The Samsung Level U Pro are above-average headphones for most use cases. They're decently comfortable in-ears, with a wireless around-the-neck design that makes them stable enough for sports. Unfortunately, their noise isolation is a little weak for loud environments and their build quality feels a bit fragile.
Our Verdict
The Samsung Level U Pro are versatile headphones that will perform above-average for most use cases. They have a good set of active features and excellent range. They also support aptX and aptX(LL), which makes them a bit more suitable for home theater provided you have the right dongle. Unfortunately, they do not isolate as well in loud, noisy environments and they're more optimized for Android, which is not ideal for iOS users
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Comfortable and stable fit.
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Lightweight, around-the-neck design.
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Poor noise isolation.
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Thin and fragile audio cables.
Average for neutral listening. They have a decent sound, but they're a bit too bass-heavy and lack the clarity in the higher frequencies that's usually expected for neutral listening headphones. Also, the small closed ear buds can't produce a good soundstage.
Above-average for commuting. They're lightweight, easy to carry around and have decent control scheme. However, they struggle in loud environments because of their poor noise isolation performance. They won't be the best option for noisy commutes or flights.
Good for sports. The Samsung Level U Pro have an around-the-neck design that's stable when running or jogging. They're lightweight, portable and wireless. However, the in-ear tips do slide a bit in the ear canal during strenuous activity, which could be slightly frustrating.
Above-average for office use. The Samsung Level U Pro don't block much noise, but thanks to their incredibly low leakage, you can mask the office chatter, by playing your audio at high volumes and not disturb others.
Below-average for gaming. The Samsung Level U Pro have a mediocre microphone, and a bit too much latency to be suitable for gaming.
- 6.9 Mixed Usage
- 7.1 Neutral Sound
- 7.0 Commute/Travel
- 7.4 Sports/Fitness
- 6.8 Office
- 5.7 Wireless Gaming
- 5.5 Wired Gaming
- 6.7 Phone Call
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 19, 2016: Review published.
- Updated Sep 17, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 09, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Samsung Level U Pro have a lot of features and an above-average sound quality that make them decently versatile enough for most use cases. You can customize their sound profile to sound just the way you like but only on Android, which is a bit limiting for iOS users. They do not have the best build quality but they're relatively affordable for their performance and features compared to similar headphones. Overall, they're the best wireless earbuds under $50 for customization that we have tested so far. See our recommendations for the best cheap earbuds and the best Bluetooth earbuds under $100.
The Samsung Level On Wireless are a better choice if you want on-ears, but if you prefer a slightly more portable design, go for the Samsung Level U Pro instead. The Level On have a longer battery life and are noise cancelling, so they isolate better than the Level U Pro in noisy conditions, especially if your commute involves of low frequency rumbling noise like the sound of a bus engine. On the other hand, the Level U Pro have a much more compact format that you can carry around much easier, since you can just let them dangle from your neck. They also have a lot of customization options, like the Level On, but unlike the on-ears, they also support aptX Low Latency, which makes them a bit more suitable for watching movies as long as you have the right transmitter.
The Samsung Level Over Wireless are a much better wireless headset than the Samsung Level U Pro if you prefer over-ears to in-ear headphones. As expected, the smaller format of the Level U Pro makes them a lot easier to carry around than the bulky Level Overs. They're a lot more breathable and stable for sports and physical activity and also benefit from the same customization options as the Level Over. The Level Over, on the other hand, have a better default sound quality and they're also noise cancelling headphones, so they're a bit more suitable for noisy conditions and commuting. They also have a longer battery life than the Level U Pro.
The Samsung Level U Pro Wireless are better in-ear headphones than the Anker SoundBuds Sport Wireless. The Samsung sound better, have a more comfortable in-ear fit and have a lot more customizable features. The Samsung also have a better wireless range and battery life. On the other hand, the Anker have better isolation and will be more suitable to use in noisy environments. The Anker also have a slightly lower default latency performance, although the Samsung do have aptX-LL, which will be better for watching movies if you have the right dongle.
The Samsung Level U Pro Wireless are wireless headphones that are a bit more convenient for day-to-day casual use than the Apple EarPods. However, the Apple are a decent option if you prefer wired headsets to wireless ones. The Apple have practically no latency when watching movies or gaming due to their wired design. They are a bit more comfortable, especially for those used to the Apple earbud fit. On the other hand, the Samsung are a lot more versatile. Since they're wireless, they have a greater range and support low latency codecs, so they're not as bad as some other Bluetooth headsets for watching videos. The Samsung also have a better-balanced sound, and you can change the EQ with the Level app.
