Aiming directly at Apple’s popular AirPods, Samsung has announced the upcoming release of Galaxy Buds, which the company dubs as the “ultimate cord-free earbuds for those who want a seamlessly connected experience on the go.”
With some similarities to the company’s first attempt to take on the AirPods, with its IconX wireless earbuds, the company hopes the latest upgraded buds will allow it to finally start taking marketshare away from its biggest rival.
Galaxy Buds Features and Specs
According to the company press release, the Galaxy Buds offer a premium listening experience with sound by AKG. Enhanced Ambient Sound allows you to hear your surroundings clearly even while the buds are in your ears, so you can remain aware of your environment at the same time as you listen to your favorite tunes.
With the Adaptive Dual Microphone, the Galaxy Buds utilize one inner microphone and one outer microphone in each earbud, “so you can deliver your voice clearly in both loud and quiet environments”.
The buds provide up to six hours of Bluetooth streaming, and up to five hours of calls. Additionally, the case holds a charge for up to seven hours and also provides 1.7 hours on a 15-minute quick charge.
Wireless charging and device-to-device power sharing allows for a quick charging boost on the go from Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S10.
Galaxy Buds also integrate with Bixby on the latest Galaxy mobile devices, so you can activate the intelligent assistant without ever picking up your phone. Voice can easily be used to make calls, send text messages or check the battery life of the earbuds.
| Galaxy Buds Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Color | Black, White |
| Size | Earbud: 17.5 (W) x 19.2 (D) x 22.3 (H) mm / Case: 38.8 (W) x 70 (D) x 26.5 (H) mm |
| Weight | Earbud: 5.6g per earbud / Case: 39.6g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Sensor | Accelerometer, Proximity, Hall, Touch, Ear on/off detection |
| Battery | Earbud: 58mAh / Charging case: 252mAh |
| USB | Type-C |
| Speaker | 5.8pi Dynamic Driver |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0 or later, RAM 1.5GB or above |
| Audio | Audio Codec: SBC, AAC, Scalable (Samsung proprietary) |
Availability and Pricing
The Galaxy Buds will be available for $129.99 on Samsung.com and major retailers and carriers starting March 8, 2019. As part of its launch promotion, Samsung is offering free Galaxy Buds to consumers that pre-order a Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S10+ through the Samsung website.
Source: Samsung
