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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.8 update for Headphones! Read the R&D Article to learn more.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Oct 18, 2021 at 12:46 pm
Latest change: Retest Mar 06, 2023 at 03:45 pm
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless Picture
7.1
Neutral Sound
7.7
Commute/Travel
8.1
Sports/Fitness
7.0
Office
5.6
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
6.4
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are in-ear headphones with a good active noise cancelling (ANC) feature. They can isolate more noise than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless, although they still struggle to cut down bass-range noise like engine rumbles. They're also similarly well-built to other Samsung truly wireless headphones, and they have a higher IPX7 certification for protection against water immersion. Unfortunately, their 4.3-hour continuous battery life falls short of that of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless.

Our Verdict

7.1 Neutral Sound

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are satisfactory for neutral sound. They have an excited, V-shaped sound profile, which delivers extra thump and boom while brightening vocals and lead instruments. If you prefer a more neutral sound, their companion app offers a few EQ presets to help customize them to your liking. They also have consistent bass and treble delivery and a comfortable fit.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
  • EQ presets available.
Cons
  • Sub-par battery performance.
  • Bad passive soundstage.
7.7 Commute/Travel

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are good for commute and travel. They're well-built and don't leak too much audio, so you can enjoy your audio at high volumes without disturbing others around you. They also have a comfortable fit, and they're easily portable. However, their ANC struggles to cut down bass-range noise like bus or plane engine rumbles. They also have a fairly short continuous battery life and may need to be recharged during longer trips.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
  • Stable and very breathable fit.
Cons
  • Sub-par battery performance.
8.1 Sports/Fitness

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are great for sports and fitness. Even though they lack stability fins, they have a stable fit that's suitable for moderate exercise. They're also lightweight, comfortable, easily portable, and have a very breathable design, so you shouldn't sweat more than normal while wearing them. They're certified IPX7 for protection against water immersion too. However, they lack volume controls by default and offer a limited control scheme.

Pros
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
  • Stable and very breathable fit.
Cons
  • Sub-par battery performance.
7.0 Office

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are decent for office use. They're comfortable and have low leakage, so you can enjoy your audio at a high volume without disturbing others around you. They also have a good ANC, which can help cut down some ambient chatter. Unfortunately, their 4.3-hour continuous battery life won't make it through a full day at work without a recharge.

Pros
  • Can isolate ambient chatter.
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Sub-par battery performance.
  • No multi-device or NFC pairing.
5.6 Wireless Gaming

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro aren't recommended for wireless gaming. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, the latency is likely to be too high for gaming. They also aren't compatible with Xbox and PlayStation consoles. That said, they offer a low latency 'Gaming Mode' if you want to play games on your mobile device.

5.5 Wired Gaming

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are Bluetooth-only headphones that you can't use on a wired connection.

6.4 Phone Calls

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are passable for phone calls. Their integrated mic can capture your voice clearly, although it sounds a little muffled and distorted. However, it struggles to separate your voice from background noise, which could be a problem if you're talking in a loud environment. They can reduce some unwanted sounds around you thanks to their ANC feature, meaning you can focus on your call.

Pros
  • Can isolate ambient chatter.
  • Comfortable and well-built design.
Cons
  • Mic has poor noise handling.
  • Sub-par battery performance.
  • 7.1 Neutral Sound
  • 7.7 Commute/Travel
  • 8.1 Sports/Fitness
  • 7.0 Office
  • 5.6 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.5 Wired Gaming
  • 6.4 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Mar 06, 2023: These headphones can connect to the Galaxy Buds app on Windows. As a result, we've raised the scoring of App Support from '7.0' to '7.5'.
  2. Updated Oct 18, 2022: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless in Passive Soundstage.
  3. Updated Oct 14, 2022: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless in Noise Isolation.
  4. Updated Oct 18, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  5. Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  6. Updated Feb 05, 2021: We've retested and updated the noise isolation performance of these headphones using the R190XXU0AUA5 firmware update.
  7. Updated Feb 05, 2021: Review published.
  8. Updated Feb 02, 2021: Early access published.
  9. Updated Jan 28, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Jan 28, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Dec 30, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro come in four color variants: 'Phantom Black', 'Phantom Silver', 'Phantom Violet', and 'Phantom White'. We tested the Phantom Black variant, and you can see their label here. However, we expect all color variants to perform similarly to our model.