The Samsung U Flex and the Samsung Level U Pro have about the same performance overall. The U Flex are better-built and look more premium than the U Pro. They also have a more flexible neckband that makes them a bit more portable since you can fit them into some pockets, unlike the U Pro. The U Flex also have more customization options, but only on Samsung devices, unlike the U Pro which have the same features on all Android phones that support the Level app. The U Pro also isolate a bit better than the U Flex, but that is heavily dependent on the fit you can achieve with the provided in-ear tips. On the upside, the Level U pro have a lot more codec options, making them suitable for watching movies if you have the right Bluetooth transmitter with aptX-LL.
The Samsung Level U Pro are better around-the-neck wireless in-ears than the Sony WI-C400. The Level U Pro have a more comfortable fit, a better battery performance overall, and a greater wireless range with multiple codec options. They're also a lot more customizable than the Sony, with a better default sound quality that you can also EQ thanks to the Level app. The Sony, on the other hand, have a much longer battery life on a single charge but do not benefit from some of the power-saving features on the Samsung headset. The Sony also has easier to use controls, although not by much.
Test Results
The Samsung Level U Pro have a decently stylish around-the-neck design. The sleek, blue neckband fits well and has a smooth, glossy finish that doesn't irritate the skin or catch on your clothing. The in-ear buds have magnetic backs that stick together to make them more manageable when not in use. The in-ear tips are fairly regular. These headphones look decently well-made but the audio cables, on the other hand, are not retractable and feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the build.
The Samsung Level U Pro are moderately comfortable in-ear headphones as long as you don't mind the around-the-neck design. The neckband is lightweight and flexible so that it won't be too noticeable during long listening sessions. However, if you place the neckband under your clothing, the audio cables that connect to the ear buds will rub against it and transmit the vibration noise to the audio you're listening to. Also, they have pretty conventional in-ear tips, which may be uncomfortable for some.
The Samsung Level U Pro have an efficient button layout and control scheme. They provide call/music, track skipping, and volume controls. The buttons deliver good tactile feedback, although they're a little small for larger hands. However, the button placement might take a bit of time to get used to.
Like the Sony WI-C400, these headphones a have breathable in-ear design. They do not cause any significant temperature increase since they do not cover your ears. They trap a little bit of heat within the ear canal but it's negligible and should not make you sweat more than average. The neckband isn't factored in breathability since they will most likely go over an item of clothing.
These headphones are moderately portable. They're a lot larger than typical in-ear headphones (like the Skullcandy Jib) because of the neckband design. However, they are not as cumbersome to carry around on your person as full sized headphones. They easily rest around the neck and can be tucked under your shirt or outfit. Unfortunately, they don't come with a case and won't be portable enough to fit into a pocket.
These headphones do not come with a case or pouch.
The Samsung Level U Pro are decently built headphones. The neck band is sturdy yet flexible and won't easily break under physical stress. Unfortunately, the audio cables are a little thin and susceptible to wear and tear compared to the rest of the build. They could snap if they get repeatedly hooked to an item of clothing if you often place the neckband under your outfit.
The around-the-neck design of these headphones makes them considerably stable. They won't fall from your neck if you run or jog with them but depending on how well the in-ear design fits you, the earbuds may get a little loose during strenuous exercise. Also, if the neckband is placed under your outfit, the audio cables can get hooked or tangled and pull the earbuds out of your ears.
The frequency response consistency is excellent. If the user is able to achieve a proper fit and an air-tight seal using the assortment of tips that come with the Samsung Level U Pro, they should be getting a consistent bass and treble delivery with each re-seat.
The Samsung Level U Pro have a very good bass. Their LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 10Hz, which is excellent. Accordingly, low-bass, where the thump and rumble common to EDM, Hip-hop and film scores sit, is hyped by more than 2dB. This indicates a deep and extended bass with ample sub-bass. Mid-bass and high-bass are virtually flat, but overemphasized by 2dB and 4dB receptively. This adds a bit of emphasis to the bass guitars and kick drums, but makes the overall sound a bit boomy as well.
