In a world overflowing with wireless earbuds, finding a pair that strikes a near-perfect balance between sound quality, comfort, durability, and smart features is rare. After using the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro AI True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds for over a year, I can confidently say: these are among the best earbuds I’ve ever owned. Not perfect—but darn close.
If you’re considering investing in these high-end buds, here’s everything you need to know from someone who’s used them daily for 12 months across calls, workouts, commutes, work shifts, and more.
👂 Fit and Comfort: Finally, a Design That Works All Day
Let’s start with the fit, because most people (like me) know how frustrating it is to constantly adjust earbuds. Coming from the older Buds Pros and other stemless designs, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are in a whole different league.
The new design with a triangular stem and soft silicone tips may seem odd at first, but after a week of use, they mold comfortably to your ear shape. I can now wear them for 6–8 hours at work without any discomfort. Occasionally, one earbud may begin to slip slightly—but that’s a fair trade-off for the reduced pressure and better airflow. Plus, the app includes a fit test to make sure you’re getting the right seal.
Even during high-movement workouts or jogs, these buds stay put. I had even bought over-the-ear hooks out of habit, but I’ve never once needed them.
📱 Smart Touch Controls: Best in Class
Samsung truly nailed the touch control experience. The pinch-and-tap on the stem is extremely responsive and accurate. Even better? Swipe gestures for volume control are flawlessly implemented.
Unlike most stemless or surface-touch buds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s design makes these controls feel natural, instant, and intuitive, which is huge when you’re on the go and need to adjust playback or answer a call fast.
🎧 Sound Quality: Near Audiophile-Level for In-Ears
Let’s talk audio. The sound profile is rich, balanced, and customizable. Out of the box, they sound great. But with a few tweaks in the Samsung Wearable app’s EQ settings, the Buds 3 Pro go from good to outstanding:
- Crisp highs, never tinny or sharp
- Full, warm mids that don’t get lost in the mix
- Bass that punches surprisingly deep for earbuds this size
After a proper burn-in period, I was able to pick out instrument layers even in complex tracks. From classical to EDM to podcasts, the audio is immersive and distortion-free.
Do they beat a pair of wired studio monitors? No—but for Bluetooth in-ears, these compete with high-end over-ear headphones.
🔇 Active Noise Cancelling (ANC): Good, But Still a Work-in-Progress
The ANC on the Buds 3 Pro is strong—but inconsistent in certain environments. In public spaces—trains, shopping centers, rideshares—it performs admirably, reducing 80–90% of ambient noise and leaving only a soft background hum.
But in my specialty workshop, the ANC occasionally stumbles. While grinding metal or working heavy machinery, the ANC sometimes lets through odd frequency spikes, causing one earbud to suddenly pick up more ambient sound than the other. It’s jarring—like your ears experienced a pressure shift.
That said, for everyday environments and commutes, it’s more than sufficient. I’m hopeful a firmware update can smooth this out.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) – Could be better in industrial use, but otherwise solid.
🔋 Battery Life: Could Be Better, But Fast Charging Saves the Day
With ANC enabled, battery life takes a noticeable dip. I typically get 4.5 to 5 hours of playback, which is short of the advertised specs and less than my old Sony XM5s. I’ve also noticed that one bud can drain faster than the other during long use.
However, a quick 10-minute charge in the case gives hours of extra use, which makes up for it somewhat.
If battery life is your number one concern, you may want to look elsewhere. But for most users, it’s manageable.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
🔗 Ecosystem Integration: Samsung Users Rejoice
Here’s where the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro truly shine: if you’re in the Samsung ecosystem, the connectivity is seamless:
- Auto-connect to your phone or tablet when you open the case
- See battery status on your Samsung Watch
- Works perfectly with Fold, Z Flip, and Galaxy Ultra series
- Supports multi-device switching between phone, PC, and tablet
- Pairs well with Windows 11 for Teams and Zoom calls
The live translation feature is impressive—working both for recorded content and real-time conversations when paired with the Galaxy Fold 6.
🎤 Mic Quality and Call Performance: A Quiet Surprise
I didn’t expect much here, but I was wrong. The mic is clear and consistent, even in noisy environments. I’ve used it for MS Teams calls, regular phone chats, and even video conferencing with zero complaints.
It automatically adjusts to reduce background noise during calls, which is perfect for busy settings.
💰 Value for Money: Premium Price, Premium Performance
At the current price point, the Buds 3 Pro sit in the “premium” range. Yes, there are cheaper options. But if you value build quality, app support, audio experience, seamless ecosystem integration, and long-term comfort, these deliver.
And after one full year of drops, workouts, heavy usage, commutes, and calls, mine are still going strong with only a few small scuffs on the case—no cracks, no hinge issues, and still working like day one.
🧼 Small Gripes & Fixes
- No cleaning tool included, but I bought a $5 cleaner—works fine.
- Limited ear tip sizes: Only small, medium, and large. A Medium-Small would’ve been perfect.
- Expensive, but considering durability and feature set, worth it for most users.