If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are truly wireless headphones with an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature. This feature performs better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless and can cut down a good amount of noise around you. They also support 360 Audio with compatible smartphones, which can help create a more immersive audio experience. However, their battery performance is sub-par and only lasts around 4.3 hours compared to the over 13 hours offered by the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless.

Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ear headphones, the best wireless earbuds for Android, and the best true wireless earbuds.

Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless

The Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Apple feel better built and have a more neutral sound profile, and their ANC feature can reduce even more ambient noise around you. They also have a longer total battery life. However, the Samsung have EQ presets and two ANC levels via their companion app.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Bose have much better build quality, a longer continuous battery life, and a significantly better noise isolation performance. They have a more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer, and their touch-sensitive controls are easier to use. However, the Samsung are more comfortable.

Beats Fit Pro True Wireless

The Beats Fit Pro True Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Beats have a more stable in-ear fit, their default sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer, and they support Spatial Audio on iOS devices for a more immersive sound. They also have a better battery performance and have an H1 chip for seamless pairing with your Apple devices. However, the Samsung headphones are more comfortable, and their companion app offers EQ presets to help you customize their sound.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless are slightly better in-ear headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless, but the differences are minor. While both buds are comfortable and well-built, the Buds2 Pro have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and their companion app offers more features. They also have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Buds+ have a more stable in-ear fit, a better-balanced sound profile, and longer-lasting continuous battery life with a standby mode to help conserve battery life when not in use. However, some users may prefer the Pro's ANC feature, which can help cut down some ambient noise around you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Buds2 have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their noise isolation performance is better, and their mic has a better recording quality.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless are better for most purposes than the Samsung Galaxy Βuds Pro Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a longer continuous battery life, a better overall mic performance, and a more comprehensive control scheme. Their default sound profile is more neutral, which some may prefer, and their app has more sound customization features. They’re also rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, while the Samsung are rated IPX7 for water resistance only. However, the Samsung come with a better case.

Beats Studio Buds True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Beats Studio Buds True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Samsung have a more stable in-ear fit, significantly better noise isolation, and their companion app offers EQ presets. However, the Beats have a somewhat better battery performance.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are significantly better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless. The Pro are more comfortable and have a better-balanced sound profile right out of the box. Their ANC can reduce more ambient noise around you, and their integrated mic offers better overall performance. However, the Live have longer-lasting continuous battery life.

Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless

The Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either, depending on your needs. The Sony have a longer continuous battery life and a more neutral sound profile, which some may prefer. Their mic also has much better noise handling. On the other hand, the Samsung have a much more comfortable and stable fit. They have lower latency and a mic with significantly better recording quality. The Sony’s mic has much better noise handling, so they’re more suitable for calls outside quiet places.

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless offer a better overall performance than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The FE model are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also have a longer continuous battery life and support Samsung's Scalable Codec, which allows you to stream audio in higher quality.

Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless

The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both earbuds are comfortable and well-built, the Sony headphones have a significantly better noise isolation performance, a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and more robust sound customization features via their companion app. However, the Samsung headphones have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless

The Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Google headphones have a better noise isolation performance thanks to their ANC system, they have a superior battery life, and they support multi-device pairing. However, the Samsung headphones have a more comfortable fit.

Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better than the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) Truly Wireless for most purposes. The Samsung have a more comfortable, stable fit and a higher IPX7 rating for water resistance. They also have ANC and block out much more ambient sound. On the other hand, the Apple's open design allows you to hear your surroundings, and they offer a better overall battery performance. Also, both headphones have some OS-specific features, so you may prefer either depending on what device you use. The Samsung's virtual surround sound feature only works on Android, while the Apple's only works on iOS.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless

The Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones for most uses than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Sony are better-built, have a somewhat better noise isolation performance, and a longer continuous battery life. Their companion app also offers a graphic EQ to help adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Samsung have a more bass-heavy sound profile and are more comfortable.

Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless

The Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. They have significantly better build quality, a longer continuous battery life, and offer multi-device pairing. They have a very bass-rich sound profile, which some listeners may like, and also work with a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, so you can customize it if you prefer a different sound. 

Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless

The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are similarly performing headphones and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. The Sony are more neutral out-of-the-box, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ plus presets if you like to tweak their sound. They also have longer-lasting continuous battery life. However, the Samsung are more comfortable and stable. Their ANC can also cut down more ambient noise around you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Truly Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both are well-built and comfortable, the Buds are more stable, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their battery performance is better. However, the Pro can block out more background noise, thanks to their ANC system.

Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless. The Samsung are much more comfortable, stable, and have a more neutral sound profile. They're also equipped with an ANC feature and isolate you from more noise. On the other hand, the Sony headphones have a longer continuous battery life and more sound customization features in their app. Their open design is meant to let you hear ambient sound as well.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Google Pixel Buds A-Series Truly Wireless. The Samsung have ANC and can block out a decent amount of ambient noise around you, have a companion app with EQ presets so that you can adjust their sound, and leak less audio. You can also use one bud while the other charges. 

Sennheiser CX True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better than the Sennheiser CX True Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable, have a better-balanced sound profile, and block out more ambient noise thanks to their ANC feature. They also have superior mic recording quality, though the Sennheiser's integrated mic does a better job of isolating speech from background noise. The Sennheiser also have a longer battery life, a more feature-packed companion app, superior build quality, and lower levels of audio leakage.

Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 4 Active True Wireless are a bit better than the Samsung Galaxy Βuds Pro Truly Wireless. The Jabra have a more neutral default sound profile and more robust sound customization features in their app. Their continuous battery life is longer, and they're rated IP57 for dust and water resistance. Ηowever, the Samsung have a more comfortable fit and an ANC feature with a better noise isolation performance.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Beats Solo Pro Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable, stable, and portable. They also work with a companion app that gives you access to an EQ and presets.  However, the Beats feel better built and have a more neutral sound profile. Their ANC is also able to block more noise. 

Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless

The Jabra Elite 85t Truly Wireless are somewhat better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. The Jabra are better-built, have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and offer a better overall battery performance. They also have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets so that you can tweak its sound to your liking, and support multi-device pairing. However, the Samsung's ANC does a better job of cutting down noise around you.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Anker have a more stable fit, and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. They also have a better battery performance, support multi-device pairing, and you can customize their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. The Samsung have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro Truly Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable and have a better-balanced sound profile. They also have an ANC feature that can reduce some background noise around you and a better performing integrated mic. However, the Anker have longer-lasting continuous battery life and their companion app offers a graphic EQ.

JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless

The JBL Tour Pro+ TWS True Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the JBL are better-built, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC can block out a bit more background noise. They also have a better battery performance, and you can customize their sound profile using their companion app's parametric EQ and presets. However, the Samsung's integrated mic has a better recording quality.

Amazon Echo Buds True Wireless 2021 (2nd generation)

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better for most purposes than the Amazon Echo Buds True Wireless 2021 (2nd generation). The Samsung have a much more neutral default sound profile, which some listeners may prefer, and their ANC feature does a much better job of blocking out bass-range noises like bus and plane engines. Their case is also more compact and feels sturdier. On the other hand, the Amazon's integrated mic has a much better recording quality. They also come with stability fins and have a much more stable fit, so they may be better suited for use during workouts.

Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless

The Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless are somewhat better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Jabra have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and significantly better battery performance. However, the Samsung have ANC, although it only offers somewhat better performance than the Jabra's passive noise isolation abilities.

EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless 2021

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are slightly better in-ears than the EarFun Air Pro 2 True Wireless 2021. The Samsung have a more comfortable and stable in-ear fit, and they're able to block out more ambient noise around you. They also have a companion app that offers EQ presets so that you can customize the buds' sound. However, the EarFun have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they have a better battery performance.

