Samsung’s new earbuds sure do look like Airpods

Samsung is looking to change up its tactics when it comes to true wireless earbuds with the new Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

More than just competing with the AirPods, Samsung's latest earbuds straight-up look like their Apple counterparts. Rather than the bud-shaped form factor of older models, this year's Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have adopted a more stem-centric design. The Buds 3 Pro have an in-ear design and a built-in LED lighting strip while the standard Galaxy Buds 3 embraces a more open-ear design in line with the short-lived (but lovably bean-shaped) Galaxy Buds Live.

In addition to overhauled looks, Samsung's latest pair of true wireless earbuds are also set to arrive with a few new tricks. On top of the usual active noise cancellation and adaptive equalisers, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro use AI to clean up call audio and will also integrate with Samsung's Galaxy AI-enabled devices to offer real-time and hands-free translation. More than that, these are Samsung's first set of earbuds to support voice controls and allow you to play and pause music using hands-free commands.

Just as much attention has gone into the inside as the outside here, with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro said to feature double the sampling rate and frequency response range of the previous model, with a dual amplifier and an enhanced two-way speaker system. It'll also come with an IP67 rating for water resistance and support for Samsung's equivalent to Apple's Find My functionality.

In Australia, pricing for the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro starts at $299 and $399 respectively. Both earbuds will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 on 30 July 2024.