Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Samsung sends the Galaxy on a quest to outdo Apple and co

Even before we hear them, it’s clear that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are different from their somewhat less than auspicious predecessors. They look different and have different features to the bean-shaped buds whose place they have taken. If they can also sound different (i.e. ‘better’) than previous generations, Samsung might have earbuds ready to sit at the big boys’ table.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are Samsung’s flagship, most premium, wireless earbuds. That’s just a smidge below the premium territory occupied by the Sony WF1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Pro 2, though they may end up competing more directly with those outstanding rivals thanks to discounts dropping their competitors’ RRPs down to roughly the Buds 3 Pros’ launch figure.

There is no getting around it: sporting an all-white finish, Samsung’s newest buds look a lot like a pair of AirPods. The round bean shape of their predecessors has been replaced by a new configuration involving a triangular, prism-shaped stem topped with a removable silicone ear tip. The charging case, too, puts us in mind of an Apple product, although its transparent lid is a key point of differentiation from the opaque pebble case of the AirPods Pro 2.

We are somewhat underwhelmed by how cheap and plasticky the Galaxy buds’ USB-C charging case feels, while the earbuds themselves feel a little insubstantial, and that stops them from coming across like a truly premium product. Those vertically placed ”Blade Lights” on each unit’s spine are a fun addition, though, indicating key vital signs such as battery life and connectivity status and even flashing on command if you lose your buds in a dark room.