The Samsung Galaxy Plus Earbuds ( The Review)
When it comes to reviewing audio devices, particularly headphones, for me, it can be tricky since I'm not an expert in audio technology. But the ears know the quality sound when I hear it. So the review of the new Galaxy Buds+ will be based solely from a consumer perspective since I did purchase the earbuds with my hard-earned money. Being the owner of the original Galaxy Buds, I can say I’m very impressed with the sound and features. Let's say the compliments most certainly outweigh the negatives.
So does Samsung's newest iteration bring on the same complimentary praises? You'll have to find out in this review. The Galaxy Buds + has been in my possession for weeks now. In that time-space, I've digested all the features it has to offer.
The Galaxy Buds +, the review, read up.
The Sound Quality
The sound quality is a definite improvement from the originals. There's a sharp richness to sound, with a more construed Bass. The components responsible for audio output is none other than AKG. A once reputable company that produced quality headphones and speakers and. Samsung now owns it. To get a full gauge on the overall sound quality, I ran a battery test that involved pulling up a couple of music tracks from SoundCloud and Spotify. With intense focus, I carefully listen to each music track. I must say, I'm more impressed with the Buds + sound Quality over the originals. There is also evidence of punch to the Bass. Now you will not be uttering these two words, " Oh Shit." But there is deep and warming sense with the Bass that gives good vibes with music.
Frequent podcast listeners will appreciate the Buds +. The voice quality and clarity are so on point. It's almost like the conversation is taking place directly in your presence. Balance the word I use in describing the overall sound quality.
What About the Design
The Galaxy Buds + design doesn't stray far off from last year's iteration. Though I would say it's a bit more sleek and compact. Adding to the sleekness is the pearl scent material placed on the outer portion of the buds. You still have the rubberized wingtips that come in three sizes, small, medium, and Large—giving a comfortable, secure fit in the ears. How the earbuds fit is based on the ear cartridge. It's not the same in most humans. For me, I had to use the large size wingtips, which kept the Buds in place despite the motioned head nods and strenuous workouts. In all, the Buds + stays firmly in my ears. My only wingtip critique is they tend to slip off the earbuds, which I'm attributing it to ear moisture.
Speaking of which, The Buds + has an iPX2 protection rating. Meaning these earbuds can endure a few splashes, very light rain, and sweat. Just don't go submerging these earbuds underwater, which will undoubtedly cause some damage rendering them useless.
Speaking of which, The Buds + has an iPX2 protection rating. Meaning these earbuds can endure a few splashes, very light rain, and sweat. Just don't go submerging these earbuds underwater, which will undoubtedly cause some damage rendering them useless.
Taking it back to the outer buds, a series of taps on the touch controls which answer phone calls, play/pause, and skip music tracks. Not to mention the touch controls can also pause YouTube videos and skip the next video. The touch controls are useful, but users must engage in precise, repeating taps for full functionality.
Now on to the case, it has gone through an incremental change to its design. When you flip the case open, you'll find the left/right symbol situated in the middle of the charging cradle. The case itself is no longer matted—instead, it has a black glossy finish, which now attracts a numerous amount of fingerprints. So if finger smudges on gadgets annoy you, I suggest you bring along a microfiber cloth.
The Buds + App
The Galaxy Wearable app is more polished with a few extra sound preset features that include Clear, Bass Boost, Normal, Soft, and Treble Boost. My personal preference is Dynamic, as it generates a more balanced sound.
The most exciting feature within App is the 'ambient sound' which blends in background noise to whatever you're listening to, using two built-in microphones. The ambient sound feature comes in handy if you need to balance out any outside noises or boost nearby voices.
Even though I rarely used the ambient feature, it does come in handy, especially if your engaging traffic. Problematic issues arose when I'm using this feature in windy environments. The wind noises became more enhanced, causing an ear-shattering whistle.
Another useful feature is 'Find My Earbuds, ' which tracks down your misplaced Buds + playing a series of repeated tweets.
The Battery and Charging Case
For me, the most noticeable improvement is the battery. The Galaxy Buds + gives you 11 hrs of battery power on a single charge, 22 hours in total with the case. Indeed a remarkable leap in total playtime. The Buds + now supports quick charge. Upon my test, I was able to charge the earbuds from 50% to full power in just under 15 mins. As with the last-gen iteration, the case still supports wireless PowerShare and is now compatible with Qi technology.
My Final Thoughts…..
Admittedly, when it comes to any particular tech gadgets such as headphones, I don't rush to make the upgrade after being on the market for a year. The first generation Galaxy Buds has served me well. So there was no need to purchase the Galaxy Buds +. Weeks before making their market launch, I caught a bad case of the blunders and misplaced my Galaxy Buds. Talk about great timing. Even though it would have been much cheaper to go with the original iteration, I decided to purchase the Buds +—a decision I don't regret making.
In my opinion, when it comes to quality earbuds, the Galaxy Buds + does check some boxes and significant improvement from the original iteration. But Buds + does have a few issues. First, let's outline the positives. The sound quality is impeccable and well balanced. The design though there are no glaring changes it is a bit more sleek and polished. As with last year's iteration, the Buds + fits comfortably in ears. The biggest improvement is the battery life, which gives users 11 hrs of playtime. While the original Buds gave you just 6.53 hrs.
Now brace yourself for my issue with the Buds +. Firstly, at $150, these earbuds most certainly fall in the premium category. Yet there's no Active Noise cancellation feature, which is a major disappointment considering you have earbuds on the market comparable to the Buds + have the same function. The EQ settings within the App, more or less, do not enhance the overall sound. When I switched to Bass and Treble Boost, the music became distorted; vocals became muffled. As stated earlier in this post, if you want a good balance sound quality, switch to the Dynamic EQ setting and leave it as is. The glossy finish to the case does add some appeal to the visuals, but at the same time is a major fingerprint magnet for those who have oily hands. The glossy, the Buds + case can slip right out of your hands if you're not careful. For my design taste, I much prefer the matte black finish.
So there you have it. The Galaxy Buds + is most certainly a BUY if you're on the consumer prowl for a pair of quality earbuds.
