Headphone Guide Pro

How to manage Galaxy Buds Live in Galaxy Wearable App?

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, sports headphones, wireless earbuds

Galaxy Wearable app

Although you can use the Galaxy Buds Live as standalone wireless earbuds, some settings and customization, as well as firmware updates, can only be performed through the Galaxy Wearable app on Android devices (or Galaxy Buds app on iPhone).

This Galaxy Buds Live guide explains how to use the Galaxy Buds Live plugin in the Galaxy Wearable app to manage, customize, and update Galaxy Buds Live. The feature differences between Galaxy Wearable for Android and Galaxy Buds for iPhone are also discussed.

What’s Galaxy Wearable? Why do you need it?

It is impractical for small gadgets like Galaxy Buds Live to configure all settings in the tiny space. So, you need an app to offload some of the functions from the buds.

Meanwhile, as standalone Bluetooth earbuds, there is no way to update the firmware. You need a “host” (or agent) to download the update and transfer it to the earbuds.

Galaxy Wearable is Samsung’s app to manage their wearables, including Galaxy Buds (Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds Pro, and Galaxy Buds 2) and Galaxy Watch.

On iOS, the Galaxy Buds app supports a few selected buds (Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live only, to be precise). In this guide, we will first focus on the Galaxy Wearable app. Galaxy Buds app will be briefly discussed later.

Each device, for example, Galaxy Buds Live, needs a plugin inside the Galaxy Wearable app. But you do not install these plugins manually. When you add a new device in Galaxy Wearable, the corresponding plugin will be installed automatically.

Galaxy Wearable is always pre-installed on all Galaxy devices (e.g., Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Note 20). So you do not need to install them. If you are using other Android phones, you have to install the app from the Play store.

How to use Galaxy Wearable to manage Galaxy Buds Live?

Galaxy Wearable (with Galaxy Buds Live plugin) lets you manage and customize Galaxy Buds live. For example,

Connect (add) Galaxy Buds Live to the phone

You can connect Galaxy Buds Live to the phone through … Read the rest

How to use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live?

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

use touch control on Galaxy Buds LiveThe fastest way to adjust or control Galaxy Buds Live is to use touch control. You can pause, resume or skip music tracks by using the touch control on Galaxy Buds Live. You may also use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live to answer or reject calls.

This Galaxy Buds Live guide explains how to use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live to control music playing, answer or reject calls, and how to adjust the volume or customize the long tap gesture for the touch control on Galaxy Buds Live.

The touch control on Galaxy Buds Live is slightly different from that on Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds +, this guide applies to Galaxy Buds Live only.

What is the touch control on Galaxy Buds Live?

As explained in the layout of Galaxy Buds Live, there is a touch-responsive area (i.e., touch panel) on each bud.

You can use different gestures in this area to control the media, answer or reject calls, and adjust settings for Galaxy Buds Live.

The location of the touch panel is around the top microphone, as illustrated in the picture below.

location of the touch area of Galaxy Buds Live

Galaxy Buds Live accepts single tap, double-tap, triple tap, and long-tap (tap and hold) gestures.

Because two buds (L and R) of Galaxy Buds Live can work alone, the gestures are always identical on both buds. Only the function (action) of the long-tap gesture can be customized.

Of course, you can disable touch control on Galaxy Buds Live (block touches) if you often accidentally touch the area.

Please note, touch control on Galaxy Buds Live (and other Galaxy Buds devices) is similar to that on AirPods and AirPods 2. But it is substantially different from the Force Sensor on AirPods Pro, or AirPods 3

How to use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live?

The functions (actions) of the 4 gestures are different depending on whether you are playing media or you are on a call.

By default, you only need to apply the gesture on one of the buds. The exception is the long-tap gesture, which may require you to apply it on both buds for some special functions.

Single tap

use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live: single tap gestureThe single tap gesture means you tap the touch area once.

The single tap gesture lets you pause (if currently playing) or resume (if currently paused) the music.

If you use the buds to read the messages and notifications, … Read the rest

Layout of Galaxy Buds Live

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, sports headphones, wireless earbuds

Layout of Galaxy Buds LiveYou need to understand the layout of Galaxy Buds Live so that you can use and control it properly.

