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
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Lightweight, around-the-neck design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- 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.
Changelog
- 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
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
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. 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.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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