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better than the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Truly Wireless for most uses. The Samsung have a longer continuous battery life, better controls, and a more neutral default sound profile, which some listeners may prefer. On the other hand, the Anker's ANC system is much better at blocking out bass-range noise like the rumble of bus and plane engines. They also come with a bigger selection of differently-sized ear tips.

OnePlus Buds Pro Truly Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless and the OnePlus Buds Pro Truly Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. The Samsung have a significantly better noise isolation performance, and their app has EQ presets to help you customize their sound. However, the OnePlus have more additional charges in their carrying case.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2. The Samsung are more comfortable and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some may prefer. Their ANC also isolates you from more noise. However, the Sennheiser are better built, and their companion app has a graphic EQ.

Raycon The Fitness Earbuds (2021 Edition) True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better headphones for most uses than the Raycon The Fitness Earbuds (2021 Edition) True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Samsung have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, their companion app offers EQ presets to help you customize their sound, and they have an ANC system that helps them block out significantly more ambient noise. However, the Raycon have a more stable in-ear fit and better battery performance.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless. The Samsung are more comfortable, have a more neutral default sound profile, and their continuous battery life is longer. Their companion app also offers EQ presets. The Bowers & Wilkins are better built, and their ANC does a better job of blocking out background sound.

Jabra Elite Active 75t Truly Wireless

The Jabra Elite Active 75t Truly Wireless are better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless for most uses. The Jabra feel sturdier and have much better touch-sensitive controls. They have longer continuous battery life and come with a case that holds a greater number of charges. They also support multi-device pairing, and their companion app has more sound customization features. On the other hand, the Samsung can block out more background noise, and their mic has a better recording quality.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro look somewhat similar in design to the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless. They have a sleek, rounded earbud design with a glossy finish. They're also small and don't protrude too much out of your ears. If you prefer a different look, they come in four color variants that can better match your style.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.03 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are comfortable headphones. They're lightweight and have a similar fit to the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless but go a little deeper into your ear. However, like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless, there's a little bump on the top of the earbuds that puts some pressure on your ear, which could be fatiguing after some time.

6.2
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Decent
Feedback Good
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control No
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control On/Off
Talk-Through
On/Off
Additional Controls Voice Assistant

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have passable controls. There's a touch-sensitive surface on both earbuds, and they're easy to use. However, some users may find the surface overly sensitive, and you may accidentally register a command if you're adjusting the buds' fit. The control scheme also lacks volume controls by default, and although you can remap controls via their companion apps, you can lose out on other controls instead. There are different beeps to let you know when you've registered a command, but there are no voice prompts.

On either bud:

  • One tap: Plays and pauses audio.
  • Double-tap: Skips a track forward. Also, answers or ends calls.
  • Triple-tap: Skips a track backward.
  • Touch and hold for two seconds: Cycles through ANC on and talk through mode, which allows you to better hear your surroundings without taking out the earbuds. This command also declines calls. You can remap this control if you want volume control, voice commands, or if you want the buds to launch Spotify on command so that you can listen to your favorite tracks.

9.2
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 0.8 Ā°C

The Samsung Buds Pro have outstanding breathability. Like the OnePlus Buds Pro Truly Wireless, their in-ear fit shouldn't trap in too much heat or make you sweat more than normal while you're wearing them.

9.5
Design
Portability
L 1.4" (3.6 cm)
W 1.0" (2.5 cm)
H 1.0" (2.5 cm)
Volume 1.40 inĀ³ (22.94 cmĀ³)
Transmitter Required No

These headphones are very portable. They can easily be tossed into most pockets when you're on the go. Their carrying case is also fairly small, so you shouldn't have a problem taking them with you.

