Samsung is looking to improve on the IconX with the new Galaxy Buds, releasing with a number of new features. The question is: are they worth it?
I’ve always had an unfortunate time with earbuds in the past. My ears tend to either swallow them, sometimes having required tweezers or in one case a trip to the doctors in the past to remove an earbud tip. Otherwise, they repel them like they’re both the same sides of a magnet, having one or both of the earbuds fall out if I do anything as silly as jogging, walking or breathing.
Okay, that latter may be a slight exaggeration. But I have had issues with comfort in particular and the earbuds do fall out. Plus, there are also issues with the tips having come off and getting stuck. I am an adult, honest. My ear canals are also a little wonky, requiring some adjustment in position or a change of the tip for the sound to actually come through properly. I do also have to admit I’ve mostly had cheap earbuds in the past, having only tried out the earlier Gear IconX.
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So, as it’ll be obvious why I’ve pretty much exclusively used over-ear headphones since then. Until now that is.
If you’ve seen the Gear IconX wireless buds, you’ll recognise the core of the Galaxy Buds. The main thing about the Galaxy Buds is that they’re less bulky and offer three separate tips and fins that work perfectly with the triangular shape to let you find the ideal fit for your ear. In what I find a very rare situation, I’m actually comfortable with buds in while doing something active. In particular, when going hiking or in the gym, not a single time did the buds fall out.
They’re also pretty discreet and not very noticeable, although different colours could alter this. I have a pair of White buds. The Galaxy Buds also come in Black and Yellow, with Yellow being very bright. The smaller size makes them reasonably attractive and it confuses people who are talking to you when you don’t actually answer back. Altogether, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are a decent looking piece of kit. I will say that I do have one problem that is down to the design and function of them. It’s about the panel that sits on the back of both buds.
While the buds didn’t fall out, I did find myself wanting to move them every now and then. Sometimes this was just to have a chat with somebody or, if I had pressed my head on a bench, etc, they’d move and need repositioning. It’s very difficult to move the Galaxy Buds in your ear without accidentally touching and activating the panel.
