent, it does well with low and mid frequencies but less so with high frequencies so you tend to hear high frequency highlights of the audio around you, not a big deal but sometimes I’ll find myself turning off the ANC because of this. To be honest, normal IEM’s without in-build mics and talk-through technologies actually do a really good job of passive noise isolation which, I’d say, actually beats the ANC you get on most TWS including these but the feature of being able to hear pass through audio around you can actually be really nice, particularly in places likes airports or public transport if you need to hear announcements or what’s going on and ultimately mean you don’t ever need to take them off until you arrive in the office or destination.
Integration into android devices works well also, especially with my Samsung S21. No real surprise, but still had to be mentioned.
Battery with ANC is circa 6 hours, they do charge fast in the case and this works well enough for me. For a longer flight I’d probably take my over-ear headphones anyway.
Oh and the best bit, these were on sale for 99….. BARGAIN for that price and I’d still call them good value at 200
Active Noise cancellation feature Is very clever, can be adjusted to different levels and detects your voice which can automatically cut off the cancellation when selected.
Great sound quality.
Great product, I washed them with my jeans in a 2h washing cycle and after drying they still work perfectly!
Bought as an upgrade to the original buds (which were very good) but these are on the next level. Good fit after a bit of fiddling and the sound quality is very good, if not excellent. Great battery life and a good accessory for any Samsung phone.
For me the fit and comfort out of the box was amazing, I actually can forget that I am wearing them and the still sit very secure doing sport like running or skipping rope for example.
They sit quite flush so even lying on the ear is not a problem.
Pairing with my Galaxy S10 is instant and hassle free.
The sound good (from a Samsung phone), probably great for the price. Lots of bass but the treble can be a bit sibilant which is sometimes noticeable in podcasts. The do not get too loud.
Sound from a PC which uses an inferior BT protocol sounds bad, it speak for the quality of the hardware the you can hear how bad …
Noise cancelling is pretty basic, but nice to have. Pass through works great, sound maybe a bit strange but is totally usable.
When walking, you don’t hear much of your steps (unlike some other/older earbuds) and there is no feeling of ear-pressure.
Battery life looks fine. I never exhausted them, since I would not wear them for over 4 hours. The charging case is small und supports wireless charging and USB-C. I can use my Galaxy S10 as a wireless charger for it. Good stuff.
I have the white/silver version, which looks fine, I guess.
Software support is quite good, there is a PC app, a watch 4 complication/app, android widget and the Samsung wearable app.
The microphone sounds usable for phone calls.
Finally the touch controls are a bit hit and miss. Once you get use to it, it is probably fine.
At least I could configure them to control all necessary parameters: play/pause,next/prev,ANC/path through, volume control
Overall I am quite happy with them. Far from perfect, but also far better and feature complete than anything I have tried before. If Samsung can improve the ANC, PC compatibility and controls (responsiveness) this would be a 5-star product.
I tried some no brand ones for 20 and they were terrible quality and one ear wouldnt charge. Get what you pay for.
This is perfect for everyone, and the battery life so high!!!
They are a lot better than I expected them to be. Stay in the ear pretty well. You do need to be careful when you run though. They can pop ou
Firstly, I feel that the build quality is better. These feel more like a premium set, able to equal, or even better Apples airpods.
Sound is also greatly improved. Nice low bass, with crisp high trebles. This allows you to enjoy all music, without the compromise.
Ambient noise can be adjusted, and also has a feature that intelligently alters the Ambient sound, so you can hear your voice during calls.
Now I’ve seen a few reviews saying that the fit of these isn’t good. Some saying they’re uncomfortable, others saying they fall out with the slightest movement. In my honest opinion, they fit way better that my buds 2 used to. And I didn’t need to constantly push them back in my ear, or adjust them for being uncomfortable.
All in all, a really great pair of true wireless buds. And well worth the money.
Most importantly the sound quality is excellent and offers enough control to get it just how you like it. The android app also makes it easy to make any adjustments on the fly if you want to change up the sound profile.
They sit comfortably in my ears for everyday use using the large ear tips but I have now swapped to a 3rd party ear tip because I felt they were slipping a bit while I was on a run.
