The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is sparking some mixed opinions with a new look. Samsung has redesigned these earbuds, moving away from their classic clamshell case to a shape that’s closer to AirPods, which has definitely stirred some debate. Are these changes worth the fuss? Let’s break down what’s new, how they perform, and whether they justify the price.

What’s New?

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro come with several exciting upgrades that give them a fresh feel compared to the Buds 2 Pro.

Design Overhaul: The new design is a radical change. While it does veeeery slightly resemble Airpods, to me, it’s more about its new radical design, futuristic, and a bit too far strewn from the Galaxy phone lineup. It’s not bad, but with the old design, they fit right in. With the new design, they look more like they belong on TRON.

Blade Lights: But with this new design, you get light-up “blades” on each earbud.

Color-Coded Buds: Now, the left and right earbuds come in different colors, making it easy to distinguish them at a glance. It’s a small detail, but one that’s super practical.

Performance Improvements

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro take performance to the next level, with some standout features that make listening more enjoyable.

Improved ANC: The active noise cancellation (ANC) is better than ever. It shuts out background noise, so you can really dive into your music or calls without distractions. This is part of the redesign, with the new “blade”-style shape, having more directional microphones in a larger area help with noise detection and thus cancellation.

Siren Mode: Samsung added a new “Siren Mode” that makes sirens and certain emergency sounds cancel out the ANC. While it’s a neat safety feature, in quieter cities like Singapore, it rarely ever triggers. But for more chaotic environments like Paris or Manila, it could definitely come in handy. I was at the DENZA D9 launch, using the Buds as ear protection, testing out the ANC, when I realised that the drum performance they had on stage was triggering the siren mode to turn off the ANC. Luckily a simple fiddle in the Wearables app was all it took… Once I figured out why it kept turning off…

Talking Mode ANC: The ANC automatically adjusts when you start talking, lowering so you can hear your own voice. This is perfect if you often need to have short conversations without taking out your earbuds.

360 Spatial Audio: Samsung’s 360 Spatial Audio is an immersive addition that makes sound feel like it’s surrounding you. It takes a moment to adjust to, but it definitely adds depth to the experience, especially for movies and spatial audio tracks. When you turn your head, the audio stays in the original direction for about 5-6 seconds. If your head is still turned e.g. walking in a new direction after the initial 5-6 seconds, the music then “shifts” to in front of you again, as it was initially.

Price and Value: Is It Worth It?

The Buds 3 Pro is currently at $328. Pricey, but a premium product. The sound quality definitely delivers, and the ANC is 100% improved from before. The new look is hit or miss, but I like the new functionality points like colour coding L/R, blade lights just for fanciness.

For those who value the best in ANC and audio features, the Buds 3 Pro’s enhanced ANC, unique features, and stylish new design make it a solid choice. No doubt the market is hyper saturated so options are plenty. Heck, even the first-generation buds are still perfectly fine, this is just… better. Or if you want something newer than the first gen, yet still the clamshell design, there’s still the Buds FE for half the price. So, plenty of options, and good to have this around.