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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are here, and they look just like AirPods

Has Samsung taken two steps forward, but one step back?
By

Published onJuly 10, 2024

A hand holds the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 earbuds inside their case.
C. Scott Brown / SoundGuys
TL;DR
  • The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 have arrived, and they sport an “Open” design that lacks ear tips.
  • Samsung packed the earbuds with features such as a language interpreter, voice commands, Adaptive EQ and ANC, and AI noise-reduction microphones.
  • They are launching alongside the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which have ear tips and interactive lights on the stem.

It’s been nearly three years since the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 launched, but we finally have the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3. The first thing you’ll notice with these earbuds is their rather Apple-esque design, especially in the white color option. We can’t help but draw some stark similarities between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and the Apple AirPods (3rd generation). Just like the Apple earbuds, these new Galaxy Buds don’t have ear tips, which means you will likely struggle to attain an ideal fit with a good seal from the outside world. The earbuds also have a stem design that slides vertically into the charging case in the same way as AirPods.

The AirPods similarities don’t stop with the design either. The Galaxy Buds 3 have an Adaptive EQ feature that utilizes the internal and external microphones on the earbuds to adjust the sound in real-time. Sound familiar? The Apple AirPods pioneered the same tech under the same name. The new Galaxy Buds use those same microphones for Adaptive ANC, which is a feature you won’t find on the regular AirPods, but you will find on the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation).

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 inside their charging case.
C. Scott Brown / SoundGuys
Don’t be fooled by the design, these aren’t new AirPods.

One new and unique feature of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 is its Interpreter, which can translate incoming audio in real time when the earbuds are paired to a Samsung Galaxy device. The earbuds also have a Voice Command feature, which allows you to control the earbuds without needing to touch the controls. If you want to get hands-on, the new stem promises intuitive pinch and swipe controls.

If you like taking calls on the go, you’ll likely appreciate the new Super-Wideband call functionality on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3. Samsung is utilizing a pre-trained model based on machine learning to block out background noise. This should ensure the person on the other end of the line can hear you clearly in any environment. If you do plan on wearing your earbuds outdoors, you’ll be happy to know the earbuds have IP57 dust and water resistance.

We’ll have to put the earbuds through our testing to see how the sound quality holds up, but the Galaxy Buds 3 are packing some meaty specs. You get the latest Bluetooth 5.4 with Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC UHQ) which promises ultra-high quality up to 24 bit / 96kHz on supported Galaxy devices. You can find all of the specs listed below.

ColorsSilver, White
Dimensions
Earbud: 18.1 x 20.4 x 31.9 mm
Charging Case: 58.9 x 48.7 x 24.4 mm
Weight
Earbud: 4.7g
Charging Case: 46.5g
Speaker
1-Way: 11mm Dynamic Driver
Microphone
3 Mics + VPU
Sound
UHQ
24bit Hi-Fi
360 Audio with Direct Multi-
Channel
Noise Control
ANC
Battery
Up to 5 hours / Total up to 24 hours
(ANC on)
Earbuds: 48mAh (typical)
Charging Case: 515mAh (typical)
Connectivity
Bluetooth® 5.4, Auto Switch
Codec: SSC(Samsung Seamless
Codec) HiFi, SSC UHQ (Samsung
Proprietary)
AAC, SBC
Sensors
Voice Pickup Unit (VPU), Force &
Touch (Swipe), SWIR, Accelerometer,
Hall sensor
Durability
IP57

Pre-orders begin today for $179.99, with general availability starting on July 24. Stay tuned for our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, where we’ll see how these earbuds hold up against AirPods and all the other top wireless earbuds.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Lollipop design • AI features • Wireless charging • Spatial Audio • Advanced processing
MSRP: $179.99
These Buds have a stem
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are a brand new design in Samsung's flagship wireless earbud line. These buds have a stem. A single 11mm driver delivers 24-bit Hi-Fi audio, Bluetooth 5.4 enables better connectivity and codec support, and you'll get up to 3.5 hours of voice call time with ANC turned on.
See price at Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Buds3
See price at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Buds3
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