This Galaxy Buds Live guide explains the layout of Galaxy Buds Live, the function of each part, and how to use each part properly.

As the layout of Galaxy Buds Live is substantially different from that of Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds+, this guide applies to Galaxy Buds Live only. For the layout of Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds+, please check this guide.

Why do you need to know the layout of Galaxy Buds Live?

While Galaxy Buds Live is simple to connect and use, it is a bit difficult to control it. For example, you may accidentally reject a call if you are not familiar with the location of the touch area.

It is also important to regularly check and clean the speaker vent and air duct of the buds so that Galaxy Buds Live always in the optimal state.

You should know the location of the microphones and antenna to avoid some possible interferences.

Anyway, it is worth spending a few minutes on getting to know the layout of Galaxy Buds Live if you want to get the optimal performance of the buds.

Inside layout of Galaxy Buds Live

On the inside layout of Galaxy Buds Live, you can find the following 6 parts, as illustrated in the picture below:

  1. Charging contacts.
  2. Wingtip.
  3. Wearing sensor.
  4. Speaker (vent).
  5. Microphone (inside).
  6. Airduct (inside).

We now explore them one by one.

inside layout of Galaxy Buds Live

1. Charging contacts

The two charging contacts are used to charge the buds when you put them on the charging case.

To charge the buds, you need to position the buds properly in the case so that the two contacts connect to the corresponding contact points inside the charging case.

As explained in this guide, you must close the charging case if you want to charge the buds. You can follow this guide to check the battery level of Galaxy Buds Live.

If you mess up left and right buds in the case, the charging contacts will not match the contacts in the charging case. And therefore, the buds will not be charged although you close the case.

2. Wingtip

Many Galaxy Buds Live owners haven’t realized the existence of the wingtip. They are very small! But they do work as expected.

When you get the Galaxy Buds Live, … Read the rest

How to charge Galaxy Buds Live battery?

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

charge Galaxy Buds Live batteryYou should charge the Galaxy Buds Live properly to minimize the degradation of battery capacity.

This Galaxy Buds Live guide explains the 3 ways to charge Galaxy Buds Live battery: USB cable charging, wireless charging, and wireless PowerShare (charging with a Galaxy phone), and how to use them properly.

Galaxy Buds Buds Live (and other Galaxy Buds, including Galaxy Buds, Buds+, and Buds Pro) can only be charged by the charging case when you put the buds in the case. So, in this guide, when we say “charge Galaxy Buds Live battery”, we are referring to charging the Galaxy Buds Live charging case.

As the charging method for all Galaxy Buds is similar, this guide applies to other Galaxy Buds, including Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds Pro, and Galaxy Buds 2.

What are the 3 methods to charge Galaxy Buds Live battery?

You can charge Galaxy Buds Live battery (charging case) with 3 different methods:

  • USB cable charging. You can charge the charging case with a normal USB wall charger, or the USB port on your PC.
  • Wireless charging. You can put the charging case on the wireless charging pad to charge it.
  • Wireless PowerShare. You can your Samsung Galaxy phones to charge the Galaxy Buds live.

We will explore them one by one.

Please note, the buds can only be charged by the case when it is positioned properly in the charging case.  There is no way to charge the buds directly without the charging case.

If you want to check the battery level of the earbuds or the charging case, please check this guide. You can also use a widget on Android devices to check the battery level of both the charging case and earbuds.

How to charge Galaxy Buds Live through a USB cable?

To charge the buds with a USB cable, you may follow these steps.

Step 1:  Make sure the buds are positioned properly in the case

The buds can only be changed if they are positioned properly in the case.

So, before connecting the charger, you should open the case and check the position of the buds, as shown below.

The metal charging contacts on the buds should align with the corresponding contacts in the charging case.

charge Galaxy Buds Live through a USB cable: open case to check the buds

Step 2: Close the charging case

If the charging case is open, then the buds will … Read the rest

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live: what’s new in Galaxy Buds Pro?

wireless earbuds, Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, sports headphones

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live: what's new in Galaxy Buds Pro?With Galaxy S21, Samsung released the new wireless earbuds: Galaxy Buds Pro in January 2020 as an upgrade for Galaxy Buds+. This causes some confusions on Galaxy Buds’ lineup because Galaxy Buds Live (released with Galaxy Note 20 in August 2020) is also an upgrade for Galaxy Buds+. So,  how about Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live?

