Samsung Galaxy Buds Live headphone review with pros and cons

Who in childhood did not imagine himself in the role of a secret agent after the next James Bond film? A camera built into glasses, a pen that turns into a grenade when pressed awkwardly, or wireless, almost invisible, headphones that the protagonist pathetically corrects during the mission? It's time for vivid images to come true together with Samsung.

The Korean brand announced the Galaxy Buds Live headphones in early August 2020. Without waiting for the official start of sales, they have already spread all over the Internet thanks to their unusual shape, as well as their unique sound. Are they really that good? Will they give odds to terry luxury and fashion on AirPods? Let's find out right now!

Design

The design of the novelty is truly unusual. Headphones are a cross between vacuum models and earbuds, and despite the funny comparison with beans (from English Beans), this Galaxy Buds Live also captivates.

The main feature is the absence of ear pads. That is, the sound does not directly affect the eardrums, but dissipates, thereby not impairing hearing.

Here is another "+" hid for those who are tortured to lose rubber gadgets!

The second feature is universal size and low weight. On the representative's website, the dimensions of the Galaxy Buds Live are declared - 0.6 x 2.73 x 1.5 cm, with a weight of 5.6 grams (each earphone). The cover is made of durable plastic with a glossy finish. The streamlined shape allows them to confidently hold in the ear, additionally secured by a small notch that clings to the tragus (cartilaginous protrusion). For sports, the Korean brand has equipped the model with a Wingtips attachment and sweat resistance. Thus, you do not have to worry about the safety of the earbuds during difficult exercises or running. Can AirPods boast that?

Wireless headphones are suitable for both men and women and children. At the same time, they will not look bulky in the ear. Everything is like in a spy movie!

Equipment

Headphone packaging is also tiny (too much). It includes:

• Standard USB cable;
• Coupon, certificates;
• Flip case.

An adapter is not required, as the earbuds support charging via the included portable panel. The Galaxy Buds Live case adapts to any luggage conditions. Its dimensions are 5 x 5.2 x 2.78 cm. The developers took into account the mistakes of previous versions, so the fasteners on the lid with magnetic stripes became tighter. Thus, there is no need to be afraid that the case will open in your pocket and the lid will break.

There are three possible colors in total: white, flesh beige / pink and black. They completely repeat the design of the upcoming Samsung Note 20 Ultra smartphone and, according to the brand, work most harmoniously with this particular model.

Specifications

Battery

When active, each earpiece conducts:

• 7 hours of continuous music listening;
• 6 hours with noise canceling on.

However, if you disable most of the functions, such as ANC, then the model will last 1-1.5 hours longer.

The battery capacity in the flip case is 472 mAh, thus extending the life of the Galaxy Buds Live by 21 hours. A small indicator inside the case indicates that the headphones are paired (red - do not work, green - Bluetooth is on), and the percentage of data can be viewed by installing a special application.

Work instructions

You can use the model both with the touch cover on the headphones, and through the official application. The huge advantage of the Galaxy Buds Live is that both methods are intuitive, so getting used to the accessory is not difficult.

In the first case, a number of standard commands are used. For example, when you double-tap the earphone, the music turns on / off. Single touch - noise cancellation. They also react if pulled out of the ear.

The second, more practical way is to download the dedicated Galaxy Wearable app. When you connect Galaxy Buds Live to a Samsung smartphone, you will be taken to the download link (weight no more than 5 MB). In other cases, you will have to search for the application manually.

The information is presented in sufficient detail, users with smart watches will not have any problems at all. The program displays the battery level and basic settings. Such as calls, volume (equalizer), voice signals, etc.

About the charge level and connection

As for charging, you need to check the battery status:

1. Put both earbuds in the case and close it;
2. Look in the Galaxy Wearable "Battery" section for details.

How to know the Galaxy Buds Live are paired and ready to use:

1. Put on charged headphones, touch the surface and do not let go until you hear a characteristic sound signal. Then you can start using.
2. Carry out the same procedure when disconnecting.

