Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Samsung continues to make some of the best noise canceling wireless earbuds that money can buy. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can attenuate frequencies between 30Hz – 100Hz by nearly 50dB. The company’s mid-tier noise canceling alternative, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, also provide good ANC for the price. These earbuds can attenuate frequencies between 30Hz – 300Hz by up to 22dB. Packed with the Samsung Scalable Codec, the auto-pause function, direct Spotify access (Android only,) and Samsung 360 Audio, it is no wonder fans are chomping at the bit to get their hands on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3.

Here is everything I want to see from the updated Samsung Galaxy Buds 3.

Improved noise canceling

As things stand, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 provide up to 22dB of noise canceling around 100Hz and blocking 40dB around 10kHz. However, its application is relatively uneven, dipping to roughly 10dB of attenuation around 750Hz. This allows passing voices to penetrate the earbuds’ active noise canceling (ANC) feature. By comparison, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro reduce frequencies between 30Hz-20kHz by roughly 25dB on average. While its application is also uneven, the noise canceling feature is much stronger overall. I want to see Samsung’s next-gen mid-tier buds adopt more formidable noise canceling. This would protect users’ audio feed from distracting environmental sounds. It would also allow users to listen to their audio at lower volumes. This helps to mitigate the risk of noise-induced hearing loss and ear fatigue.

Sensible tap control sensitivity

One of the most frustrating aspects of using earbuds without pressure stems is the apparent inaccuracy when registering touch commands. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 suffer from this. Rather than tapping to resume audio playback, the buds often fall into a frenzy of pausing and skipping songs. That is unfortunate, especially given the buds do not auto-resume playback when putting them back inside the ears. Thankfully, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro improved upon its mid-tier cousin by building less sensitive touch controls. That means users can play/ pause, activate ANC and transparency mode, and skip songs with a sense of reliability. I expect the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 to follow suit, incorporating more adequality-sensitized touch controls into their build.

Longer battery life

The average battery life for wireless earbuds stands at roughly five hours. Considering the Galaxy Buds 2 provide five hours of charge, you could argue they offer good value. However, many competitors have made it their top priority to increase their earbuds’ battery life. For example, the Bose QuietComfort Buds 2 and Sennheiser Sport True Wireless last more than seven hours. Not to mention Samsung’s original Galaxy Buds, which offer up to nearly seven hours of juice. I want Samsung to peel away from the status quo with its flagship release. If the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 can provide users with longer battery life than their predecessor, I expect they will be received well at launch.

An IPX7 water-resistance rating

If Samsung decides to reinstate the wing tips of the original Galaxy Buds to the updated Galaxy Buds 3, it would make sense for them to include a more robust IP rating. Not only that, but it is an increasing expectation that modern earbuds should withstand greater exposure to moisture and dirt. This protects them from sweaty workouts, drier environments, and trips to the beach. It also gives us peace of mind that our hard-earned purchases can endure rain and accidental spillages. Given the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro wear an IPX7 water-resistance rating, I expect the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 will improve upon their predecessors’ IPX2 rating.

Support for the aptX Bluetooth Codec

The Samsung Scalable Codec boasted by the Galaxy Buds 2 is an excellent addition for Samsung smartphone users. It prioritizes connection stability by making constant adjustments to streaming rates. This means users are less likely to suffer from audio dropouts and stutters. It also provides up to 512kbps, 48kHz/ 24-bit audio sampling. However, if you own an iPhone or an Android device other than a Samsung, you miss out on this feature entirely. That means falling back on either AAC or SBC Bluetooth connectivity. While AAC works well for iPhone users, it performs unpredictably with some Android devices. Ambitious though it is, I would love to see the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 support the aptX Bluetooth Codec. This would provide a larger pool of smartphone owners with a high-quality Bluetooth connection. However, I doubt it will happen.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Buds 3?

As yet, there has been no official announcement from Samsung about the release of the Galaxy Buds 3. However, Michel Groenheijde of GalaxyClub reports that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are in development. These are said to take on the model numbers SM-R530 and SM-R630 respectively. Michel Groenheijde also states that the required firmware for both buds has recently been developed. This comes alongside reports that the battery for the charging case recently appeared at a South Korean inspection agency.

The launch of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE on October 10, 2023, indicates the company is still interested in updating its Galaxy Buds catalog. These buds benefit from up to 43dB of noise canceling, a low price tag, and a comfortable and small form factor. However, the more affordable price point has forced Samsung to omit flagship features like wireless charging and a robust IP rating. Android users can easily connect and enjoy these earbuds, but iOS fans will miss the best features. With the unveiling of a Galaxy Buds case with an OLED screen at CES 2024, I fully expect the company will bring its flagship mid-tier buds to market in 2024.

