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1 / 10@swift_maple_71 · Owner-reported
Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
The buds get quiet really quickly
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Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying · Sign-in needed to publish · Photo optional
At 3.5, its noise cancelling beats 0% of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 86 of the 258 we've cataloged.
A 4.5 puts its audio quality in the bottom third of wireless earbuds we've measured.
Measured on 63 of the 258 we've cataloged.
Would not buy it again and still uses it daily.
Owned 6–12 months.
What gave out: One bud quieter / dead (1)
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 242 of 258 we've cataloged.
below average for wireless earbuds — based on 240 of 258 we've cataloged.
IP57 appears on 5% of the 239 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 258).
Platform ai appears on 31% of the 26 wireless earbuds we've cataloged (of 258).
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -25.5 |
| 25 | -18.6 |
| 32 | -13.5 |
| 40 | -10.3 |
| 50 | -8.7 |
| 63 | -7.7 |
| 80 | -6.5 |
| 100 | -5.2 |
| 125 | -4.5 |
| 160 | -4.0 |
| 200 | -3.7 |
| 250 | -3.5 |
| 315 | -3.3 |
| 400 | -3.0 |
| 500 | -2.9 |
| 630 | -2.2 |
| 800 | -1.4 |
| 1000 | 0.1 |
| 1250 | 2.6 |
| 1600 | 8.2 |
| 2000 | 10.9 |
| 2500 | 11.5 |
| 3150 | 9.8 |
| 4000 | 7.4 |
| 5000 | 4.8 |
| 6300 | 6.0 |
| 8000 | 8.7 |
| 10000 | -1.5 |
| 12500 | 0.8 |
| 16000 | -7.9 |
| 20000 | -20.1 |
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 3.4 |
| 26 | -0.7 |
| 33 | 0.0 |
| 41 | -0.1 |
| 52 | 0.0 |
| 65 | -0.0 |
| 82 | -0.0 |
| 103 | -0.1 |
| 130 | -0.1 |
| 163 | -0.1 |
| 205 | -0.2 |
| 259 | -0.3 |
| 325 | -0.5 |
| 410 | -0.7 |
| 516 | -0.8 |
| 613 | -1.4 |
| 772 | -1.8 |
| 972 | -2.6 |
| 1220 | -3.4 |
| 1540 | -3.2 |
| 1940 | 2.2 |
| 2440 | 12.3 |
| 3070 | 16.0 |
| 3870 | 13.9 |
| 4870 | 11.6 |
| 6130 | 6.6 |
| 7720 | 9.3 |
| 9720 | 16.1 |
| 12200 | -1.2 |
| 15400 | 8.2 |
| 19400 | 8.6 |
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 2.9 |
| 26 | 1.3 |
| 33 | -0.7 |
| 41 | -0.8 |
| 52 | -0.7 |
| 65 | -0.5 |
| 82 | 0.1 |
| 103 | 1.0 |
| 130 | 2.3 |
| 163 | 3.0 |
| 205 | 4.0 |
| 259 | 4.8 |
| 325 | 5.0 |
| 410 | 4.9 |
| 516 | 5.0 |
| 613 | 4.6 |
| 772 | 4.9 |
| 972 | 4.8 |
| 1220 | 3.0 |
| 1540 | 3.4 |
| 1940 | 7.5 |
| 2440 | 12.0 |
| 3070 | 18.5 |
| 3870 | 17.6 |
| 4870 | 15.0 |
| 6130 | 2.0 |
| 7720 | 9.0 |
| 9720 | 16.3 |
| 12200 | -0.7 |
| 15400 | 8.7 |
| 19400 | 8.4 |
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 have all the drawbacks of the Apple AirPods with their design, though they offer Samsung phone owners a fair amount of upside. However, because the fit is so crucial to how personal audio products work, these earbuds will likely fall flat for a lot of people.
✓Liked: Lollipop design, AI features, Wireless charging, Spatial Audio
✕Could be better: Fit issues, Inconsistent ANC, Fit issues sometimes disable ANC, Fit issues sometimes affect bass
What a reader who owns the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 reports after living with it. Owner-reported, checked before publishing; ordered photo-verified first, then newest.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
1 owner review
Every author writes under a generated pseudonym. A signed-in author’s email is never shown. Read more · The reader says they own it. We have not seen proof, and we say so — no label here is proof of a purchase. Read more · Owned 6–12 months · Still using it: yes, daily · Posted
Would not buy againThe buds get quiet really quickly
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What readers ask about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →See how the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 stacks up against the competition.
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Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Adam BirneyManaging EditorSamsung, it's time to make an AirPods Max competitorI love my Galaxy Buds, but I want the sound and comfort of a pair of headphones.
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Chase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerPhone-specific features suck. Here's whyHeadphone manufacturers are marching to the same somber beat.Tom TriggsContributorHow long should your earbuds last? Our battery tests have the answerEarbuds don't last long, but how much is enough?
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large
2 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · owners report ~10 h per charge vs 8.73 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations
0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Expected more from the noise cancelling
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
The battery beat their expectations
1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · owners report ~7 h per charge vs 10 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
