Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

When the rumors began to swirl about Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live, the promise of active noise cancellation (ANC) led me to believe the company was finally addressing a key omission from its lineup. However, those earbuds would ultimately offer an “open type” design that doesn’t seal your ear canal entirely. So while ANC was there, it wasn’t particularly effective. Enter the Galaxy Buds Pro ($200). Samsung’s most complete earbuds pack in ANC, 360 Audio and a host of handy features and mount a convincing case against Apple’s AirPods Pro. The Galaxy Buds Pro isn’t as clear a bargain as other Galaxy Buds, but Samsung does have a lot to offer here.

There’s no question Galaxy Buds Live have a unique design. And one that inspired a host of memes. Their shape allows them to sit securely in the curves of your ear while sitting outside of the ear canal, but there’s nothing that actually goes into your ear. With the Galaxy Buds Pro, Samsung combined the subtle curves from the Live with the small stature of original Galaxy Buds. The result are tiny earbuds that are comfortable despite a tip that goes into and seals off your ear canal. 

When the rumors began to swirl about Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live, the promise of active noise cancellation (ANC) led me to believe the company was finally addressing a key omission from its lineup. However, those earbuds would ultimately offer an “open type” design that doesn’t seal your ear canal entirely. So while ANC was there, it wasn’t particularly effective. Enter the Galaxy Buds Pro ($200). Samsung’s most complete earbuds pack in ANC, 360 Audio and a host of handy features and mount a convincing case against Apple’s AirPods Pro. The Galaxy Buds Pro isn’t as clear a bargain as other Galaxy Buds, but Samsung does have a lot to offer here.

On the outside two microphones are visible, and the one closest to your face is covered with what Samsung calls Wind Shield technology. The overall design of earbuds tuck in your ear better, so there’s less opportunity for the external mics to catch a breeze. And the mesh-covered Wind Shield chamber further reduces any weather-related issues. Combined with the other outer mic and a third one on the inside, those components work together to block out noise as part of the ANC setup.

If you’re looking for a workout partner, the Galaxy Buds Pro can certainly withstand sweat. They’re IPX7 rated water resistant, which means you can submerge them in water (up to 1 meter) for up to 30 minutes. The charging case is not water resistant, but the earbuds offer the highest water resistance for any Galaxy Buds yet.