Unfortunately, battery life lags behind the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless at 4.3 hours. Samsung deserves credit for trying something new with the quirky design of the Galaxy Buds Live, but it wasn’t as attractive or practical as the advertising made it out to be. The circular shape was necessary to get the most performance out of the Galaxy Buds Pro, as the design takes into account functionality and portability, from the larger panels for precise touch input to the extended sound port for seamless insertion. These buds are more discreet and elegant than Samsung’s previous version as well as the AirPods Pro. They don’t stick out. The glossy finish, while a magnet for fingerprints, creates a nice shine for a premium look. There are also three elegant color options, of which Phantom Violet is the most eye-catching. The Galaxy Buds Pro are made of hard plastic that meets the IPX7 standard for rugged water resistance. The build quality is reliable, so you won’t have to worry about the buds breaking if they ever hit the ground hard. You’ll also appreciate some of the small design changes Samsung has implemented, such as the external microphones on the top and bottom of the buds and the vent on the top inner part of the buds. The Galaxy Buds Pro are equipped with several smart controls that consist of tap and hold gestures, as well as on-ear recognition. Overall, the controls are responsive, and Samsung has improved them even further with subsequent firmware updates. For example, you can now increase or decrease the volume by tapping the edges of the earbuds twice. Previously, you had to tie the volume control to the tap-and-hold gesture, which meant you had to forgo other inputs for instant volume control, like switching between sound modes. Fortunately, you now have a bit more flexibility. If you’re worried about the buds being sensitive to touch, the companion app offers an option to lock the touch fields so you don’t accidentally end a call or turn on the wrong feature.