• Samsung Galaxy Buds — March 8, 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 — August 28, 2021

Samsung has released many different Galaxy earbud variants over the years. From the Galaxy Buds Live to the Galaxy Buds Plus and everything in between, users have many earbuds to choose from. However, its Galaxy Buds line has only seen two iterations during its short lifetime. This makes it somewhat hard to determine when we should expect the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 to come to market. However, there are some details we can surmise from Samsung’s previous Galaxy Buds releases. For example, the original Galaxy Buds came to market on March 8, 2019. The company followed up two years and five months later with the Galaxy Buds 2 on August 28, 2021. If we roughly follow this release pattern, it is reasonable to expect the company’s next-gen upgrade will come to shelves in early 2024.

Unfortunately, Samsung does not seem to prefer a particular time of year for releasing its Galaxy Buds line. While the company has previously released the Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and Galaxy Buds Live in August, the original Galaxy Buds launched in March. Furthermore, the now-discontinued Galaxy Buds Plus launched in February 2020, and its most recent Galaxy Buds FE hit shelves in October 2023. This makes it difficult to ascertain which season the company’s flagship earbuds will launch.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 work seamlessly within the company’s ecosystem. If you own a Samsung smartphone, these earbuds will likely provide most of the features on your wishlist. With that in mind, it raises questions if it is worth waiting for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3. This is especially true, given you can still grab a pair of the second-generation buds for roughly ($99 at Amazon.) This is less than we envisage the Galaxy Buds 3 launching for and less than some of the immediate competition. However, many other earbud brands offer high-end features and good value for money.

Take, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These buds are often on sale, and for ($179 at Amazon,) users gain access to a more comprehensive feature set. These include Bluetooth 5.3, an IPX7 water-resistance rating, Intelligent Conversation Mode, reliable touch controls, auto device switching, and up to 50dB of noise canceling. The matte finish also feels premium, and the charging case feels more secure. The buds also benefit from a vent to relieve pressure inside the ear canal. This helps the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro remain comfortable to wear for long periods without suffering ear fatigue. Unfortunately, there are no wing tips in sight. Like the Galaxy Buds 2, running and vigorous exercise with the Pro version is a risky business.

If you own an iPhone and desire the same level of integration, then look no further than the Apple AirPods Pro 2. For ($239 at Amazon,) Apple fans gain access to the company’s updated H2 chip. In addition, users receive up to 35dB of noise canceling, Adaptive Transparency Mode, auto-wear detection, pressure-sensitive stems, slide controls, MagSafe wireless charging, and an IP54 water and dust-resistance rating. The AirPods Pro 2 also produce very pleasing sound quality and boast an extremely comfortable ergonomic fit. These earbuds come to life when paired with an iPhone. That’s because users gain bespoke features such as Spatial Audio personalization, battery life optimization, Find My compatibility, and more. However, if you own a Samsung device, there are probably better options.

Depending on the depth of your wallet, one of these may well be the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 ($249 at Amazon.) For the inflated price, users gain a lightweight design, Bose’s Auto EQ feature, up to 40dB of noise canceling, Bose’s Aware Mode, automatic ActiveSense technology, and an IPX4 rating. However, the frequency response out of the box is precarious, requiring a fair amount of equalization to get right. The Bose Music app hosts a “bass boost” EQ preset that seems unnecessary considering the earbuds’ accentuated bass response. Furthermore, the earbuds boast stabilizers on the earbud housing to ensure a consistent fit. However, the concha fins sometimes rotate on the smooth plastic of the earbuds, preventing the contacts from meeting the case when closed. This can make pairing devices, receiving firmware updates, and charging prone to failing at random intervals.

Finally, those dreaming of the days when the Galaxy Buds came equipped with wing tips may find the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless ($99 at Amazon) fit their needs. These earbuds do not play host to noise canceling. Instead, they offer users an IP54 water and dust-resistance rating to protect them from sweaty workouts. A plethora of wing and ear tips also provide a snug fit for ears of different sizes and shapes. The Sennheiser Smart Control companion app is supported by iOS and Android, allowing users to customize their audio experience. This provides access to firmware updates, a custom three-band EQ, a listening test, adjustable touch controls, and the ability to enable sidetone. The buds also support the aptX Bluetooth codec, SBC, and AAC wireless connectivity. The earbuds last more than seven hours while charging the buds for 10 minutes provides 60 minutes of music playback.

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