The Samsung Galaxy Buds are well-rounded wireless earbuds on the market. Due to their popularity and the ever-changing trend of technology, Samsung has unleashed the improved version called the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ or Buds Plus. Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus worth it despite their identical appearance and design? Let's find out in this article:
In this article:
Pros and Cons
Here's a quick look at what we liked and didn't like about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| ✔️Impressive battery life ✔️Excellent sound quality ✔️Comfortable to wear |
❌Not friendly-user control ❌High-latency on gaming ❌Single charge with the case |
Specification of Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
- Price: US$149.99
- Samsung MUB01
- Bluetooth v5.0 (LE up to 2 Mbps)
- Range: 10m
- Battery earbuds: 85mAh/ea
- Battery case: 270mAh
- 11 hours of nonstop music on a single charge
- Charging port: USB Type C
- Protocol: HSP, HFP, ACRCP, A2DP
- Frequency response range: 20 - 20,000Hz
- 3 Mics (2 Outer+1 Inner)
- Includes 3 silicone ear tips
- 3 fin sleeve options
Sound quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is one of the best earbuds when it comes to sound quality on the market. Out of the box, the treble accuracy of these headphones is excellent and is remarkably well-balanced. The high notes sound bright, crisp, and detailed without overpowering or overwhelming other frequencies.
When it comes to bass, these earbuds are outstanding. The earbuds have a bit of punch when listening to heavy bass music. The mid-range accuracy is remarkable out-of-the-box. Unfortunately, the entire range is very flat though such issues can easily be ignored and are likely won't be noticeable to most users.
Sound quality score: 8/10
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is far from perfect. What we noticed after using the earbuds several times is that the vocals and lead instruments tend to be a bit forward in the mix, with high projection and intensity. Fortunately, such issues can be ignored since the overall sound quality of the earbuds are excellent.
How is the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is one of the worst earbuds for gaming. It has a high latency that causes issues with synchronization between the audio and the video. Most especially in fast-moving videos such as playing video games.
Furthermore, the microphone is mediocre. Overall, it was an unpleasant experience using the earbuds for video games due to its high latency paired with a mediocre microphone quality.
Microphone: Using the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus for phone calls
Samsung claims that the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is capable of filtering unwanted noise while you use it for phone calls. Out of the box, the earbuds are fairly okay when it comes to their microphone quality.
Like most Bluetooth headphones on the market, the quality of the microphone is a bit mediocre and our voice was lacking in detail but still understandable.
Microphone score: 6/10
The noise handling of the built-in microphone is fairly decent but needs improvement. When making calls in a moderately noisy environment, the person on the other end of the line should be able to hear you somewhat clearly. In a perfect scenario, the earbuds are filtering out environmental noise but that's not the case.
Fitting and comfort of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
When it comes to fitting, comfort, and fast movements, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is a performer. They're quite comfortable and sturdy in the ear, even during heavy workouts and light jogging. These earbuds are one of the most comfortable earbuds to wear on the market.
Fitness score: 8/10
Fortunately, the package includes different sizes of stability fins and silicone tips to accommodate different ear sizes and shape for a secure fit. They're also rated IPX2 for very light water resistance, so you can rest assured that they will not easily be broken from sweat or light rain showers.
For better comfort and fit, we recommend replacing the silicone tips with foam ear tips instead.
These foam ear tips use memory sponge material that's more skin-friendly and more comfortable to wear as it takes the shape of your ear canal as you wear them.
Controls and functionality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
Out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus lacks any form of dedicated volume control. You do, however, get the usual pause/play functionality and more
| Leaf Earphone | Action | Right Earphone |
|---|---|---|
| Play/Pause | Tap 1x | Play/Pause |
| Previous song/Answer/End Call | Tap 2x | Previous song/Answer/End Call |
| Previous song | Tap 3x | Previous song |
| Launch Bixby or Google/Voice assistant/Reject calls | Tap and hold for 2 seconds | Launch Bixby or Google/Voice assistant/Reject calls |
| Pairing mode | Press both touchpads | Pairing mode |
Fortunately, you can use the Galaxy Wearable app to configure some controls and functionality of the earbuds such as volume adjustment and more.
Control score: 5.5/10
Since the earbuds use touch panel control, it is best to keep in mind that the earbuds will not react when tapped while wearing a glove.
How long does the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus last?
When it comes to battery, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is a performer in this category. It is rated to last up to 13.3 hours on continuous use at a full charge which is a big improvement over its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Buds. That's almost twice as much as the basic buds which are amazing.
Battery score: 8/10
The only downside we find in this department is the case's capacity to charge both earbud pieces. As specified, the case can only charge both earpieces 1 full charge. Nonetheless, most would be able to live with that since the earbuds alone can already last 13.3 hours.
Conclusion: Our verdict
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is a well-made earbud overall. The case and the earpieces are made from dense plastic and feel premium when touched. The use of weaker ingress protection of IPX2 might turn some people off but in-real world scenario, no one would use these earbuds in a shower, running while raining, or anywhere near liquid.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Sound | 8 |
| Microphone | 6 |
| Fit | 8 |
| Control | 5.5 |
| Battery | 8 |
| Stability | 8 |
| Quality | 7.5 |
The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ is an excellent successor and an overall improvement over its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Buds. Both models look and feel identical and feature the same sleek, compact design.
One particular department that has drastically been improved is the longest continuous battery life, with over 13 hours of playback.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is also a good alternative to high-end ones like the AirPods. However, it is best to take note these earbuds are still considered expensive.
How much will galaxy buds plus cost?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus cost US$149.99.
Hope we have helped you understand more about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus earbuds. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, do let us know in the comment section below.
Alternatives
Alternatively, if you have a budget of US$50, then we recommend checking out the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE.
The SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE is considered the king of earbuds that are under US$50. It features an outstanding performance that's on par with more expensive ones and an excellent quality that's worth more than what you paid for.
You can learn more about this earbud by checking out our in-depth review of the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE.
