Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
The Galaxy Buds Live are Samsung’s newest shape of true wireless earbuds. The earbuds are designed to tune in to every moment. Featuring an iconic shape and ergonomic design, a fit that lets in your natural surroundings, and a speaker optimized for a better experience. Turn down distractions with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for open type on Galaxy’s true wireless buds keeps the noise out, but lets the world in. It reduces background noises without missing what’s important, like voices and announcements, so you hear more of what you want to hear.
- SOUND THAT ROCKS: The AKG-tuned 12mm speaker and enhanced bass tone play everything in studio-quality sound. An open design creates a live listening environment, suiting those who prefer a natural, spacious sound
- NEW STYLE. NEW SOUND: Equal parts earbuds and ear bling, Galaxy Buds Live come in 3 colors you’ll want to rock all day.
- TURN DOWN DISTRACTIONS: Turn on Active Noise Cancellation ¹to block out background noise on an airplane, train or bus. Tap again to let in surrounding live sounds— colleagues’ voices, flight announcements, street traffic—while still enjoying your favorite playlist or podcast
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Long-lasting battery life with a case that doubles as a wireless charger
- ALWAYS-ON ASSISTANCE: Use your always-on voice assistant to order coffee, send a message or search music hands free
- MAIN FEATURES: Active Noise Canceling are enabled through Bluetooth connection or the Galaxy Wearable app on Android, available through Google Play Store, and the Galaxy Buds app on IOS devices, available through the App Store
- The first Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for open type on Galaxy’s true wireless buds keeps the noise out, but lets the world in.
- 12mm speakers with sound by AKG for clear notes, high or low, Typical Usage Time: 6 Hours, Talk Time: 4.5 Hours, Bluetooth 5.0
- Compatibility: Android 5.0 & up , 1.5GB & up, iPhone 7 & up, iOS 10 & up, Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Infrared, Hall, Touch, Grip, VPU
- IPX2 Splash resistant, but are NOT Waterproof. Includes: R180 Buds Live, Charging Case, USB C, Fast Wireless Charging Pad (No Cube)
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Jason H. –
After hearing the buzz and seeing the leaks on these over the last few months, I was anxiously awaiting their release.Now, with them in hand (or ears, rather), I have some serious concerns.I wanted these for the use of listening to music and equally, if not more importantly, for hands free phone calls.For the record: I have paired these with my Samsung S8 phones. I have alternated between two S8’s and have found identical resultsBeing a 100% Android and anti-Apple consumer, I can honestly say that Apple got it right with the AirPods. Not only for sound but for call transmitting and receiving audio quality. The Galaxy Buds Live may not be up to the same level in the call quality department.Call Quality: From my first call, the audio I heard from the caller sounded quite good. Then the audio I was hearing began to sound a bit distorted and I kept experiencing a lot of digital noise. What I found is, if I put my phone in my pocket, or I’m holding my phone and I put my hand down by my side, it almost seems like I lose connection or there is interference. As if the signal is poor. But, if I’m holding the phone upright, or almost right near my face, the sound seems fine. Shouldn’t be like this. On the plus side, in comparison with my Bose headphones, multiple callers said these sounded equally as good on their end.Unfortunately, I have to rate the call quality as Very Bad at this point. After being sent a second pair, same exact issue.I am curious if this is some form of a software incompatibility issue with the Samsung Galaxy S8. Because the call quality is so poor, and I intended on using these heavily for calls, these are now likely to be returned.The Fit: Very interesting but nice. They’re light, comfortable and once you trust that they won’t fall out, you really feel like they’re not even there.Music/Audio: Sounds great. I’m not a $1000 headphone audiophile. It needs to sound clear with your highs and mids defined and just good in general. Sound quality is very good. Here’s the catch was that though. I started noticing the same signal issue that I was noticing with the call quality. While I was watching/listening to a YouTube video and I put the phone in my pocket or I walked away from the phone, mind you only a couple feet away, it seems like there’s interference or the reception is bad. It cuts out constantly. Again, this shouldn’t be happening.Active Noise Canceling: I’d have to say that my Bose QC35ii’s are my benchmark for ANC. That bar is pretty high. The Galaxy Buds Live disappointingly offer little in terms of ANC technology. If you’re looking for the same level if ANC that you get from a good pair of over the ear or in ear silicone tip ear buds, this will not measure up.I experimented with this. While sitting indoors, in a relatively quiet setting, you almost feel like you notice the ANC effectiveness. Walking down the street with moderate car/traffic noise, I noticed absolutely no ANC effect. Merely an automatic battery drain at best.Wearable App: Good. It would be nice to have a more dynamic equalizer