Pairing

Like all modern models, Samsung Galaxy Buds Live can be paired with phones via Bluetooth 5.0 or later. At the same time, they are synchronized with many popular brands. Apart from Samsung: Chinese - Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, Honor, etc., as well as American - Apple.

Find out about where the phone suddenly disappeared only at a distance of 10 meters. This is the maximum possible pairing distance!

Sound features

Of course, Bluetooth headphones still lose to wired ones in sound quality. Although they are easier to wear and more durable. If we talk about the capabilities of Galaxy Buds Live, then the developers have done a large-scale work on the bugs. The mids have become more detailed, and users also noted good bass. The upper frequencies sound decent only at medium volume, when they rise, they naturally begin to break down. It should be noted that when comparing the model with a wired accessory during a conversation, it turned out to be an order of magnitude louder, the words sound articulate.

The maximum frequency is 20,000 Hz. The minimum is 20 Hz.

The Galaxy Buds Live's unique shape didn't go unnoticed either. Because the device rests on your ear rather than directing sound directly into it, the sound becomes much duller. On the other hand, the Korean brand has installed 3 microphones in the bins for better noise reduction, for example, in public transport, airplanes, noisy rooms.

This disadvantage easily turns into 2 advantages at once! Firstly, headphones do not damage your hearing like vacuum ones, and they are also safer. It's better to hear a car honking than an explosive chorus.

Comparison with cheap and expensive models

To objectively consider all the possibilities of the new item, let's compare the model with the most popular accessories of different price categories.

Why is Galaxy Buds Live better than 2nd generation Apple AirPods?

First of all, the Samsung model is newer and more economical (the difference is several thousand). Also in the Apple device there is a flimsy case, the lid of which looses after 2-3 months of wearing. The advantages of the Korean novelty include:

• Active noise cancellation;
• Charge lasts 1 hour longer;
• Sweat resistant;
• Keeps better in the ear, less risk of loss.

AirPods Benefits:

• Lighter by 3.2 grams;
• Higher volume;
• Better equalizer.

As you can see, fashionable headphones are already losing out to Samsung. They are less adapted to different types of activity, while they are fragile and have every chance of falling out of the ear.

Compare budget Xiaomi Redmi AirDots with Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Surprisingly, the Chinese brainchild is much more competitive than the Americans. As well as in the first case, Samsung gets ahead due to its novelty (2020 vs 2019), as well as completely new features:

• Suppresses noise directly while listening to music;
• Longer battery life (earbuds last 2 hours longer)
• Charges in a non-contact way;
• Better sounding high and middle frequencies.

However, budget segment headphones have the following advantages:

• Waterproof, can be used in the rain;
• 7.1 grams lighter
• Higher battery capacity (80 mAh vs 60 mAh);
• Passive noise cancellation (no music plug).

Thus, for users not chasing trends, the Xiaomi Redmi AirDots and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live are more suitable. However, the latter are much more comfortable to wear and better sounding.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Unusual shape;
• Beautiful design;
• Sturdy and compact case;
• Works with many well-known brands;
• Holds charge for a long time;
• Lightweight interface;
• Charging via dock. station;
• Competing with luxury devices;
• Does not damage the auditory canals.

• Not waterproof;
• Loose fit to the ear;
• Suppress noise only when listening to music.

Total and price

The approximate date of the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live headphones on sale in the CIS is August 20. The estimated price ranges from 10-12 thousand rubles.

Let's run a quick question:

Who is the device for? Everyone, without exception. The universal size, the trendy colors and the nice price for the large number of functions will melt everyone's heart. They will be an excellent gift for children who are interested in fashion trends, for young people who are always in a hurry, as well as for older people. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have an interesting design, thanks to which they add solidity to the image.

Are they suitable for sports activities? Certainly. They are resistant to sweat, have a secure fit to keep them from falling out while running, and have a large battery.

Are they worth the money? In the Comparisons section, we found out that Samsung Galaxy Buds Live outperform Apple in many ways. Therefore, yes, the sound quality (wide range) and easy setup really deserve the price.

Enjoyable, and most importantly, successful purchases!