Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Buds Live wireless earphones are shown during the Samsung … [+]
This post was originally published on August 17 and updated on August 19. Update below.
All my worries about Samsung’s bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live disappeared immediately when I actually used them.
The design, sound and features are surprisingly impressive. Samsung has created a truly unique and innovative product in an atmosphere that is highly resistant to design creativity.
Update 08/19: Samsung’s unusual design for the Galaxy Live Buds does not hinder how easily they can be repaired, according to repair specialists iFixit. In a tear down, the company found that the buttons and their charging case can be easily taken apart, making access to broken parts easier.
For example, the rechargeable CP1254 lithium-ion button battery can be disconnected without causing damage, which means it can also be replaced. That is not the case for Apple’s AirPods Pro. Other components are fixed in place with screws that can be easily removed and replaced. The shell of the earbuds can be opened with a little bit of pressure from a vice, while the charging case can be unlocked by hand.
Some components, such as replacement batteries, can be difficult to drill down into iFixit claims. But the 8 out of 10 repairability score iFixit gives the buttons in part thus minimizing worries about component sourcing. Contrast that score with 0 out of 10 received Apple’s AirPods and it’s clear that Samsung deliberately designed the buttons to be repair – friendly. Previous earbuds from Samsung like the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus also got decent repair scores from iFixit, so this is no fluke.
This is important because the small battery in the buttons will wear out with repeated use. The cycle of going from full charge to depletion places a heavy load on lithium-ion batteries, which hold less charge over time. This is why it is recommended to charge your phone only at a certain level and not let it drop to 0%. It is also the reason why so many early Android smartphones had batteries that could be removed. By easily repairing the Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung has extended its shelf life.
My main concerns were centered around Samsung’s long and preserved history of spectacular gimmicky failures. I’m still chased by bad ideas like Air View and Smart Pause. But the Korean company is doing well this time around and has moved the sector forward, which, in its defense, it always aims to do.
It’s not all pink for Samsung’s new buttons, they have their problems like every product does. But Samsung got a lot right with their new headphones, here is what you need to know before you buy them.
The design is surprisingly good
The biggest surprise is how well the bean shape works. Yes, it has enormous meme potential, but it is also very practical, here is the reason: they fit. Like, they actually fit in your ear. Of the extensive earbuds designs I’ve tested that have come in a unique way to weigh in your ears, Samsung’s is one of the few buttons that come with many brands, Google’s elongated wing tip design is a close second. Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds and Apple’s AirPods do not quite match.
What works on the Live buttons is that they are made to fit the shape of your ear. The entire body of the button fits into your ear as they are wrapped. Therefore, the wing tips are much more effective than on larger, protruding buttons like those from Microsoft. It’s a surprisingly effective design that makes me wonder how easily I will go back to other headphones.
Active sound change does not exist
If you are asking Samsung why they released two flagship earbuds so close to each other in the same year, then I’m sure it will tell you that the presence of Active Noise Canceling (ANC) in Galaxy Buds Live is the reason – just like Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro. They are basically a different class of buttons, just like the Note series is for the Galaxy S line.
Except, they are not another class of buttons, because the active sound magnification is virtually non-existent. My successful eardrums cannot determine any difference between when ANC is on or off. OK, that’s not exactly accurate – the buttons do some sort of task to block low frequency sound, but you have to test it, and focus it, to notice it.
What’s funny is that the tight, tight fit of the Galaxy Buds Plus, thanks to the tips for rubber ear, offers better environment of noise nuisance, even though they do not have an ANC.
They are good value for money
At $ 170, they have good value against Apple’s $ 249 Airpods Pro (but these have much better ANC), Google’s non ANC $ 179 Pixel Buds and Microsoft’s $ 199 non ANC Surface Earbuds.
The app and EQ settings are very good
There is a significant difference between the sound profiles in the equalizer settings, which is not always the case with other earbuds. The sound profile is set to “normal” by default, and I thought they sounded a bit flat when listening, but switching to Dynamic and Bass Boost did Pusha T its deserved justice.
There is also a good amount of customization in the Galaxy Wear app. You can customize what taps do in both ears, the buttons have read aloud notifications and turn on ambient sound functionality (but this is not as impressive as the ambient sound feature on the Galaxy Buds Plus).
Another feature to customize is the ability to block touches, which brings me to my next point …
The large capacitive area is really well executed
Every truly wireless earbud has something known as a large capacitive area, which is the surface you tap to issue commands. This is a notoriously difficult thing to perform, as there is not much surface on earbuds and designers apparently do not want people to accidentally issue unusual commands when repositioning their buttons. The original Pixel Buds of 2017 have suffered this badly.
But Samsung handles this well, not only can they feel the buttons without accidentally pausing the music or launching an AI assistant, they also have the option to turn the touch controls on or off. Google could learn a thing or two from Samsung here.
I will say, however, that it is perhaps a little too well executed. You have to tap the buttons a few times to find the right place that will get commands, but this is better than the alternative.
They have the battery life of the Galaxy Buds plus …
… but that’s valuable trade-off for the unique design. As I have written before, I love the Galaxy Buds Plus because they are behemoths of battery life, but they feel it too. They are large, heavy on earrings and look a little wicked when you stick them out of your ears.
The Galaxy Buds Live are the opposite of that, you can hardly tell you are wearing them when you are ahead. The 6 hour charge in the buttons alone does not match the 11 hours in the Galaxy Buds Plus, but the charging case for the bean-shaped headphones has an additional 15 hours, more than the 11 offered by the Buds Plus. Those are two full charges and a bit.
As for size, the charging case pushes up what my pockets can handle. I rarely carry a bag (I will lose) so I have to do some magic hat trickery with my pockets to leave the house with everything I need. Apple and Google ignore the design of the charging case: sleek and elongated – perfectly designed for a pocket. The cube shape of the Galaxy Buds is a bit heavier and it’s heavier than Google’s alternative.
The all-rounder all-rounder
Samsung has achieved an almost perfect balance of price, design, battery life and sound quality with the Galaxy Buds Live. They have their problems – like the poor ANC – but they are a real all-rounder and a pleasure to use.
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