Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro - At Last, Music to My Ears

Fit, fit, fit.

The more earbuds I try (and as I always say, I probably review more earbuds than any other type of device) the more I'm convinced a good fit is the single most important feature.

Oh sure, some people might argue sound quality is actually the priority and I guess, yes, if you're going to the trouble of sticking something in your ears to make noises, then they should probably make nice noises - but I'd argue your earbuds won't ever sound good if they don't fit properly anyway.

Some people choose comfort over performance and prefer a more open fit that rests on or near their ears. Those people are obviously wrong.

A nice, snug, in-ear seal provides better sound - particularly when it comes to bass response - and also does half the job of noise cancellation before you even need to activate ANC.

And yet, many manufacturers keep tweaking the form factor of their bud - perhaps none more so than Samsung.

Samsung's earlier efforts in the True Wireless area were quite bulky things, and were even equipped with their own internal storage so you could load music onto the buds themselves and use them independently of a phone. Crazy times indeed.

Over the years, the shape became more refined, more subtle and at one point, weirdly bean-like - all in the name of a better, more comfortable, more secure fit.

But we never had stems. Until now.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are perhaps the most striking devices Samsung has launched in 2024. That's saying something. We've seen amazing TVs, new tablets and heaps of phones... including the foldable Galaxy Z Flip6 and Galaxy Z Fold6. And yet, none of these have been completely redesigned like the Galaxy Buds3 Pro have.

Whether you're a fan of buds-with-stems or not, Samsung has decided their flagship buds now come with stems - sorry - not stems, "BLADES." Not sure how many people like the idea of putting blades in their ears but to be fair, they're not cylindrical, they have a triangular profile which rests a flat side against each earlobe for stability.

Up until now I wasn't really sure if I was a stem/blade guy or not. Previously I'd always favoured the buds-only style because I thought it looked more subtle. I'd prefer if people didn't even notice I was wearing earbuds at all. You know? Like a secret agent.

In the past, more often than not, buds with stems meant an open-fit design too. And as we've already firmly established, that's just wrong.

But once many brands moved towards what I call a hybrid-stem design - stems and sealed tips combined - I started to change my tune. There's no arguing the more points of contact the buds have with your ears, the more evenly the weight is distributed, the more comfortable they are and the longer you can wear them for.

Samsung has absolutely nailed this combination on its first attempt. The Buds3 Pro may be the most comfortable AND the most secure fit I've tried to date. There are three sizes of soft ear tips included in the box, all with an oval-rather-than-circular design, which everyone seems to agree, matches up better with the majority of earholes out there.

There are more advantages to stems/blades than drawbacks, it seems. You get better, more directional mic performance for phone calls - that's kind of obvious. The blade is also a much more practical place to put your on-board controls, which is exactly what Samsung has done.

While recent Galaxy Buds were definitely small and subtle, because you controlled them by touch, it was pretty much impossible to put them in or take them out without accidentally playing, pausing or skipping tracks. Now play/pause happens with a deliberate pinch of the blade. Volume is an intuitive swipe up or down and ANC can be toggled on or off with a long pinch. This is all customisable and none of it will be fired off by mistake. A massive improvement.

Samsung would also like you to believe the blades look really cool. So much so they each have an LED strip that can light up down the middle. Have I ever mentioned that I hate silly little lights? I have? I still don't really understand what the lights are for or how they work. I think it might be something to do with battery level. Maybe volume? Who knows? Who cares? It's not like I can see them when I'm wearing the buds anyway and for that reason, it doesn't really bother me.

As we're all aware, 2024 is the year of compulsory AI and so Samsung has obliged by squeezing plenty Galaxy AI into the Buds3 Pro too.

Apparently, we've got Galaxy AI to thank for improved, customised sound performance as well as some of the best Active Noise Cancelling I've come across. ANC can be set to adjust automatically to your environment or if you're like me, you just wind it up to max and block everything out all the time.

In terms of overall sound performance the Buds3 Pro aren't just good, they're great.

Lucid 3 is a Kiwi band known for it's excellent production and dominating, sweeping bass lines. Their song "Wheel" is a fine example and the Buds3 Pro really do it justice; fat, warm bass and distinct stereo effects.

I'm always impressed when something as small as an earbud can produce a genuine sense of space. This is crucial when it comes to bringing surround-sound and 360° effects to life. And thanks to the latest Bluetooth 5.4 codec, when the Buds3 Pro are paired with a flagship Samsung Galaxy handset, you'll achieve legit hi-res playback.

There's a long list of technical reasons why these are Samsung's best-sounding buds yet - does the phrase, "enhanced 2-way speakers with planar tweeters" mean anything to you? Don't worry, I had to Google it too. Let's just say whether it's the acoustic blues of Amos Lee's "Skipping Stone," or the relentless, driving rock of "Ain't Gonna Get" by the Baby Animals, the sound is big, accurate and addictive.

These are perhaps the most full featured earbuds I've tried... Thanks to Galaxy AI they'll even translate for you, almost in real time like the legendary Babel Fish of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fame. I tested this out with a Russian sci-fi series on Netflix. It was interesting.

The Russian dialogue was subtitled as, "Good morning, Georgy. It's time to wake up. The world belongs to those who get up early."

But thanks to Galaxy AI, what I heard was, "Good afternoon, Georgy Nikolaevich, It's time to stand aside, Siri's foreheads are served."

Is there a way both versions could be right? Anyway, the Buds3 Pro are potentially a very useful travel tool indeed.

Added extras aside, I've worn too many earbuds that just don't stay in. The Buds3 Pro definitely do, they carry an IP57 water-resistance rating and they have good battery life, so they're an excellent choice for exercise and that includes long runs or bike-rides. Thanks to Adaptive Noise Control, Ambient Sound and Siren Detect, you'll probably even hear that firetruck coming up behind you before it runs you over.

These are easily the best earbuds I've tried this year and maybe ever. Even with the stupid lights.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.