Here’s all there is to know about Samsung’s Galaxy Buds, from release date and pricing to the headline features. Also see: What to expect from the MWC 2019 heavyweights
When will the Galaxy Buds launch?
Following a reveal at Galaxy Unpacked, the Samsung Galaxy Buds are now available to buy from Samsung for £139 / $129. Check out our Galaxy Buds review.
How much will the Galaxy Buds cost?
Despite the high £199 price tag of Samsung’s IconX headphones, the Buds are more wallet-friendly and are actually cheaper than Apple’s £159 AirPods. The Samsung Galaxy Buds will cost £139 in the UK, and $129 in the US. Pre-orders are now live via Samsung and retailers including Carphone Warehouse in the UK, promising a delivery date of 21 March 2019. It’s also worth noting that Samsung is offering a free pair of Galaxy Buds with early pre-orders of the Galaxy S10, saving you over £100/$100.
What do the Samsung Galaxy Buds offer?
The Galaxy Buds are the successor to the Gear IconX (shown at top of page) headphones we saw last year, offering an all-round improvement in terms of design and tech. The Galaxy Buds are 30 percent smaller than last year’s wireless earbuds, and shouldn’t protrude from your ears like other wireless earbuds on the market. A smaller form factor is always welcome, but what makes the Galaxy Buds so special and a true competitor to the AirPods? First up, the case offers wireless charging support (something AirPods should offer soon) that is compatible not only with a range of wireless chargers but the Galaxy S10’s Wireless PowerShare charging, making it easy to keep on top of battery life. There is also a standard USB-C port for those that want to give the buds a quick top-up. Speaking of battery life, the Galaxy Buds should last for 5 hours of talk time or six hours of music with a single charge, blowing AirPods 2-5 hour battery life out of the water. But unlike Apple’s 25-hour offering, Samsung’s charging case only offers an extra 7 hours of charge before it’ll need a top-up. You’ve also got access to one-tap Bixby, Google Assistant or Alexa. Bixby is the default assistant built into Samsung’s wireless buds, but you can use any other Android-supported virtual assistant that you choose. This allows users to respond to messages, make calls and even control smart home tech without using a smartphone. Of course, the Galaxy Buds wouldn’t be a true AirPods competitor without impressive audio capabilities, and it looks like Samsung has that covered. The Samsung Galaxy Buds offer AKG-tuned earbuds that should boast a huge improvement over the IconX, while also using dual-microphone technology to further improve overall quality. The Samsung Galaxy Buds are available in Black, White and a rather dazzling Yellow finish – which will you choose? Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
