Samsung Pro Earbuds Review: High Marks For Sound Performance

The best wireless earbuds offer superior sound performance, effective noise cancellation, and an impressive battery life. They also have a secure, comfortable fit that ensures they stay put, even during your most intense workouts. The ACTIVE Reviews Team set out to see if the Samsung Pro Earbuds—officially called the Galaxy Buds Pro—could check all of these boxes.

While the sound performance is superior—especially for the price—these earbuds fall a little short with their active noise cancellation but more than make up for it with AutoSwitch, a feature that allows for automatic switching between devices. The Galaxy Buds also have a "voice detect" function that identifies when you’re talking and adjusts the earbuds accordingly.

In this Samsung Pro Earbuds review, we'll go through pros and cons of these wireless earbuds and dive into each feature to help you decide whether these are the workout headphones for you.

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A Quick Look at the Samsung Pro Earbuds

Samsung has come a long way since its inception in 1969. The company started as a leader in home appliances and home entertainment—it was one of the top black and white TV producers during that era—and then ventured into all sorts of consumer electronics, including smartphones and headphones.

The Samsung Galaxy earbuds series was introduced in 2019, ten years after the first Galaxy smartphone hit the market. There have been a handful of models—and a couple of iterations of each—since the first pair of earbuds became available, but the Galaxy Buds Pro are the latest and what some would call the greatest (or most advanced) option.

These earbuds promise exceptional sound performance, superior noise cancellation, extended battery life, and a comfortable fit that makes you forget you’re wearing them. But with the highest price tag in the bunch (Samsung offers two other models, the Buds2 and the Buds Live), you may be wondering if they’re worth the hype.

If you're a dedicated Samsung user adding these to your collection is a no-brainer. The sound is beautifully balanced, can last for up to seven hours on a single charge, and can be paired with several different devices—they’ll switch over automatically if you get a call on your phone while you’re listening to music on your tablet. But if you’re a fan of iOS or are looking for earbuds that excel in the active noise cancellation department, these may not be the best option for you.

Here's everything you need to know about the Galaxy Buds Pro.

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Samsung Pro Earbuds

SPECS

• Type: Wireless
• Earbuds weight: 6.3 g (0.22 oz.) per bud
• Earbuds dimensions: 20.8mm x 19.6mm x 20.83mm (Case: 50” x 50.3” x 20.7”)
• Listening time: 5-7 hours
• Total battery life: Up to 7 hours, plus 20 hours of charge in the case
• Bluetooth compatibility: Bluetooth v5.0
• Charging cable: USB
• Water resistance: up to 3 ft. deep for 30 min.

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Design

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro got a much-requested redesign after users complained about the bean-like shape of their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds Live. These earbuds have a rounder shape, with silicone ear tips that help form a seal to block outside noise (more on this later). The bulk of the earbuds are made from plastic, of which 20% is recycled, and the design is rather long, at just under 21 millimeters deep.

The design is strategic, meant to reduce discomfort when you’re wearing the earbuds for an extended time. The earbuds also have air vents that allow air to flow freely and help neutralize ear pressure for even more comfort.

They fit securely in your ears, so they won’t budge if you wear them while running or in the gym. The earbuds come with three different size tips—small, medium, and large—that contribute to getting a custom fit and the correct seal for the noise cancellation.

Audio Performance

The Galaxy Buds Pro excels in audio performance, arguably the most important earbud feature, depending on your main usage goals. The sound is balanced, with just the right amount of treble and bass, and the bass doesn't get drowned out—a complaint that often comes hand in hand with lower-quality earbuds. The mids and highs occasionally lose some clarity, but nothing the average user would pick up on.

If you prefer more bass, you can use the “bass boost” EQ setting for even more of a bump, or control the sound through the app. These earbuds also come equipped with Samsung 360 Audio, allowing you to listen to music in the earbud’s surround sound. Note that his feature requires OneUI 3.1, only available on the Galaxy S21 phones at the moment.

Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro comes equipped with active noise cancellation, although most reviewers say it doesn’t compare to the level of quiet you get with other pairs. Rather than completely drowning out the sound around you, these earbuds only muffle outside noise.

You can switch between active noise cancellation and ambient mode, which turns the noise cancellation down a notch and connects you back to the world a bit more. One cool callout here is that the earbuds have a voice detect feature that will automatically lower volume and switch from noise cancellation to ambient mode once you start talking. A few seconds after you stop talking, the earbuds will revert to your previous settings.

Battery Life

With active noise cancellation turned on, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro lasts five hours on a full charge with continuous use. The case is rechargeable and holds an extra 13 hours of juice. If you turn active noise cancellation off, you’ll get seven hours of usage and an additional 20 hours from the case.

These earbuds support fast charging (via a USB-C port), so if you unexpectedly run out of battery, you can throw them on a fast charger and get re-upped pretty quickly. Three minutes of fast charging will get you 30 minutes of playtime, while 10 minutes of charging will bump you up to 85 minutes. They also support wireless charging.

Connectivity

Like most wireless earbuds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds connect to your Android device via Bluetooth, specifically v5.0. They're only compatible with Android devices that have over 1.5GB of ram and are running version Android 7.0 or higher.

They're also compatible with Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant so once connected, you can use voice commands to control the earbuds.

The earbuds don’t support multipoint connectivity, but you can pair them to several devices and they'll automatically switch over, with the aptly named AutoSwitch, as needed. For example, if you're watching a movie on your tablet and you get a call on your phone, the earbuds will pull the audio from your phone during your call and then automatically switch back to your tablet once your call has ended.

Other Features

One standout feature of the Samsung Galaxy Buds pro is the touch controls. To operate the earbuds, all you have to do is tap them a set number of times to execute the corresponding command. One tap plays and/or pauses music, two taps play the next song or answer a call, and three taps go back to a song. There's also a customizable touch-and-hold control that you can change within the app.

The earbuds also have an internal microphone that allows you to answer calls or control the earbuds through voice commands via Bixby. Users report that the mic sounds clear, albeit not as clear as a phone mic, but there is minimal noise distraction even when talking outside.

Warranty

Like all Samsung's earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro is covered by a one-year limited warranty, which is pretty standard in this particular tech category. The warranty starts on the date of purchase and covers defects in the earbuds, the batteries, and additional accessories, like the charging case. The warranty does not cover ordinary wear and tear or defect caused by misuse, improper storage, or accidental damage. The warranty also doesn't apply to cosmetic damages like dents or scratches.

PROS

• Excellent audio performance
• Can connect to multiple devices
• Touch controls
• Water resistance
• 5-7 hours of listening time
• 1-year warranty
• Made with 20% recycled plastic

CONS

• Only connects to Android devices
• Sub-par noise cancellation
• Battery life less impressive than other models

BUY: Samsung Pro Earbuds

Final Thoughts on Samsung Pro Earbuds

If you're a dedicated Android user, the Samsung Pro Earbuds make sense. They're lightweight and comfortable, provide a secure fit, and have superior audio quality. They're also water-resistant—a feature many other models can't claim—and are easy to operate via touch controls and voice commands. While they don’t support multipoint connection, they seamlessly transition from device to device thanks to the AutoSwitch feature.

If your main goal is active noise cancellation, you may be somewhat disappointed with these, as they muffle sound more than drown it out completely. However, if you prefer to stay connected with the world as you listen to music or your favorite podcast, this isn't necessarily a dealbreaker.