8.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 2.0" (5.1 cm)
W 2.0" (5.1 cm)
H 1.1" (2.8 cm)
Volume 4.40 inĀ³ (72.10 cmĀ³)

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have a great charging case that supports Qi-enabled wireless charging and is very similar in design to that of the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless. It feels solid, lightweight, and has a sleek satin finish to match the color scheme of your headphones. There's a light inside the case to indicate the battery life of the buds. There's also another light on the outside of the case to indicate the case's charge. It turns orange when the earbuds are charging and becomes green when fully charged.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The Samsung Buds Pro have a good build quality. They're made of dense matte plastic with a glossy finish on their exterior side and silicone-like ear tips. They feel sturdy enough to survive a couple of accidental drops without too much of a problem. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless or the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless, they're also certified IPX7 for protection against water immersion.

7.5
Design
Stability

The Samsung Buds Pro have a stable fit. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless, they lack stability fins. However, they still have a stable fit, and they come with three differently sized pairs of ear tips to help create a good seal. They should stay in place during moderate physical activity.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds
  • Charging case
  • 3x ear tips
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
1.36 dB
Treble Amount
-0.51 dB

The Samsung Buds Pro have an excited, V-shaped sound profile. They deliver a thumpy, boomy bass while vocals are bright and sparkly. However, some users may find their mixes sound a bit muddy. If you prefer a different sound, there are EQ presets available via their companion apps.

9.4
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.12 dB

Like most in-ear headphones, the frequency response consistency is outstanding. Once you achieve a proper fit using the included tips, you should experience consistent bass and treble responses every time you use them.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.6
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
3.53 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
10 Hz
Low-Bass
2.81 dB
Mid-Bass
2.67 dB
High-Bass
5.45 dB

The Samsung Buds Pro have good bass accuracy. It's overemphasized across the entire range, which adds extra thump, punch, and boom to your tracks. However, some users may find their mixes sound muddy.

8.1
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.58 dB
Low-Mid
3.95 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.46 dB
High-Mid
0.01 dB

These headphones have great mid accuracy. There's some overemphasis coming from the bass range, which makes the low-mid sound muddy and cluttered. However, the rest of the range is very balanced and neutral, resulting in accurate and detailed vocals and lead instruments.

8.2
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.77 dB
Low-Treble
0.96 dB
Mid-Treble
3.19 dB
High-Treble
0.85 dB

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have great treble accuracy. The low-treble is very flat and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are present and detailed. However, overemphasis in the mid-treble makes sibilants like S and T sounds piercing.

7.7
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.48 dB
Dips
1.02 dB

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro's peaks and dips performance is good. There's a large peak between the high-bass and low-mid that makes mixes sound muddy and cluttered, while a dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Another peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.

9.1
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.11
Weighted Phase Mismatch
1.35
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.89
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
0.76

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have outstanding imaging. The entire group delay response is well within the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. Our unit's L/R drivers are also extremely well-matched in amplitude, frequency, and phase response, creating a stereo image with accurate placement and localization of objects (like voices, instruments, and video game effects). However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

1.0
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
2.7
Acoustic Space Excitation
1.6

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have a bad passive soundstage, which is very common for closed-back, in-ear headphones. Creating a large and out-of-head soundstage is heavily dependant on sound activating your outer ears. By design, they bypass the outer ear, resulting in a small soundstage that seems like it's coming from inside your head. Since they're also closed-back, they won't sound as spacious as open-back headphones.

2.9
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
On/Off
Virtual Surround
360 Reality Audio

These headphones only support 360 Audio technology when paired with a compatible Android system. This feature is advertised to deliver 360-degree audio through the earbuds, so objects like footsteps or voices sound like they're coming from precise areas rather than from all around you. It also has a head tracking feature, so even if you look away from your phone or tablet, they can detect your head's movement and play the audio as if you're watching your device.

8.2
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.199
WHD @ 100
0.079

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have a great weighted harmonic distortion performance. All frequencies fall within good levels, resulting in clear and pure audio reproduction.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
R190XXU0AUA1
Power
On
Connection
Bluetooth 5.0
Codec
SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Default
ANC
High
Tip/Pad
Silicone (small)
Microphone
Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
7.4
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-21.1 dB
Noise Cancelling Yes
Bass
-12.18 dB
Mid
-15.23 dB
Treble
-35.91 dB

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have a decent noise isolation performance. With their ANC set to 'High', they cut down a sub-par amount of bass-range noise like bus or plane engines, which isn't great if you commute a lot. However, they do a better job of cutting down ambient chatter as well as a significant amount of high-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit. If you're looking for buds with a better noise isolation performance, check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless or the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless.