The ambient sound feature is really cool as it plays outside noise into your ear so you don’t miss out on anything important, again this comes in handy when I’m running if someone calls out from behind about passing me.
My only disappointment is the active noise cancelling, it’s not a feature I plan on needing much so it’s not the end of the world that it’s crap but honestly don’t expect any great things from it. I can hear a different but it’s minor, both with the original ear tips and my 3rd party tips.
Overall I do like these a lot and they work well for what I need I’d just be aware that one of the selling features, ANC, is a waste of time.
Just not good on holding charge 3 days max
In some parts I’ll compare with the original Galaxy Buds that came with the S10.
Pros: good sounds
Cons: noise cancelling OK, not great
poor fit
For my ear, the sound is pretty good compared with the original buds, but that is subjective. I’m not an audiophile, but the sound is good for the music I listen to. They’re definitely loud enough, and the app allows good customisation of the sound.
The noise cancellation is OK and does make a bit of a difference, but compared with the over-ear bose I use on longer journeys, they’re completely outclassed, but I guess that’s not surprising.
The biggest disappointment is the fit. The “wings” on the original buds helped to hold them in place, and the stalk(?) the rubber tips attach to was longer. These haven’t fallen out of my ears yet, but as other reviews have commented, they don’t feel very secure.
They’re OK on the whole, but I would have been disappointed if I’d payed the list price.
One last thing. The touch controls are a bit temperamental. It frequently misses single and double taps to change track.
To cut a long story short, I now have two pairs, great quality sound, I find them a little uncomfortable in ear if wearing for a longish period of time. Just don’t lose the things in the charging case and expect SmartThings Find to help you find them…!
i’ve come from a pair of sony xm3 over ears and wanted something to use in bath and swimming , i was really impressed with these , the sound is very nearly as good as sony xm3 over ears , water proof and fit really well, can disable touch sensor so can sleep with them in , overall 4.9/5 , noise cancellation excellent.
Bought these after my other cheap pair broke and felt like treating myself.
They paired in a matter of seconds and worked flawlessly without any issues straight out of the box.
They fit perfectly and stay in without any requirement for adjusting. This was something I was concerned about as previous earphones I’ve owned always seem to fall out after a bit!
The touch features seem to work well so far allowing you to stop/play and skip forward and back depending on the number of taps you give them.
Battery life gave me a solid 5 hours of continuous play back. The case holds charge which then allows you to re-charge the Buds. So far I’ve had 3 charges out of the case before it completely depletes. As for the case it is robust and a nice size to fit in the pocket.
Sound quality is nice straight out of the box, however there is the ability to play around with the equaliser and customise your sound if you so desire – not my area of expertise so I left this well alone.
A nice wee feature I liked was that if you talk, they detect your voice and lower the volume so you can hear other people talking without the need to remove the Buds.
All in all a cracking purchase!
Great pair of headphones but I wouldn’t ever use them for sport as they have a habit of not staying in too well, the noise cancellation is perfect as I often wear them on building sites and also the speech pass through is perfect with me being able to hear better than by myself
I do like these seems good quality they were reduce to 147 so glad I paid less for them. I think 200+is too much for what they are otherwise. I’m happy with them overall.
These are the best in ear phones I have had, however they do not have the depth or range of my B&O headphones.
They are perfect for use whilst out and about with Amazon Music type apps. Use with video apps may be disappointing due to lack of bass.
I have had many in ear headphones, and also own over ear B&O headphones.
These are the best in ear phones I have had, however they do not have the depth or range of my B&O headphones.
They are perfect for use whilst out and about with Amazon Music type apps. Use with video apps may be disappointing due to lack of bass.
Very comfy and amazing sound, tqlking or listening music are just perfec
The sound is phenomenal
The comfort is great
The battery life is every day better and better
Great quality and I really recommend this product.
The bass is not overpowered and the noise cancellation is not perfect like an over the ear ones , but its decent.
The only bad thing about them is they do not stand all the time and they kind of slip from inside the ear .
I would not take them for a run as they may fall and lose them.
The price right now is pretty high, i would not to pay for them 219.
