Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3 Review

Reviewing Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro 3, a premium pair of true wireless earbuds with 24-bit audio. They cost £219, placing them among the more expensive Bluetooth earbuds, alongside brands like Sony and Boss. So, are they worth it? I’ve been using them for over a week, and here’s my in-depth review.

Design and Build

The case has been redesigned since the last Samsung Galaxy Buds, now featuring a transparent lid so you can easily check if the earbuds are inside. It still has a smooth, rounded design, making it easy to slip into a pocket. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Buds Pro 3 comes in limited colors: white or silver.

These earbuds feature new blade lights on each stem that flash when pairing and indicate the charge status. You can control these lights in the app, making them useful for locating the earbuds using the ‘find my earbuds’ feature.

The Galaxy Buds Pro 3 are comfortable, lightweight, and come with silicone tips in various sizes for a secure fit. They stay firmly in place even during vigorous movement. With an IP57 rating, the buds are resistant to dust and moisture, though Samsung advises against using them at the beach. However, the case is not water-resistant, so avoid getting it wet.

Wearable app

If you have a Samsung smartphone like the Galaxy Z Flip 6, you can access basic controls in the Bluetooth menu, such as checking battery life, setting auto-switch to other devices, and enabling ENC action. However, with Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app, you gain more control, allowing for customization of the earbuds. This includes adjusting the equalizer with precise settings, using presets like bass boost, performing an earbud fit test, and customizing touch controls and in-ear detection, so your music pauses when you remove a bud. You can also enable neck stretch reminders and use the ‘Find My Earbuds’ feature.

Touch controls

The Galaxy Buds Pro 3 have good touch controls. Pinch near the base of the stem to play or pause your media. You can swipe up and down on the back edge to adjust the volume. The pinch-and-hold function is customizable; for example, holding the left bud switches between ANC and ambient mode, while holding the right one activates Spotify, letting you resume or skip through recent tracks. The Buds also support Auracast, though I haven’t tested that feature yet.

Adaptive ANC

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Buds Pro 3 with adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) that automatically adjusts the noise-canceling effect based on your environment. The ANC is decent, though not the best I’ve tested. It effectively muffles most outdoor noise, like busy streets, with only a slight wind feedback in blustery conditions. It’s particularly effective when you’re on a train, though it struggles with the loudest parts of the London Underground. The app also includes an auto switch to ambient mode when voices are detected, though this feature may not be ideal if you talk to yourself often. Additionally, the Buds Pro 3 can switch to transparency mode when sirens are detected, helping you stay aware of your surroundings.

Audio Quality

For audio quality Samsung has used a dual amp setup for the Galaxy Buds Pro 3, with independently controlled tweeters and woofers. The Adaptive EQ feature adjusts audio based on the shape of your ears, though I didn’t notice much difference when toggling it on and off.

When paired with one of Samsung’s latest flagship phones like the Galaxy S23, S24, or Z Fold and Z Flip models, you can stream 24-bit audio at 96kHz with the ultra-high-quality audio feature enabled. While the audio occasionally broke up in very busy areas like London Paddington train station, it generally performed well.

The output was comparable to other premium true wireless earbuds in 2024, with well-balanced lows and highs in the default audio mode. Various genres like hip-hop, metal, and electronic sounded rich with subtle details coming through clearly.

The Galaxy Buds Pro 3 also excel in call quality on the move, with AI-powered voice boosting and noise cancellation effectively cutting through background noise, ensuring crisp and clear voice calls.

Battery life

For the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3 battery life, Samsung claims six hours of audio playback with active noise cancellation turned on. In practice, I found it closer to 5 hours to 5.5 hours with high-quality audio streaming also enabled. Disabling these features extends playback to around 6.5 to 7 hours. While it’s not the best battery life among true wireless earbuds, it’s slightly above average. With active noise cancellation on, you can expect around 24 hours of total playback using both the earbuds and the charging case. The case charges via USB-C or wirelessly, including with reverse wireless charging from a compatible phone.

82%

82%

The snazzy design, especially with the Blade light effect, helps them stand out. The battery life is decent, the performance is excellent, and there's lots of customization. The touch controls work well, and they’re sweat and water-resistant. The only downside is that they’re rather pricey.

• Design and Build Quality

  8
• Comfort and Fit

  9
• Wearable App and Features

  9
• Touch controls

  8
• Adaptive ANC

  7.5
• Audio Quality

  8.5
• Mic Call Quality

  8
• Battery Life

  7.5