The mid-range is very good. The response is very even and rather flat, but there is an 8dB tilt from 250Hz to 700Hz, and a 2dB underemphasis from 700Hz to 2KHz. This nudges vocals towards the back of the mix and gives more emphasis to the bass instruments and lower harmonics of lead instruments. The result is a mix that is slightly muddy and cluttered, and vocals that are a bit thick sounding.
The Samsung Level U Pro have a very good treble performance. The 5dB dip in low-treble negatively affects the detail and articulation of vocals and lead instruments, but the effect will be subtle. The narrow 10dB dip at 8KHz will also have a negative but small effect on the presence of sharp sounds such as S and Ts.
The imaging is great. Their weighted group delay is 0.12, which is among the lowest we have measured. The GD graph also shows that the entire response is well below the audibility threshold, resulting a fast and tight bass, as well as a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our test unit were exceptionally well-matched. This ensures an accurate placement and localization of objects (like vocals and footsteps) in the stereo image.
The Samsung Level U Pro, like most other in-ears, have a poor soundstage. This is due to the fact that pinna (outer ear) resonance activation is a big part of creating a speaker-like and out-of-head soundstage, but in-ears don't interact with the pinna resulting in a soundstage that is perceived to be inside the listener's head. They also have a closed-back design, which makes the soundstage less open than that of open-back headphones.
The noise isolation of the Samsung Level U Pro is mediocre. These headphones don't have active noise cancellation, and their performance is similar to most other non-noise-cancelling in-ears. They provide very little isolation in the bass range, which is where the rumble of airplane and bus engines sit. However, in the mid-range, important for cutting out speech, they achieve about 17dB of reduction which is good. In the treble range, occupied by sharp sounds like S and Ts, they achieved almost 30dB of isolation, which is also good.
The leakage performance is great. Not only the overall level of the leakage is quite low, but the range is quite narrow too, limited to 3KHz-8KHz. This results in a leakage that mostly consists of sibilances (sharp sounds such as S and Ts) and will be barely noticeable to people around you, unless you really blast your music in a very quiet place.
The integrated microphone has an average performance. Speech recorded/transmitted in quiet environments will sound very thin and noticeably muffled. It could also sound a bit sharp and piercing in certain situations, but it will be decently understandable to the people listening to it. In noisy situations, the Samsung Level U Pro perform well and are able to separate speech from ambient noise to a good degree, even in moderate and loud environments, such as a busy street.
The recording quality of the mic is sub-par. The LFE (low-frequency extension) of 508Hz indicates a recorded or transmitted speech that sounds very thin. The HFE (high-frequency extension) of 3.6KHz, suggest that speech will lack detail and articulation, but it will still be decently intelligible. The 15dB peak starting at 2KHz, however, could in certain situations (like with our Pink Noise test signal), make the S and T sounds very sharp and piercing sounding.
The Samsung Level U Pro's integrated microphone is good at noise handling. In our SpNR test, they achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of more than 27dB, suggesting that this microphone should be able to handle most situations pretty well, except for very loud environments such as subway station.
The Samsung Level U Pro have a below-average battery life of 9.45 hours but have few battery saving features. You can stream audio and charge them at the same time. They also have an adjustable auto-off timer via the bundled app. They won't be the ideal headphones if you don't get the chance to charge your headphones throughout the day but their overall battery performance should be good enough for most users.
The Samsung Level app is clean and practical and delivers a good set of features. It has a simple and straightforward interface, two types of graphic equalizers and an adjustable auto-off timer. However, there are no room effects to enhance your audio like some other headphone apps, and the battery indicator doesn't provide enough information. The app is also not available for iOS users which is not ideal.
Samsung Level U Pro Graphic Equalizer 1
These headphones do not have NFC support for Bluetooth pairing but can connect to two devices simultaneously. They also automatically pair to the last synced device once you turn them on.
The Samsung Level U pro have a decent latency if you can get a Bluetooth transmitter that supports aptX or aptX(LL). Without the right dongle, they default to SBC which has about 189 ms of latency which is fairly average for Bluetooth headphones but not suitable for watching a lot of video content or gaming.
They have no wired option. If you want a good sounding wired in-ear, check the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear.
These headphones do not have a dock. If you want a headphone that's versatile and has a dock, try the SteelSeries Arctis 7. However, it won't be as compact or portable.