Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Apple AirPods Pro Rival - $199

Anticipation for the Galaxy Buds Pro was high even prior to any information surfacing. It was widely expected that the company would introduce a competitor to Apple’s AirPods Pro, featuring enhanced audio performance and active noise cancellation capabilities. However, the most significant advantage could potentially be the cost.

During this morning’s unveiling of the S21, Samsung announced a $200 reduction in the price of its premier smartphone, and the Galaxy Buds are positioned at a price point $50 lower than that of the AirPods. While not a deeply discounted price, $199 represents an attractive initial cost. Furthermore, Samsung’s history with earbuds suggests a high-quality product.

The earbuds are reported to offer up to five hours of playback on a single charge. This extends to eight hours when active noise canceling and Bixby Voice are disabled – a feature many users may not require. The charging case extends the total listening time to 18 and 28 hours, respectively. These are noteworthy figures considering the compact size of the case.

The design of the earbuds represents an improvement over the bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live, opting for a more comfortable and ergonomic form factor intended to minimize contact with the ear. Samsung states that the active noise cancellation can reduce surrounding noise by up to 99%, with customizable settings available. They incorporate an 11 mm woofer and a 6.5 mm tweeter, alongside three microphones for voice calls.

Several features are designed specifically for use with Samsung devices, including automatic switching between paired phones and tablets, as well as Dolby head tracking and enhanced microphone functionality for video recording on the Galaxy S21.

The earbuds are offered in three color options and are available for pre-order starting today. They will be available in stores tomorrow.