When i got them i paid like 70, cause they had a prime days promotion and samsung was giving 50 cashback.
Music sound amazing, best I have ever heard on in ear buds.
Comfort is subjective.
Yes, after wearing them for a while they do tend to slip out of your ears.
Ok battery life, not the best.
Music sound amazing, best I have ever heard on in ear buds.
Comfort is subjective.
Yes, after wearing them for a while they do tend to slip out of your ears.
Ok battery life, not the best.
Sound quality is good but not Bose or Sony good. Still OK for the commute.
You’re likely to get a good fit with the different ear tips provided. I’ve not had them come off during walk to the office.
Noise cancellation works but not exceptional. I’m not surprised considering they’re in-ear phones, not over-the-ear phones.
Sound quality is good but not Bose or Sony good. Still OK for the commute.
You’re likely to get a good fit with the different ear tips provided. I’ve not had them come off during walk to the office.
Noise cancellation works but not exceptional. I’m not surprised considering they’re in-ear phones, not over-the-ear phones.
they work well for sound and noise elimination.
would highly recommend, worth the price
will review more once ive put them to the test
Update There Amazing Go Out And Get Some clear sound and music is wonderful
That being said the sound quality is very impressive and gets closer to over ears than I thought possible. The ANC is decent and does all you would expect from in ears, it is not perfect but more then enough for commuting and the gym.
In terms of fit there is some discomfort; unfortunately that will limit the wearing of them to a few hours at a time. This may not be a problem for most though as who honestly has these things in for over 2 hours?
Build quality etc all as you’d anticipate from a major manufacturer, feature set is also great if with a Samsung phone(s10 and up).
All in all very good and recommend for android, if you have an IPhone go with the Air pods Pro.
I HAVE HAD
BUD+
BUD LIVES
BUT THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL!! BUY NOW!
– Sound quality is fantastic, compared to my mid range Sennheisers, higher end Razor full gaming headphones, my old Oneplus Bullet 2’s, these are absolutely miles ahead in terms of sound quality and they do sound a little better than the Buds Plus. There’s more clarity. I wouldn’t call them bass heavy like some have, if anything they’re extremely well balanced across the board, I’d say to anyone who thinks they’re bass heavy to get some open earbuds like the Buds Live which are regarded as tinny.
– More comfortable than the Buds Plus, their little wing digs into my ear which is very uncomortable, these are very secure on my ears and the best fit was surprsingly the smallest tips, despite having large ears! They are almost comfortable enough to sleep in but bulge out just a little too much for me, it starts to put pressure on them.
– The ANC is decent bit not top of the line, but it’s the best you’ll get in this price catagory. I’d rather have it than not have it, it’s good enough to mostly cut out the sound of my PC fans running 100% (there are 9 noctua fans in there) or my brother’s snoring around 80%. If someone is listening to the TV while I have this in without anything playing, noise cancellation will cut out most of the bass, so you’ll be left with just tinny background sound, throw in actual music on top of that that you want to listen to and this is obviously an improved, if not perfect listening experience. I’d rather have ANC than not.
– I haven’t had a problem with battery, I bought a couple of small wireless chargers for a total of 15 and just leave the buds charging when not in use, they charge very quickly. The battery life of 5 hours use on the buds might not sound great compared to the Buds Plus, but when are you really going to listen for a solid 5 hours without a break where they go back in the case? I can’t see a scenario where this would be a problem for 99% of users.
– I bought the white version but the case itself is a sort of pearlescent blue/lilac, which I’m not a fan of at all, I’ve bought a silicone black case to hide this. The buds are white and silver plastic, despite this, they feel very high quality, as does the case. It really irks me that the official product shots show phantom white as white. This has clearly been edited for the product shots, the professionals that Samsung hire to take their photos could have taken photos that truly represent the colour if they wanted to.
– The fact that the case is plastic means it is probably prone to scratch up long term, best to consider a protecting case if thats important to you.
– Never have I had a pair of bluetooth headphones that is so easy to switch between devices, it’s normally a faff having turn bluetooth on one device, go into the other device, turn bluetooth on and hope it actually syncs up etc etc etc – you don’t have to do that with the Buds Pro, just tap them on any device you’ve synced with once and they will immedialey connect no problems.
