Three years. It's been three years since Samsung released the Galaxy Buds 2. In that time, Samsung has gone back into the lab to completely redesign the earbuds, bringing us the mid-range Samsung Galaxy Buds 3. But the Buds 3 aren't just a fancy redesign. They're more durable, sound better, and even have AI built in. And despite being open-air, Samsung has included some solid ANC for when you want to tune out a bit of the surrounding noise. And you get great call quality, thanks to a microphone embedded in the blades.
The derivative design and short battery life are big drawbacks to consider when considering buying the Galaxy Buds 3, as well as the worry (real or imagined) of one or both earbuds slipping out of your ear. They're not the cheapest earbuds around, but for those looking for affordable headphones designed exclusively for the Samsung ecosystem, you can't beat them.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
The Galaxy Buds 3 are Samsung's all-round earbuds that offer all the features you'd expect from premium earbuds, but not quite as many as their more expensive siblings – they still have the 11mm dynamic drivers, ANC and great battery life, but at less than three-quarters the price.
- Great audio and call quality
- Great ANC and spatial audio
- Extensive feature set
- Falls out of the ears easily
- Shorter battery life than competing products
- Variant Design
Pricing, Availability and Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are currently on sale for $180 on Samsung's website, Amazon, and Best Buy. That's not as expensive as the flagship Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, which costs $250. Instead, the Buds 3 are firmly planted in the mid-range, meaning its main competitors are the AirPods 3 ($200), Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless ($200), Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($100), and Google Pixel Buds Pro ($150).
What's great about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3?
The Buds are pretty comfortable. I wore them for a little over five hours without any discomfort. I like that Samsung increased the durability of the Buds 3 to IP57 (dust and water resistance) from the previous generation's IP52 (limited dust and water resistance). I also like Samsung's choice to mix clear and opaque plastic for the charging case. Of the two color options, I prefer the white, but I think I'll stick with the silver for the Buds themselves.
Listen. No, really listen. The Galaxy Buds 3 sound great. Along with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, these are the best-sounding earbuds Samsung has ever made. That said, while the Buds 3 Pro are the better of the two, don't discount the Buds 3 yet. For audio testing, we streamed tracks from Tidal with the audio quality at its maximum setting, while keeping the in-app equalizer set to balance.
Childish Gambino's “Survive” (feat. Chlöe) had a bit of diffuse bass, but the synth keyboards and piano didn't feel crowded. Gambino and Chlöe's vocals were clean, and the airy reverb had plenty of soundstage. “Persephone” traded in the boomy bass for the gentle timbre of Allison Russell's guitar and clean clarinet. The artist's powerful alto was a near-yodeling twang with just the slightest hint of plosives.
The spatial audio is good, but not as good as something like the Sony WF-1000XM5; those Sony earphones cost $300, after all. When I listened to the 112 classic “Come See Me,” I felt a richness I'd never heard without 360-degree audio. That richness was even more pronounced on the Bee Gees' “How Deep Is Your Love,” with the keyboards on the left, strings on the right, and the Gibbs Brothers feeling like they were front and center.
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Great Audio + Great ANC + Great Battery Life = Great Earbuds
It may seem a bit contradictory to have active noise cancellation in the open-ear Buds 3, but that's the reality. I'm adamant about replacing the natural symphony of New York City with my own symphony, the soundtrack of my life, so I'd never discount this feature. With ANC enabled, the Buds 3 are very good, quiet enough to pass up the sounds of a noisy city as a dull roar, yet still present enough to make the angry, insistent horns of electric scooters audible. So, they're not the best ANC earbuds, but they're effective.
The call quality of this product is excellent. I spoke to my brother for 1 hour and 10 minutes while I walked the dog, then came home and turned on the TV. The open-ear design allows some outside noise in, but my brother said it was minimal. He faintly heard an ambulance siren on the way home, and some TV static, but only after it was turned up to maximum volume.
Almost every piece of technology you see these days has some sort of AI. The Galaxy Buds 3 is no exception. Both the Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are powered by Samsung's AI. However, the Buds 3 has noticeably less AI than the Buds 3 Pro. Some features, like Interpreter Mode, only work on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 for now. However, on any phone, you get access to Adaptive ANC and EQ, which automatically adjusts depending on the level of sound around you. Voice-activated Bixby is accurate, but to be honest, I don't use digital assistants much, whether it's Bixby or Google.
What's bad about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3?
Samsung has gone from shiny beans to matte, irregular Mentos mints to shiny, chunky AirPods knockoffs. Personally, I think Samsung should have stuck with the distorted Mentos design. That's not to say they don't look cool; they are. I just wish the Buds 3 had LED lights on the blades like the Buds 3 Pro do.
But as soon as I put the earbuds in my ears, I felt the usual anxiety: If I moved around too much or sweated too much, one or both of the earbuds would fly off into the distance and I'd never find them again. Never mind the find-your-ears feature. And sure enough, both earbuds slipped out of my ears while I was out walking, probably due to the sweat that was making me sweat in the muggy New York summer heat.
Samsung rates the Buds 3 at 6 hours of use with ANC on and 7 hours with it off. Combined with the charging case, that means 26 hours with ANC on and 30 hours with it off. That's not bad in itself, but… Google Pixel Buds Pro (ANC 7 hours/ANC off 11 hours) Anchor Soundcore Liberty 4 NC (8hrs ANC/10hrs ANC off) on the market, Samsung really needs to step up its game.
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Should I buy it?
At the very least, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 prove that not every product needs to be released every year. Samsung took its time with the Buds 3 to create a pair of earbuds that are a quantum leap from their predecessors. Despite following the AirPods design to its fullest, but with a chunkier, more angular design, the Buds 3 offer better sound quality, call quality, and durability. Plus, they combine robust ANC and spatial audio with some AI features. And they're actually pretty comfortable.
But I wish Samsung had found a better design than the AirPods knockoffs, because I was always worried the AirPods would slip out of my ears. That was, of course, until Apple put ear tips on the Pro. But the more egregious shortcoming is the battery life. The Galaxy Buds 3's battery life is about the same as its predecessor, which is disappointing after three years. Ultimately, the Galaxy Buds 3 are one of the best Samsung earbuds available for those who don't want to shell out $250 for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
The Galaxy Buds 3 are Samsung's all-round earbuds that offer all the features you'd expect from premium earbuds, but not quite as many as their more expensive siblings – they still have the 11mm dynamic drivers, ANC and great battery life, but at less than three-quarters the price.
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