We have also tested these headphones using firmware update R190XXU0AUA5. However, there wasn't a significant change in the ANC's overall performance. You can see the graph of our measurements with both the previous firmware and the new firmware here. Although our original results used small ear tips, there has been user discussion that noise isolation performance may differ depending on the size of ear tips used. We've run some passes using the medium ear tips, and you can see a comparison of both performances here. However, the small and medium ear tips deliver a similar noise isolation performance.

8.6
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
29.86 dB

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have an excellent leakage performance. Leakage is mostly concentrated in the treble range, and escaping audio sounds thin. However, even if you're listening to audio at high volumes in a moderately noisy environment like a busy office, you shouldn't bother others around you.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes
7.3
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
20 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
5.18 dB
HFE
7,240.77 Hz
Weighted THD
1.876
Gain
6.29 dB

The integrated mic has a decent recording quality. Your voice sounds clear but a little muffled and distorted. However, you shouldn't have too much of an issue being understood.

4.7
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
9.01 dB
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
4.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
5.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The noise handling of this microphone is poor. It struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise, even in moderately loud environments. If you're taking a call from a busy street, your voice may be drowned out by noise around you.

Active Features
5.7
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
4.3 hrs
Additional Charges
2.5
Total Battery Life
15.1 hrs
Charge Time
1.3 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port USB-C

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have sub-par battery life. They're advertised to last five hours continuously with their ANC on, and we measured over four hours. This is still shorter than the continuous playback time offered by the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless. On the upside, their carrying case holds roughly 2.5 extra charges, and you can even use one bud while the other one charges. They're also advertised to deliver one hour of playtime with only five minutes of charging. However, battery performance can vary depending on your usage, so your experience may vary. If you're looking for a pair of truly wireless headphones with a longer total battery life, try the TOZO NC2 Truly Wireless.

7.5
Active Features
App Support
App Name Samsung Wearable
iOS No
Android Yes
macOS No
Windows Yes
Equalizer
Presets
ANC Control
On/Off
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping Yes
Surround Support
Yes

Like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless, these buds are compatible with the Samsung Wearables app. It's only available on Android, and it allows you to change EQ presets, remap controls, manage voice controls, and activate Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant. You can also activate 'Gaming Mode', which the manufacturer advertises to help lower their latency while gaming, and adjust talk-through, so you can keep listening to audio while talking to others.

If you're on a Windows PC, you can also connect these buds to the Galaxy Buds app, which offers many of the same features as the mobile app such as EQ presets and noise control. However, you won't be able to access the 'Gaming Mode' feature.

Connectivity
7.0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
212.00 ft (64.62 m)
PC Latency (SBC)
337 ms
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
52 ms
Android Latency
50 ms

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro have decent Bluetooth connectivity. Like other truly wireless Samsung headphones like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless, they support Scalable, Samsung's proprietary codec for high-quality audio. However, you can't pair them with more than one device at a time. They also don't support NFC pairing. While they have high latency on PCs, their latency on iOS and Android is lower, which is great if you like to stream video. They also have a 'Gaming Mode' via their mobile companion app that's advertised to lower their latency. We measured 69ms of latency on Android using this mode, which is low. However, the companion app is only available on Android devices. That said, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

You can't use the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wired. They come with a USB-C to USB-A charging cable to recharge their carrying case.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No

These wireless headphones are fully compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. Unfortunately, you can't connect them to your PC in any other way.

Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
2.2
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Charging Case
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
Yes
Power Supply
USB-C

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro's carrying case provides around 2.5 additional charges. It can be recharged using its USB-C cable or wirelessly via a Qi-enabled charger. You can also place it on the back of a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone for wireless charging. It doesn't have any additional inputs, though.