– Touch controls can be a bit tempremental. Sometimes a double tap to skip song won’t register so it will just pause instead, so you have to tap again to resume playing and try to double tap to skip again.
Long term, I just hope the batteries hold up because I’d be very happy to use these for 5 years or more.
I won’t comment on the other features, they’re just kind of gimmiky in my opinion.
was upgrading from the buds +.
The fit on the pro is very different but once you get it right the sound is brilliant I found just putting them in my ears without twisting them right or left worked for me.Am going to try a pair of foam tips that a lot of reviews have recommended.
Update:
Purchased some cheap memory foam tips ( only2.59) they have made some difference the fit is a bit more comfortable and not so much of the feeling the buds are going to fall out although they never did with the original tips in.
I think the feeling they are going to fall out is the biggest thing to get used to with these buds well worth persevering with because the sound and features are excellent.
was upgrading from the buds +.
The fit on the pro is very different but once you get it right the sound is brilliant I found just putting them in my ears without twisting them right or left worked for me.Am going to try a pair of foam tips that a lot of reviews have recommended.
Update:
Purchased some cheap memory foam tips ( only2.59) they have made some difference the fit is a bit more comfortable and not so much of the feeling the buds are going to fall out although they never did with the original tips in.
I think the feeling they are going to fall out is the biggest thing to get used to with these buds well worth persevering with because the sound and features are excellent.
Also for speaking.
Noise cancellation is amazing for its size. I have been using this for about a month now, and so far it is far the best earphone I used.
I haven’t used it for working out YET.
Around great addition to my samsung note 20 ultra
Changed the tips to different ones in the box (different size in each ear) and the fit is perfect – no issue in the gym (yay they’re open again) or out for a run
Highly recommend
They’re the only earbuds I own that can go from “music mode” to “talking to people mode” with one touch, no more taking out an earbud (or both just so that one doesn’t get lost) when I need to talk to someone, the anc is great, but the ambient noise mode is even more impressive, picking up on speech etc, and amplifying it, so that conversations with the headphones in, are just as easy as without them, and if somebody is boring you, press and hold, and you’re back to anc induced silence.
Deceptively small case which gives you roughly an hour of playback for a 5 min charge, 8 hours on a full charge (or 5 with anc) and 28 hours with a fully charged case.
All that, and buds that fit like they were designed for you personally, it really doesn’t get much better than this.
I assumed they’d be no better (as the Buds+ were pretty much identical to the original Buds), but having now used for 2 months I have to say I’m so impressed.
The base and clarity is a big step-up from the previous ones, with noticeably better all round sound performance. The noise cancelling is impressive, the design and case are slick and contrary to other reviews, I have run in these 2 or 3 times a week and not had any issue with staying put at all.
Not sure if I would have paid the price for them but as a free add-on they are unbeatable!
I feel earbuds should be sub 100 for the high end with AMC etc and sub 50 for standard lower end wireless buds.
The Samsung buds pro are indeed excellent when paired with a Samsung phone.
Instant easy connection, just open the case and then follow the app.
Excellent sound, unless you listen to modern chart music, in which case it is just a bass filled muddy mess- but this is not the fault of the earbuds – you just need better taste in music.
ANC works brilliantly for traffic noises etc some reviewers sit in a silent room, turn on ANC and think it will deafen them to any sound. This is not how it works. Go stand in a noisy area turn it on and you’ll be amazed how well they cut out a high percentage of the noise.
Adaptive sound is very helpful when you need to talk and sounds clear, also has lots of options in the app.
Regarding fitting, major companies take measurements of thousands of peoples ears and make a shape to fit the majority.
If they don’t fit you its tough, but you cannot complain or leave a bad review based on this.
Luckily they fit my ears fine although I had a little fatigue for the first week. But this has been tje case for in ear and over ear headphones since I bought my first ever pair.
The only negative I have for the buds pro is the price. I would not pay 200 for them as they are not worth it. I got mine free with a phone. I would reasonablypay 100 at a push and feel this was worth the investment.