option rather than the “canned” sound profiles.Overheating: I’ve yet to actually find information on this in the manual, but I believe that they have an overheating prevention feature where the individual earbud will begin beeping continuously in your ear. The audio playing, in my case a podcast, doesn’t stop but a continuous beep begins. Not being able to figure out why, my best guess is that this is an overheating warning. I had been sitting outside and my left side was facing the sun. It was not excessively hot out and the actual left earbud did not feel warm or get warm in my ear. However, it repeatedly kept beeping.General Performance:- In the home office and around the house: Not bad. I enjoy the lightweight design. As long as my phone is in front of me and not in a pocket, audio and call reception and quality are good.- On the elliptical: Nice. Comfortable and stay in place. Slight movement as you build a bit of a sweat.- Outside for a walk: ANC is non-existent. I also notice wind noise if it’s a little breezy. By breezy, I mean a very light and intermittent wind. Not a hurricane.- On a bicycle ride: Crazy wind noise. Very off-putting, unfortunately.- Online Microsoft Teams Meeting (Android App on S8): I was told that I sounded distant and the audio was thin. As soon as I disconnected and called the person directly, they said I sounded great.Summary: Very disappointed at this point. This is primarily due to the reception issues. The price point is great for what I had expected. However, for what they are, I’d just as soon spend much, much less for a set of wireless headphones since making calls with these simply doesn’t seem to be a good feature, out of the gate.After running through all of the same with two separate sets of GBL’s, using two different S8’s, I’ve gotten identical results. I’m hoping that perhaps this may just be an S8 compatibility issue, as indicated earlier. I would enjoy editing this review to be nothing short of incredible, in the future.Because they are so new, Samsung telephone support couldn’t be all that helpful. With these being, literally, on the market for only a couple of days, there wasn’t a whole lot of trouble shooting assistance available.At this point, I’ve gone through two sets of these and have not seen a difference between the two. I’m torn whether or not I should return them. I so badly want them to work out. But, I’m finding that they’re just not measuring up.
S. Brown –
(Updated opinion below!) I was watching and waiting for these! So dissapointing. They don’t stay in ears well because of the stupid design regardless of the little animated instruction Samsung gives you (this is the fatal flaw.)Sound – kinda OK if I hold them on but even then they’re really not that good and they distort at loud volume.Active Noise Canceling – I’m not sure what they were thinking here. It’s barely there (this has to do with the design). Buds+ do better with noise canceling – and they don’t have any.They’re interesting looking is the only good thing I can say about them.UPDATE!So the ones I got were defective and was sent a new pair. The fit was shockingly good! The most secure of all earbuds I have. I could wear these all day. I will say that some will still not understand how they go in just because they’re different.Sound: Slightly better than Buds+ but same sound profile – fine.ANC: My thoughts on this didn’t change. I have to see if it’s on or not cause I can always hear things. Not sure why they made this the selling point. Knowing Samsung theyre probably already working on another earbud that has great ANC so they can sell that to you too and call them galaxy buds “Stealth” or something. Anyway…All in all I think the strongest point is their fit and that you don’t notice them. I think they were trying to perfect that “always on” feature of the original air pods that you could wear for hours and they did!
Felix Battle –
I ordered two pairs of the Galaxy Buds Plus and returned both, because they were not loud enough and the sound was ok. I ordered these as soon as they were available to see if Samsung made any adjustments. BINGO! The sound is great, they get loud enough and are very comfortable (my ears medium/small). Great Job Samsung! These are my new number ones! Do yourself a favor and try them out. Enjoy!
Boogie P –
Samsung did a great job with these. The fit is a little different to get used to at first but after about 15 minutes you forget they’re in your ears. So light. And the sound is amazing. Nice balanced highs and mids with a nice bass kick to go with it all. Coming from the original Galaxy Buds to these I recommend.P.s. they’re so comfortable laying down watching videos as well.
A. Cook –
First impressions: impressive sound stage in line with early reviews.Comfortable for long-term wear.Black is kind of a silver black which is neat. Not just flat black.I actually like the fact that the noise cancellation focusses on low-frequency background noise so you can still hear general activity around you. Do not try to compare this ANC with Bose or Sony. They do not try to achieve the same goal.One downside which I think is very sloppy is that these do not support multipoint. Rather disappointing especially given the environment we’re living and working in right now.What I do really like is the size of the (wirelessn charging) case. Dang it’s small! Easy to throw in a pocket. Nice job there.