Unpacked July 2024: New Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 can deliver real-time translation to your ears
While not the main event of the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung still had a big announcement for its line of earbuds: The new Galaxy Buds 3 series.
Samsung's earbuds announcement brings two new products to the market: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Both earbuds come with a slew of features with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro packed with a few extras to sweeten the offering.
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Perhaps the most enticing feature introduced with Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the new Interpreter feature that's powered by Samsung's Galaxy AI.
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Buds 3 series' Interpreter feature will allow users to hear real-time translations of a foreign language in "Listening Mode" on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Flip 6. And Samsung's not just talking about interpretations for content that's being listened to through the device. The Interpreter feature will bring these real-time interpretations to consumers experiencing real-life, in-person conversations.
There is one important note for this feature, though. While it's only available through the Galaxy Buds 3 series of earbuds, the translations are not provided by the earbuds themselves. Keep in mind, though, that the Interpreter feature requires a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
Both new earbuds have a Voice Command feature, which allows users to control the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro without actually touching the earbuds or the connected smartphone. For example, users can tell the Galaxy Buds 3 devices to play or stop playing music by simply using their voice.
The Galaxy Buds 3 series can also analyze both internal and external sounds to enhance audio quality and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) through Adaptive EQ and Adaptive ANC in real time.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro extras
Of course, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are equipped with features that the base model in the series does not have.
First and foremost, the design of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is different from that of the base model. The Galaxy Buds 3 has an "Open Type" design like the one found on the Apple AirPods whereas the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is a "Canal Type," like the AirPods Pro.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro comes with a strip down the stem of the earbuds called Blade Lights, which allows users to control the earbuds by pinching or swiping up or down on the blade. This physical menu to control things like volume is not available on the base model.
Along with the sound enhancement feature on both earbuds in the series, Samsung touted another new feature that automatically adjusts music levels for users through "Adaptive Noise Control, Siren Detect, and Voice Detect." According to Samsung, the Adaptive Noise Control, Voice Detect, and Siren Detect features are exclusive to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also includes a few firsts for Galaxy Buds. The Pro model has improved two-way speakers with a planar tweeter, which Samsung says brings a "high range sound production" to the device. The Pro model also includes dual amplifiers and ultra-high quality audio, which "supports a doubled sampling rate." Samsung says these features not only provide the proper experience for high-resolution audio, but it also extends to enhancing the audio quality on phone calls through the Super-Wideband Call feature.
Galaxy Buds 3 Series price and availability
The base Galaxy Buds 3 model will be available for $179.99, with the Pro model priced at $249.99. Accordion to Samsung, both models will be available in two different color configurations, silver and white.
Just like the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, both earbuds in the Galaxy Buds 3 series are available to pre-order starting today. The Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will officially launch and be available in-stores on July 24.