Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are a rumored pair of premium wireless earbuds set to release alongside the Samsung Galaxy S21 this month.
Well, we say rumored, but these noise-cancelling earbuds have been leaked relentlessly, to the point we have a very good idea of their price, specs and features, as well as Samsung is likely to reveal them officially. So here’s how the successors to the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus will compare to previous wireless earbuds.
It’s not unusual for Samsung to release multiple iterations of the same product within a short time frame, but it might feel like it has something to prove with its Buds lineup. Neither of this year’s options out-performed Apple’s AirPods in testing or in popularity.
That could change with the Galaxy Buds Pro. Whether the new model can end AirPods Pro‘s reign in the best wireless earbuds category is yet to be determined, but you can bet we’re excited to see what Samsung has up its sleeve.
However, thanks to a handful of credible leaks, not everything will be a surprise. Here’s what know about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, from price and release date to potential design and performance features.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro release date
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro release date will most likely coincide with the release date of the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup. At the very least, both the new earbuds and new smartphones will be announced during the same Unpacked event.
We now know when that event is going to be. Samsung has set a date of Jan. 14 for the next Unpacked event, and while it hasn’t confirmed which products are on the agenda, a new phone is almost certain to be the headliner. That would mean the Galaxy Buds Pro would be introduced at the same time.
If you want more proof that a launch is imminent, the Galaxy Buds Pro just appeared on Samsung Canada’s website, usually a sign that a launch is about to happen.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro price
A promotional slide leak by reliable tipster WalkingCat puts the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro price at $199. That’s more than what the Galaxy Buds Live released for, but less than what you’d pay for the AirPods Pro.
We at least know exactly how much the Galaxy Buds Pro will cost in Canada: an early listing by Staples gives the price as CA$265. That’s about $207 in USD, so close enough to the leaked $199 price that it’s a good enough ballpark figure.
You may also be able to get the Galaxy Buds Pro for free as part of a Galaxy S21 Ultra pre-order bonus.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro design
A hands-on video leak from YouTuber Digital Slang has nixed any remaining mystery about the Galaxy Buds Pro design, showing both the new buds and the case in all their pre-release glory.
Prior to this, we had the first full 360-degree look at the Galaxy Buds Pro design courtesy of leaker Evan Blass. Blass had previously provided the first leaked stills of the Galaxy Buds Pro and their charging case, and now this apparent promo video showcases the ‘Phantom Black’ model from all angles.
Both Digital Slang and Blass’s leaks indicate that the Galaxy Buds Pro look more like the original Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Buds Plus rather than the legume-shaped Galaxy Buds Live that launched in late summer. But oddly enough, the Galaxy Buds Pro 472 mAh battery charging case resembles the Bud’s Live case more than the Buds Plus one.
The Galaxy Buds Pro seem to have another unique design element: instead of a matte surface surrounding a small glossy panel, the Buds Pro will feature a glossy surface on top of each bud.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro features
An APK teardown by GitHub user ThePBone has found explicit reference to enough key features to make the Galaxy Buds Pro Samsung’s most advanced earbuds yet. Active noise cancellation makes the cut, backing up a previous report from SamMobile, as does a new Voice Detect feature. This is said to automatically enable Ambient listening mode when the onboard microphone senses the user speaking, which could make for easier conversations.
Most interesting, though, are references to a 3D audio mode, which sounds extremely similar to the Spatial Audio feature of the AirPods Pro. The Samsung Galaxy Buds will allegedly be able to track your head movements in order to maintain a surround sound effect as you look around.
This feature has been backed up by the WalkingCat leak, which also names the feature explicitly as “Spatial Audio,” though sadly the teardown also notes that this feature is only supported with Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 11, so owners of different Android handsets could miss out.
SamMobile also said additional improvements have been made to Samsung’s transparency mode, making it “better than it has ever been.” We should expect enhancements to audio performance, too: in Digital Slang’s hands-on video, which confirmed the ANC, transparency mode and Voice Detect features, he noted the Galaxy Buds Pro sounded significantly better than the Galaxy Buds Plus.
There are potentially more Galaxy Buds Pro features we’re not privy to yet, but with a launch just weeks away, we could find out more very soon. Bookmark this page for the latest information on Samsung’s next pair of wireless earbuds.