These were my first dive into wireless buds and they are really convenient but if I am not out and about I would rather use my over the ear headphones for the better sound and comfort (and they were only 70)
I’ll admit, I’m a bit of an audiophile when it comes to headphones. I love the pure sound, and sound stage that Grado offers, but in this ever-changing world of technology, and the loss of headphone jacks on the most recent flagship phones and tablets, I accept that some allowances have to be made.
My current Bluetooth headphone of choice, is the Sony XM3, which don’t offer the sonic excellence of the wired grade SR325i, but delever an excellent Bluetooth package.
These Samsung Pro buds, albeit an upgrade freebie, are certainly decent, although not outstanding.
There is bass aplenty, when you choose the correct tips for your ears, and the treble is nice and crisp, without being overly harsh and sibilent. It’s the mid range that disappoints slightly on these, making tracks appear a little muddy.
The Anc is just OK for me- nowhere near as food as the sony XM3, which don’t cost an aweful lot more now the version 4 has been released. However, its decent enough, although I’ve yet been able to test the Samsungs on an aircraft, where anc can really be judged.
I’ve only had these for a day or two, and I have to admit, they sound better than I expected, and you can tell that AKG have had an influence I their performance.
If the midrange was as well controlled as the bass and treble, these would be a decent buy, bit for the current asking price of 219, I’d say they just come up short. 150-175, and they’d be a good buy.
Rated 4 for working out as I have very small ears (as I am a smallish person) and they do keep falling out! I need to jam them in, and even then if I fidget with them at all, they fall out – using the smallest size of the ear bud. BUT I am sure I will get the hang of sticking them in properly!
Mids and vocals are where I focus first since traditionally this is the area where audio has struggled to reproduce naturalness and it’s an area where we humans are particularly sensitive to hearing any flaws in the reproduction. If the audio gets that right then the next hurdles are delivering sufficient bass quantity and kick to carry the rhythm and enough detailed but not sibilant or harsh treble to convey energy, air and the sense of a live acoustic.
The mids are clear and natural sounding and at a higher level of clarity than regular AirPods however when listened to after my Sony WF1000xm3 the Pro sounds slightly less convincing (recordings of how they sound on my Amazon profile). Without having better sound quality buds to compare against however their relative lack of clarity would probably not be apparent.
Like the sony WF1000xm3 the Galaxy Buds Pro has a soft bass in terms of kick and impact though quantity is at a good level and less rolled off except for sub bass which is much less well represented than even some much less expensive buds.
While highs are more rolled off and slightly sweeter than the Sony’s they are nevertheless not wanting in detail or energy or extension so the net effect is that one can enjoy fuller mids without fear of treble aggression forcing one to turn the volume down.
So in summary clear, though not the clearest, mids and vocals, a gentle but in the main sufficiently powerful and deep bass and detailed if slightly toned down treble making for a very pleasant and inoffensive sound, albeit one that may be a little too tame for those looking for more dynamics and fireworks in some of their music.
ANC is good though not at the level of the class leading Sony or the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro (be aware that earphone ANC only reduces some low frequencies and provide nowhere near the ANC level of headphones).
Comfort is great and they stick out far less than my CX400BT so you look less like a cyberman – and can sleep on your side more easily.
As far as fit goes I’m usually a medium or large with tips and I used the largest of the 3 sizes of earbuds provided. These are oval and with custom notches so not of conventional design which means you’ll be forced to go to Samsung for replacements and cannot use standard foam tips for example. They were very secure however and inspired confidence (more than the Sony) that they wouldn’t fall out without a significant jolt.
Connectivity was fine with drop outs only starting through a wall.
Controls operated fine with my perfect touch format of double tap for skip and hold for volume configurable through the app. The Sonys make you triple tap for some actions.
Battery again is fine if not exceptional with a great 8 hours at a stretch but just 18 hours total before a recharge is needed though the case does have wireless charging which the Sony doesn’t.
Latency for the YouTube app on my old S7 was fine and the microphone very clear.
Aesthetics are one area where I think they really trump the Sonys. The buds themselves are beautiful in phantom silver and the pearlescent finish on the case very tasteful which of course is a lot smaller and more pocketable than the Sonys.
