Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Review

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a premium pair of true wireless earbuds delivering 24-bit audio priced at $219, they compete with some of the more expensive Bluetooth earbuds from brands like Sony and Bose. Are they worth it? I’ve tested them for over a week, so here’s my in-depth review.

Design and Durability

The case has undergone a bit of a redesign since the last time I reviewed a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds. It now features a transparent lid, allowing you to check if you remembered to place the earbuds inside after your last use. The case remains compact with a smooth rounded design that easily fits into a pocket or bag.

Color options for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are limited, with only two choices: white, which I have and silver. These are proper disco buds thanks to the new blade lights on each stem. These lights flash during pairing, indicate the charge status and can even flash on demand, which is a game-changer. You can set them to stay on, fade or flash using the app. It’s especially cool at night when they add a bit of glow to your look. The lights are also handy with the “Find My Earbuds” feature, flashing to help locate them a lifesaver when you’ve dropped them after a night out.

These earbuds are incredibly comfortable even for hours of use. They’re lightweight and come with silicone tips in various sizes, so you can find the perfect fit. The buds are gentle on the skin and stay securely in place. To prove the point, I even tried a mosh test though it’s getting a bit more painful each time I do it! These are IP57 rated making them resistant to dust and moisture, so they’re fine for most environments.

Wearable app

If you’ve got a Samsung smartphone, like this Galaxy Z Flip 6 you’ll find some basic controls right in the Bluetooth menu. You can check battery life, set auto-switching to other devices, enable UHQ streaming and toggle ENC.

For even more customization, dive into Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app. Here you can tweak the earbuds to your liking, including customizing the equalizer for precise sound output. If you prefer presets, options like Bass Boost are available. The app also includes an earbud fit test, allowing you to ensure a snug and proper fit.

You can fully customize the touch controls and enable in-ear detection, so your music or podcast pauses automatically when you remove a single earbud. If you tend to hunch over your laptop like me, you’ll appreciate the neck stretch reminders a pretty handy feature. And, of course, the incredibly helpful “Find My Earbuds” feature is also tucked into the app.

Touch Controls

The touch controls on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are excellent. Simply pinch near the base of the stem to play or pause your media. You can also swipe up or down along the back edge to adjust the volume, which is both easy and super helpful.

The pinch-and-hold gesture is fully customizable. I’ve set it up so that pinching and holding the left earbud toggles between ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and Ambient Mode. On the right earbud, a pinch and hold activates the Spotify feature, resuming an album, audiobook, or whatever you were listening to last. If you keep pinching and holding, it will cycle through your recent listening history. Additionally, these buds support Auracast, though I haven’t had the chance to test that feature yet.

Adaptive ANC

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), which can automatically adjust the noise-canceling effect based on how noisy your environment is. The ANC is decent, though not quite on par with the very best I’ve tested. In most outdoor areas or busy high streets, it effectively muffles the majority of sounds.

There’s a slight bit of wind feedback in very blustery conditions, but it’s not too distracting. The ANC performs particularly well in settings like trains, significantly reducing the noise. However, it struggles a bit with the louder screeches of the London Underground.

The app also features an “Auto Switch to Ambient” mode, which activates ambient mode whenever voices are detected. I wouldn’t recommend this if, like me, you tend to talk to yourself often—it can get a bit annoying. Another handy feature is the automatic switch to transparency mode when sirens are detected, helping you stay aware of your surroundings and, hopefully, avoid any unwanted incidents.

Audio Quality

The audio quality on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is enhanced by Samsung’s dual-driver setup, featuring an independently controlled tweeter and woofer. There’s also an Adaptive EQ feature designed to tailor the audio output based on the shape of your ears. However, in my experience, toggling this feature on and off didn’t reveal a noticeable difference, possibly due to the buds’ limited customization or my ears being pretty standard.

For those using Samsung’s latest flagship devices such as the Galaxy S23, S24, or the recent Z Fold and Flip models you can enjoy 24-bit audio streaming at 96kHz by enabling the Ultra High-Quality Audio feature. While this setting generally delivers impressive audio, I did notice occasional interruptions in very crowded areas like London Paddington train station.

When active, the audio output rivals that of other premium earbuds released in 2024. Genres ranging from hip-hop to metal, and even electronic beats, sounded rich and well-balanced. On the default settings, the lows and highs are perfectly tuned, but you can tweak them further with the equalizer and presets in the app. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro does an excellent job of bringing out the subtle details in tracks making for an enjoyable listening experience across various music styles.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also shine when it comes to call quality. They feature AI-powered voice enhancement and noise cancellation, which work effectively to minimize background noise and ensure clear communication.

Even while walking along a busy road with passing traffic and windy conditions, these AI smarts cut through much of the ambient noise. This ensures that your voice remains crisp and clear, making the earbuds a reliable choice for making calls on the move.

Battery life

As for the battery life, Samsung claims you’ll get six full hours of audio playback on a full charge, and that is with active noise cancellation turned on. In practice, I found it was a bit less than that it was closer to 5 hours to 5 and a half hours of ANC action. But don’t forget that was with the ultra-high-quality audio streaming turned on as well. If you turn off the ANC, you’ll get closer to 6 and a half to 7 hours of playback.

So, it’s not quite up there with the very best true wireless earbuds for battery life, but it’s really not bad either slightly above average. With the ANC active and everything, you can expect around 24 hours of full-on playback using the built-in battery and the case as well. Just slip them in there, and they’ll immediately start charging. You’ll get a nice little flash from the LED lights again.

If the case runs dry, you can charge it up with a Type-C USB cable use your phone charger or whatever. Otherwise, the case also charges wirelessly, so if you’ve got a phone that supports reverse wireless charging.

80%

80%

There you have it, my full review on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. I’ve got to say, I really like them. I like the snazzy design, especially with the bit of LED light action it just helps them to stand out a bit from the crowd. Battery life is decent, the performance is excellent, you get lots of customization and the touch controls work really well. and also they're fully sweat and water resistant.

• Design and Durability

  9
• App Support and Customization

  7.5
• Touch Controls

  8
• ANC

  7.5
• Audio Quality

  8.5
• Battery Life

  7.5