SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS + REVIEW: A MARKED IMPROVEMENT
Samsung has been the world's leading smartphone manufacturer for many years now. The number of phones in circulation from the Korean company is huge, so why not create a pair of True Wireless headphones that perfectly match these products (and all other smartphones too)? Last year the Galaxy Buds reached the goal , at least from a purely functional point of view, revealing themselves to be comfortable and simple to use headphones, which however lacked something in terms of audio quality. healthbeautystudio
Now, with the new Galaxy Buds + , Samsung has decided to
take the good things seen in the first model, improving it with a decidedly
superior listening experience, not suitable for audiophiles but perfect for the
general public, the primary target of this model.
Design: nothing has changed
Visually, the differences between the Buds and the Buds +
are practically nil . Even putting the case of the new and old model side by
side, there are no visible variations, except in the finish and color of the
two samples we used for the test. The 2019 variant in our possession is opaque
white, also available for the new model, while the 2020 one is glossy black.
Even opening the case the differences are minimal, the Buds + have a small
rubber insert that indicates where to place the right and left earphones, in
the old model this indication was written directly on the plastic shell. In the
back we find the USB Type C port for charging .
Even looking at the earphones, there are no differences
whatsoever, Samsung has practically changed nothing under this front, but
that's not a bad thing because the 2019 variant was already comfortable to
wear. We therefore also find the small rubberized flap at the top , useful for
best fixing the headphones to the ear without having to push them too far.
The in-ear headphones are not appreciated by everyone
especially for this reason, but thanks to this device the comfort and stability
inside the ear improve a lot. In the sales package there are still two other
rubber pads (also for the fins) of different sizes to better adapt the
headphones to your ear.
At the extremes of the two earphones, Samsung has kept
sometouch surfaces for receiving commands , from which it is possible, for
example, to stop music playback or to play a song forward.
Compared to the previous model, the commands are received a
little better but the missing detections have remained, even if in smaller
numbers. The touch surface is very small and it is easy to go wrong.
As for the materials, from the headphones to the charging
case, plastic is the master. This brings the build quality to more than good
levels but without reaching excellence . However, there are also positive
sides: the weight benefits from it, the Galaxy Buds + are light, they hardly
feel once worn, and also the cost, with a price of about € 155 online.
Simple to set up, and feel better
With a Galaxy smartphone, setting up the Buds + is very
simple. We tested them with a Galaxy S20 Ultra, once the case is opened the
earphones are immediately recognized by the phone, then just a few taps are
enough to have them immediately ready for use. With other smartphones, Android
and iOS, they can be associated directly from the bluetooth settings but better
to switch from the proprietary application (Samsung Wear on Android and Samsung
Galaxy Buds + for iOS), so as to access the accessory functions of the
headphones. From here you can see the charge level, decide the equalization
between different presets, modify the touch controls or even activate a low
latency mode . In this regard, even without this active mode we have detectedan
almost imperceptible delay in the audio , a result also facilitated by the use
of Bluetooth 5.0, with which the Galaxy Buds + are compatible.
The function that allow you to adjust the ambient audio is
interesting . The Buds + do not have active noise cancellation but still
isolate very well from the external environment, especially if you choose the
right size rubber for your ear. With this function you can decide the level of
environmental noises reproduced by the headphones: in this way you can, for
example, talk to someone without removing the earphones.
The function is possible thanks to the three microphones
installed in each of them, one of which is internal, which confirm their
quality even during calls, managing well to detect the voice, cutting out part
of the external sounds. The call quality is very high and is one of the strong
points of the product.
Compared to the previous model, however, the element that
stands out most is the music reproduction, markedly improved. The credit goes
to the introduction of small two-way speakers, with a tweeter for the high
tones and a woofer for the low ones. Last year's model suffered greatly from
the reproduction of low frequencies, which however are fundamental in headsets
like these, not aimed at audiophiles. The final result is a sound, branded AKG,
which certainly does not focus on balance, but which manages to bring out the
highs and generate full-bodied low frequencies, which are all heard during
listening, especially if you use the presets that they push more on these
frequencies.
In short, if the main limitation of the Galaxy Buds 2019 was
music reproduction, Samsung has easily overcome it in the new model. The
autonomy is also excellent, with a single charge the earphones easily exceed 7
hours, to which are added at least another 7-8 hours with the energy reserve
contained in the case. This is an important added value, especially for those
who travel often, who will never run out of energy. Wireless charging is also
available, not essential but still useful on certain occasions.
