Samsung Galaxy Buds: These Are a Great Choice

Samsung Galaxy Buds: These Are a Great Choice

These are an excellent choice for listeners who don't need to distribute $150 for the new Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.

POSITIVES

• Bluetooth 5.0
• AAC and scalable Samsung codec support
• Battery life and wireless charging
• Ambient Sound mode and touch controls
• Compact build

NEGATIVES

• No aptX support
• Only IPX2 water-resistance
• Lacks internal storage

BOTTOM LINE

Without question, these are the right complement to the Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup. The earbuds' remarkable battery life separates it from the gang of true wireless contenders, while its easy-to-operate touch controls make quick commands a breeze. The worth reductions make the Galaxy Buds even more appealing because the season approaches.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds remains a superb pair of true wireless earbuds to accompany the favored Samsung Galaxy smartphone line. Whether you’re an off-the-cuff listener or a real wireless fanboy, the Galaxy Buds are a superb choice with a couple of forgivable foibles.

Editor’s note: this Samsung Galaxy Buds review was updated on July 7, 2020, to answer how the Galaxy Buds compare to the Jabra Elite 75t within the FAQ section.

Who Are The Samsung Galaxy Buds For?

Seeing because the Galaxy Buds were a freebie for those that pre-ordered the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, they're explicitly for Samsung Galaxy S10 owners. However, that doesn’t preclude the earbuds from getting used with other Android devices or iPhones. As a matter of fact, these true wireless earbuds are compatible with the AAC Bluetooth codec, minimizing perceptible lag when used with iPhones.

What Are The Samsung Galaxy Buds Like?

Much like the Jaybird Vista, the Galaxy Buds sport an all-plastic design. The edgeless shape of the earbuds creates a whimsical look and rounded triangular touch panels grant enough land to form commands without frequent mistakes. A marked difference between the Galaxy Buds and therefore the Gear IconX is that the lack of onboard storage.

Samsung integrated a dual-microphone array, which operates by alternating between the microphones to attenuate ground noise and clearly relay your voice. In practice, this worked well. Unfortunately, the earbuds still struggle outside if there are high winds but can combat background chatter if you’re during a cafe.

The charging case may be a plain, oblong plastic piece that opens hamburger style. Its interior has only enough room to deal with the required inlets for charging the earbuds. On the surface may be a single LED indicator, which glows red, green, or yellow to notify listeners of its battery level while the rear houses a USB-C input for charging. However, if you misplace the cable or don’t desire using, you'll place it atop your Samsung Galaxy S10 variant just confirm the Wireless PowerShare option is activated from the notification tray beforehand.

You Should Use The Galaxy Wearable App

Touch panels facilitate call and playback controls, virtual assistant access, and Ambient Sound mode activation. A bit like the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Galaxy Buds allow you to hear your surroundings, keeping you safe. By using the Galaxy Wearable app, you'll customize the left and right ear panels’ playback controls. As an example, our review unit is about up so holding the left earbud initiates Ambient Sound mode and holding the proper earbud accesses Google Assistant, not Bixby.

From the app, you'll set your preferred EQ option: bass boost, soft, dynamic, clear, or treble boost. Below that's a menu where you'll choose which notifications are read aloud to you from the earbuds. Then there’s Ambient Sound mode. Instead of temporarily activating it from the earbuds, you'll permanently activate it from the app. It allows you to adjust what proportion amplification external noise receives and whether or not voices should be amplified.

Then there are the standard features, like “Find my earbuds” and therefore the choice to check for and install software updates. It’s a comprehensive app that I actually found myself using. Granted, it had been mainly to toggle Ambient Sound on for running, which is now streamlined with the April 27, 2020, update. Users can enjoy automatic Ambient Sound mode, direct access to Spotify, and Microsoft Swift for quick switching between Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices.

Good For Workouts

Speaking of running, these are a fine pair of earbuds for general athletes. While it’s disappointing that they received just an IPX2 certification, it should be enough to sustain arduous workouts. Just keep them out of the water. i actually enjoyed using these within the gym; the provided wing tips worked wonders. I only wish that volume controls were also included like with the RHA TrueConnect.

Does Samsung Include Accessories?

Listeners receive the IPX2 water-resistant earbuds, three pairs of silicone ear and wing tips, a 252mAh charging case, and a USB-C charging cable. The included wing tips leave a secure fit while the malleable silicone remains comfortable for all-day listening. What’s more, the varied ear tips are equally as comfortable but might not fit every listener’s ear. If you’re unable to urge an honest seal with the included options, try watching third-party tips.

How Good Is That The Battery Life?

One of the most important improvements made to the Samsung Galaxy Buds from the Gear IconX is that the improved battery life. Our objective testing yielded 6.53 hours of playback on one charge from the 58mAh earbuds. The 252mAh charging case provides a further seven hours of playback and quarter-hour within the case affords up to 1.7 hours of playback consistent with Samsung. Once the case and earbuds are both depleted, charging the devices is straightforward via the included USB-C cable.