A little feature I’ve not seen before is that when you take one bud out this activates ambient (pass through) mode on the one left in the other ear so by removing one you can hear almost as clearly as removing both.
Edit: The configurable automatic activation of ambient pass through mode within a second of when you start talking so you can hear your interlocutor as well as with the buds completely removed is innovative and really works well (distinguishing your speaking and not activating erroneously from voices from the tv or radio say) having pleasantly genuinely surprised me a few times. Also the high waterproof rating is reassuring for use outside..though having dropped them a couple of times I worry about scratches or dents on the metal exterior of the buds.
I appreciate good aesthetics and as a package the buds pro are great though you pay a big premium for the style and brand. If you buy them you won’t get the bass slam or stellar clarity you get with some other TWS earphones however they offer a beautifully relaxed but still clear sound which many will likely enjoy.
You can get better pure sound quality for a lot less cash but the aesthetics if not stellar performance may win them admirers.
Mids and vocals are where I focus first since traditionally this is the area where audio has struggled to reproduce naturalness and it’s an area where we humans are particularly sensitive to hearing any flaws in the reproduction. If the audio gets that right then the next hurdles are delivering sufficient bass quantity and kick to carry the rhythm and enough detailed but not sibilant or harsh treble to convey energy, air and the sense of a live acoustic.
The mids are clear and natural sounding and at a higher level of clarity than regular AirPods however when listened to after my Sony WF1000xm3 the Pro sounds slightly less convincing (recordings of how they sound on my Amazon profile). Without having better sound quality buds to compare against however their relative lack of clarity would probably not be apparent.
Like the sony WF1000xm3 the Galaxy Buds Pro has a soft bass in terms of kick and impact though quantity is at a good level and less rolled off except for sub bass which is much less well represented than even some much less expensive buds.
While highs are more rolled off and slightly sweeter than the Sony’s they are nevertheless not wanting in detail or energy or extension so the net effect is that one can enjoy fuller mids without fear of treble aggression forcing one to turn the volume down.
So in summary clear, though not the clearest, mids and vocals, a gentle but in the main sufficiently powerful and deep bass and detailed if slightly toned down treble making for a very pleasant and inoffensive sound, albeit one that may be a little too tame for those looking for more dynamics and fireworks in some of their music.
ANC is good though not at the level of the class leading Sony or the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro (be aware that earphone ANC only reduces some low frequencies and provide nowhere near the ANC level of headphones).
Comfort is great and they stick out far less than my CX400BT so you look less like a cyberman – and can sleep on your side more easily.
As far as fit goes I’m usually a medium or large with tips and I used the largest of the 3 sizes of earbuds provided. These are oval and with custom notches so not of conventional design which means you’ll be forced to go to Samsung for replacements and cannot use standard foam tips for example. They were very secure however and inspired confidence (more than the Sony) that they wouldn’t fall out without a significant jolt.
Connectivity was fine with drop outs only starting through a wall.
Controls operated fine with my perfect touch format of double tap for skip and hold for volume configurable through the app. The Sonys make you triple tap for some actions.
Battery again is fine if not exceptional with a great 8 hours at a stretch but just 18 hours total before a recharge is needed though the case does have wireless charging which the Sony doesn’t.
Latency for the YouTube app on my old S7 was fine and the microphone very clear.
Aesthetics are one area where I think they really trump the Sonys. The buds themselves are beautiful in phantom silver and the pearlescent finish on the case very tasteful which of course is a lot smaller and more pocketable than the Sonys.
A little feature I’ve not seen before is that when you take one bud out this activates ambient (pass through) mode on the one left in the other ear so by removing one you can hear almost as clearly as removing both.
Edit: The configurable automatic activation of ambient pass through mode within a second of when you start talking so you can hear your interlocutor as well as with the buds completely removed is innovative and really works well (distinguishing your speaking and not activating erroneously from voices from the tv or radio say) having pleasantly genuinely surprised me a few times. Also the high waterproof rating is reassuring for use outside..though having dropped them a couple of times I worry about scratches or dents on the metal exterior of the buds.
