this week, Samsung’s annual Unpacked eventThe company is releasing the latest generation of premium flagship earphones. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 ProLaunching two years after its predecessor, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are packed with new AI-powered audio features, interesting integration with Samsung smartphones, and a major redesign.
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The third-generation Galaxy Buds base and Pro models also feature a new form factor: instead of the rounded design reminiscent of Sony’s WF-1000X series earbuds, Samsung’s earbuds look more like, you guessed it, Apple’s AirPods.
The Galaxy Buds 3 feature a traditional earbud and stem design, with Samsung implementing the earbud’s touch controls on the stem. Like the AirPods, the Galaxy Buds 3 have a microphone housed on the top of the earbud.
The Buds 3 earbud stems are a bit longer than those on the AirPods Pro 2, giving Samsung’s latest earbuds a similar appearance to the base-model AirPods, but with an edgier, more angular design and an LED light strip along the stem. The base-model Galaxy Buds 3 omit the silicone ear tips like Apple’s AirPods (3rd generation), but the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro come with silicone tips.
In my opinion, the new design is one of the best features of the Galaxy Buds 3 series, and here’s why.
More reliable touch control
Rounded form factor earbuds like the previous generation Galaxy Buds leave very little surface area for touch controls on the outer edges of the earbuds.
If the touch controls were located there, you would have to tap in a way that would force the earbuds deeper into your ear canal, which would be uncomfortable. Additionally, loose hair could easily activate the touch controls on the outside of the earbuds, causing you to complete commands accidentally.
Touch controls are now on the stem, making them easier to access and more natural. The new touch controls on the Galaxy Buds 3, which Samsung calls Blade Lights, are similar to those found on Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, with commands for pinching and swiping the earbuds’ stems.
Finding the perfect fit
Some users find the round earbud design to be more comfortable and fit better in their ears, but for people like me, the earbud and stem design is the way to go. Companies like Samsung and Sony say the round earbud design is more “ergonomic,” but I find the earbud and stem design fits my ears better.
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When I tried Sony’s round earbuds, there wasn’t much room for adjustment if they didn’t fit my ears perfectly, and my only option was to change the size of the earbud tips. But with AirPods, you can twist the earbud stems back and forth to find the perfect angle that fits your ears best. I’m hoping the same adjustments will work with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro when I try them out soon.