This earbuds guide explains the new features of Galaxy Buds Pro (vs Galaxy Buds Live): traditional fit/shape, IPX7 rating, Voice Detect, ambient sound, 360 Audio, Auto Switch. Based on the comparison of Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live, you may also understand which earbuds are the right one to meet your needs.

The differences among Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds+, and Galaxy Buds were explained in detail here (Galaxy Buds Live vs Galaxy Buds+) and here (Galaxy Buds+ vs Galaxy Buds). The layout of Galaxy Buds Live can be found here.

Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Live share similar active noise cancelling (ANC), similar battery life, similar audio quality, and similar microphone quality. This guide tries to highlight the new features of Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds Live.

Traditional fit/shape

Galaxy Buds Pro looks more like Galaxy Buds+ than the bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live.

The more traditional ear tip design offers a better seal for the earbuds sound from the ambient noise. You can choose an ear tip of different sizes to fit your ear. It also makes active noise cancelling more effective.

But some users may feel it is less comfortable compared to Galaxy Buds Live.

The bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live is usually more comfortable for wearing for a long time. But it seems a few owners find the Galaxy Buds Live does not fit their ears well and therefore it may cause pains. The wingtip on Galaxy Buds Live offers minor support, and many owners are not aware of the different sizes of wingtips in the box.

Anway, Galaxy Buds Pro returned to the traditional shape and improved the fit and comfort over Galaxy Buds+. If you re looking for an even lighter version of Galaxy Buds Pro, you may try Galaxy Buds 2.

IPX7 rating

Galaxy Buds Pro improved water-resistant and has an IPX7 rating, which means Galaxy Buds Pro is waterproof and can be submerged in water at a depth of one meter for 30 minutes. This matches the … Read the rest

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs Apple AirPods Pro

wireless earbuds, Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs Apple AirPods ProIt took Samsung only 6 months to update and upgrade the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus (Galaxy Buds +) with the totally new Samsung Galaxy Buds Live.

The added active nosing cancelling (ANC) makes Samsung Galaxy Buds Live a direct and serious competitor to Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3.

This headphone guide explains the new features and improvements of Galaxy Buds Live (vs Galaxy Buds Plus), and how Galaxy Buds Live stands against Apple AirPods Pro to help you choose a pair of proper wireless earbuds.

Samsung now also offers $200 (MSRP) Galaxy Buds Pro with similar or improved features of Galaxy Buds Live. You may check this guide on the new features of Galaxy Buds Pro (vs Galaxy Buds Live).

Galaxy Buds Live vs Galaxy Buds Plus: the new features of improvements

Galaxy Buds Live share many similar features and controls with Galaxy Buds Plus (Galaxy Buds +).  For example, both buds share the 2-way dynamic speaker system tuned by AKG, 3-microphone array, touch panel control, Spotify integration, Qi wireless charging and wireless PowerShare charging.   The plugins for these two buds in Galaxy Wearables are very similar as well.

But Galaxy Buds Live comes with some improvements and new features that cannot be found in Galaxy Buds Plus.

In this post, we will focus on these differences.

ANC

The No.1 new feature of Galaxy Buds Live is the active noise cancelling (ANC).

Samsung claimed that Galaxy Buds Live received UL Verification for reducing background noise by up to 97% in low-frequency bands.

It is an overstatement, although ANC on the buds is comparable to other wireless earbuds.

In the real world, the top-tier consumer ANC over-ear headphones (e.g., Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort 35)  can reduce about 70-90% background low-frequency noise. Wireless earbuds with ANC normally can only reduce about 40-70% noise.

Galaxy Buds Live adopts the open-type design. The buds do not try to create a sealed environment in the ear canal.  Instead, there are air vents on the buds so that you will feel quite comfortable even if you wear the buds for extended periods.

Most other wireless earbuds with ANC need silicon (or foam) tips to create a sealed space. For example, both Apple AirPod Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3 use silicon tips to help noise cancelling. But for most people, the seal will cause pain and is uncomfortable … Read the rest