I appreciate good aesthetics and as a package the buds pro are great though you pay a big premium for the style and brand. If you buy them you won’t get the bass slam or stellar clarity you get with some other TWS earphones however they offer a beautifully relaxed but still clear sound which many will likely enjoy.
You can get better pure sound quality for a lot less cash but the aesthetics if not stellar performance may win them admirers.
Mids and vocals are where I focus first since traditionally this is the area where audio has struggled to reproduce naturalness and it’s an area where we humans are particularly sensitive to hearing any flaws in the reproduction. If the audio gets that right then the next hurdles are delivering sufficient bass quantity and kick to carry the rhythm and enough detailed but not sibilant or harsh treble to convey energy, air and the sense of a live acoustic.
The mids are clear and natural sounding and at a higher level of clarity than regular AirPods however when listened to after my Sony WF1000xm3 the Pro sounds slightly less convincing (recordings of how they sound on my Amazon profile). Without having better sound quality buds to compare against however their relative lack of clarity would probably not be apparent.
Like the sony WF1000xm3 the Galaxy Buds Pro has a soft bass in terms of kick and impact though quantity is at a good level and less rolled off except for sub bass which is much less well represented than even some much less expensive buds.
While highs are more rolled off and slightly sweeter than the Sony’s they are nevertheless not wanting in detail or energy or extension so the net effect is that one can enjoy fuller mids without fear of treble aggression forcing one to turn the volume down.
So in summary clear, though not the clearest, mids and vocals, a gentle but in the main sufficiently powerful and deep bass and detailed if slightly toned down treble making for a very pleasant and inoffensive sound, albeit one that may be a little too tame for those looking for more dynamics and fireworks in some of their music.
ANC is good though not at the level of the class leading Sony or the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro (be aware that earphone ANC only reduces some low frequencies and provide nowhere near the ANC level of headphones)
Comfort is great and they stick out far less than my CX400BT so you look less like a cyberman – and can sleep on your side more easily.
As far as fit goes I’m usually a medium or large with tips and I used the largest of the 3 sizes of earbuds provided. These are oval and with custom notches so not of conventional design which means you’ll be forced to go to Samsung for replacements and cannot use standard foam tips for example. They were very secure however and inspired confidence (more than the Sony) that they wouldn’t fall out without a significant jolt.
Connectivity was fine with drop outs only starting through a wall.
Controls operated fine with my perfect touch format of double tap for skip and hold for volume configurable through the app. The Sonys make you triple tap for some actions.
Battery again is fine if not exceptional with a great 8 hours at a stretch but just 18 hours total before a recharge is needed though the case does have wireless charging which the Sony doesn’t.
Latency for the YouTube app on my old S7 was fine and the microphone very clear.
Aesthetics are one area where I think they really trump the Sonys. The buds themselves are beautiful in phantom silver and the pearlescent finish on the case very tasteful which of course is a lot smaller and more pocketable than the Sonys.
A little feature I’ve not seen before is that when you take one bud out this activates ambient (pass through) mode on the one left in the other ear so by removing one you can hear almost as clearly as removing both.
Edit: The configurable automatic activation of ambient pass through mode within a second of when you start talking so you can hear your interlocutor as well as with the buds completely removed is innovative and really works well (distinguishing your speaking and not activating erroneously from voices from the tv or radio say) having pleasantly genuinely surprised me a few times. Also the high waterproof rating is reassuring for use outside..though having dropped them a couple of times I worry about scratches or dents on the metal exterior of the buds.
I appreciate good aesthetics and as a package the buds pro are great though you pay a big premium for the style and brand. If you buy them you won’t get the bass slam or stellar clarity you get with some other TWS earphones however they offer a beautifully relaxed but still clear sound which many will likely enjoy.
You can get better pure sound quality for a lot less cash but the aesthetics if not stellar performance may win them admirers.
But i am reducing one star for lack of app support on ios
I am fortunate i have a samsung also so i can play around with the settings etc before re pairing with an iPhone
One other issue, battery life could have been longe
If you like the sound profile on the buds plus (I personally do) then you will love these, the highs and mids are clear and present due to the dual drivers, and the bass is plenty deep without becoming too boomy (soundcore I’m looking at you) and overwhelming the rest of the sound profile, they are light and small, unlike the Sony and don’t stick out of your ears like the apple, the case is as small as the one that the lives came in, I’ve picked up a Spigen case to keep them safe, and it the same one as the lives fit in.
The ANC is there it’s not in quite in the same league with the Sonys XM but when you have the right fitting tip-in, it’s great at blocking out the low rumble of zone one London.
And the Transparency work really well when you go into a shop and need to hear people talking but don’t want to stop your music.
219 might be a bit on the high side IMO price-wise, I feel that 199.99 would have been the right price point, but I don’t feel robbed and no doubt the price will fall quickly.
I can’t wait for some memory foam tips to come out on the market to complete these great set of buds as even the large silicone ones are a bit small for me, and my Buds plus ones don’t fit as the stem is very short and a slightly odd shape.
If you looking to upgrade from the Plus or just looking for your next set of Buds you really can’t go far wrong with these ones.
24-hour update, I have had issues with the comfort, and what I’ve found is that these Buds do not need to be jammed as deeply into your ear canal as the Plus did, and if you do try to, they will become uncomfortable really quickly, there is a very natural way to wear them with the back end slightly pointing upwards that works well for me and once you find it, they are fine. just don’t try and jam them in too far or they will rub on the conch of your ear and become really painful.
The one issues I have that’s missing from the plus is the volume up and down that was set to the edge of the buds as part of the “labs”, if it is possible to implement it please do so, as having to choose between changing over mode or a volume control seem to me like a rather odd thing on bud at this price range.
The most recent update (17/02/2021) have greatly improved the ANC and transparency levels.
Update 07/05/2021, So that’s it now they are perfect, the latest update has added in the Lab’s feature of having the volume control being added to the edge of the touchpad that I missed from the buds plus, the ANC has improved again, and in every update since my last edit, for the current price (189)these are the best all-round buds I have ever owned, and for me are the best android earbuds on the market, well done Samsung.
However, if one has the money the upgrade is definitely one that you wont regret. My go to true wireless buds are now the pros.
If you like the sound profile on the buds plus (I personally do) then you will love these, the highs and mids are clear and present due to the dual drivers, and the bass is plenty deep without becoming too boomy (soundcore I’m looking at you) and overwhelming the rest of the sound profile, they are light and small, unlike the Sony and don’t stick out of your ears like the apple, the case is as small as the one that the lives came in, I’ve picked up a Spigen case to keep them safe, and it the same one as the lives fit in.
The ANC is there it’s not in quite in the same league with the Sonys XM but when you have the right fitting tip-in, it’s great at blocking out the low rumble of zone one London.
And the Transparency work really well when you go into a shop and need to hear people talking but don’t want to stop your music.
219 might be a bit on the high side IMO price-wise, I feel that 199.99 would have been the right price point, but I don’t feel robbed and no doubt the price will fall quickly.
I can’t wait for some memory foam tips to come out on the market to complete these great set of buds as even the large silicone ones are a bit small for me, and my Buds plus ones don’t fit as the stem is very short and a slightly odd shape.
If you looking to upgrade from the Plus or just looking for your next set of Buds you really can’t go far wrong with these ones.
24-hour update, I have had issues with the comfort, and what I’ve found is that these Buds do not need to be jammed as deeply into your ear canal as the Plus did, and if you do try to, they will become uncomfortable really quickly, there is a very natural way to wear them with the back end slightly pointing upwards that works well for me and once you find it, they are fine. just don’t try and jam them in too far or they will rub on the conch of your ear and become really painful.
The one issues I have that’s missing from the plus is the volume up and down that was set to the edge of the buds as part of the “labs”, if it is possible to implement it please do so, as having to choose between changing over mode or a volume control seem to me like a rather odd thing on bud at this price range.
The most recent update (17/02/2021) have greatly improved the ANC and transparency levels.
Update 07/05/2021, So that’s it now they are perfect, the latest update has added in the Lab’s feature of having the volume control being added to the edge of the touchpad that I missed from the buds plus, the ANC has improved again, and in every update since my last edit, for the current price (189)these are the best all-round buds I have ever owned, and for me are the best android earbuds on the market, well done Samsung.