AirPods Pro 2 Archives

Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: What are the differences?

The exciting new features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the totally new design make this generation of Galaxy Buds one of the top choices of wireless earbuds in 2024 for Android users. However, many people are confused about the differences between Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

This Galaxy Buds guide explains the 5 major differences between Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, including design, adaptive ANC, sound quality, battery, and price, to help you make informed decisions when buying your new wireless earbuds.

The common features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are discussed in this post. This post focuses on the differences of Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: Different design

Samsung revamped the design for both Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Although they look similar, the difference in design is obvious.

Galaxy Buds 3 adopted the open-ear design without ear tips to seal the fit. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, on the contrary, adopted the traditional in-ear design for noise-canceling earbuds.

In a nutshell, Galaxy Buds 3 is the successor of the bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live. It is designed for users who are uncomfortable with the “stuffed” feeling in their ears. Of course, due to the open-ear design, active noise canceling (ANC) is less effective on Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

The Galaxy Bud 3 Pro is designed for users who prefer “strong” noise canceling, blocking ambient sound as much as possible. The contour of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, together with the silicon tips, can effectively create an isolated audio environment in your ears.

Like it or not, Galaxy Buds 3 is similar to AirPods 3, while Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is close to AirPods Pro 2.

Blade light is another design difference when you compare Galaxy Buds 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Both buds have a stem. However, the built-in LED light, which Samsung called Blade Light, is only available on the stem of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

Adaptive ANC

ANC is one of the essential features in the top-tier wireless earbuds in 2024. Both Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have this feature.

However, in addition to overall better noise canceling, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has a few advanced features … Read the rest

Top 10 new features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101, noise cancelling headphones, Samsung Galaxy Buds, wireless earbuds

Samsung finally revealed the latest Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, on July 10, 2024. The new radical design and the new features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have gained mixed receptions.

This Galaxy Buds guide explains the top 10 new features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: the new radical design, stem control, Interpreter, Super Wide Band call, 24-bit/96kHz Samsung Seamless Codec, voice command, LE audio (Auracast)support, adaptive ANC, adaptive EQ, and the IP 57 rating.

These features are available on both Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The unique features of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and the differences between Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ~~will be discussed in a separate post~~ are discussed in this page.

Radically new (not necessarily better) design

Samsung has departed from the traditional pure in-ear design found in previous generations of Galaxy Buds (e.g., Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds 2, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro now feature a new stemmed design, resembling the design of Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro.

Moreover, Galaxy Buds 3 matches the open-ear design of Airpods without the ear tips. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro looks like a clone of AirPods Pro, especially for the white model.

Both in-ear and stemmed designs have advantages and disadvantages. So, some will welcome this new design, and some will surely not.

Stem control: one of the most useful new features of Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

One drawback of in-ear wireless earbuds is the touch control. Due to the small sensor area, it is hard for many users to control the earbuds easily. Often, frustrated owners have to pull out their smartphones to control or adjust the earbuds, e.g., with the widget.

The design with the stem provides convenient controls for the earbuds. Apple, like it or not, has demonstrated the ease of controlling wireless earbuds using the force sensor on the stem.

Samsung copied and tweaked these stem controls in Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. You can control the buds with the swipe and the pinch gestures.

For Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Samsung also added a cool (and maybe disturbing) feature: you can … Read the rest

New Features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

The release of iPhone 15 also brought some remarkable new features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17 (mainly for AirPods Pro 2).

This AirPods guide explains the new features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17: mute and unmute, adaptive mode, conversation awareness, and personalized volume to help you effectively use your AirPods Pro, especially AirPods Pro 2.

Please note the USB-C version of AirPods Pro 2 does not add any new features other than the USB-C port, compared to the old lightning port version. None of the AirPods products support Hi-Res Audio. They only support SBC and AAC codecs.

What are the top 4 new features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17?

After updating your iPhone to iOS 17, firmware for AirPods Pro should be updated automatically. You can then access the new features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17, in addition to the existing features of AirPods Pro 2 (2nd Generation) or AirPods Pro (1st generation).

The top 4 new features for AirPods Pro in iOS 17 include:

Mute and Unmute during a phone call.
Adaptive Mode.
Conversation Awareness.
Personalized Volume.

Let's go through them one by one now.

Sale

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Ear Buds with USB-C Charging, Up to 2X More Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio

RICHER AUDIO EXPERIENCE — The Apple-designed H2 chip helps to create more intelligent noise cancellation and deeply immersive sound. The low-distortion, custom-built driver delivers crisp, clear high notes and full, rich bass in stunning definition.
NEXT-LEVEL ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation for dramatically less noise when you want to focus. Transparency mode lets you hear the world around you, and Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode for the best listening experience in any environment.
CUSTOMIZABLE FIT — Includes four pairs of silicone tips (XS, S, M, L) to fit a wide range of ears and provide all-day comfort. The tips create an acoustic seal to help keep out noise and secure AirPods Pro in place.

Mute and Unmute during a phone call

You can now mute and unmute yourself during a phone call on the AirPods directly. This new feature for AirPods Pro in iOS 17 is available on AirPods Pro (1st Gen), AirPods Pro 2 (2nd Gen), AirPods 3, and AirPods Max.

You can press … Read the rest

Unleashing the Power of LDAC Codec: How to Enable Hi-Res Audio on Android Devices with WF-1000XM4, WF1000XM5, and WH-1000 series?

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

With the release of Sony WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5, more and more owners are wondering how to enable Hi-Res audio, which is one of the key features of high-end Sony wireless headphones and earbuds, in addition to the signature noise canceling feature.

This guide explains and shows you how to use LDAC codes to enable Hi-Res audio on Android devices so that you can enjoy the best quality audio you have paid for. Detailed step-by-step instructions are included. Questions you may have on LDAC codec and Hi-Res audio are also answered.

This guide applies to all wireless headphones and earbuds with LDAC codec support. We use Sony WF-1000XM4, WF1000XM5, and WH-1000 series just as examples.

Background info on Bluetooth codecs and Hi-Res audio

Bluetooth codec and Hi-Res audio were discussed thoroughly in other posts. In this post, we will focus on how to use LDAC codec and enable Hi-Res audio on Android devices.

However, some readers may need some background info.

Bluetooth audio sucks.

Many cheap wired headphones are better than high-end wireless headphones.

Most wireless earbuds, including the AirPods Pro series, Sony WF-1000 series, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds series, are inferior to most cheaper wired headphones.

But Bluetooth audio solves the problem when “wire” is unavailable (or not an option). Especially in the current market, almost all “flagship” or high-end phones have removed the most useful (for audiophiles) 3.5mm audio jack. You may have to look for a Bluetooth headset or wireless earbuds.

Bluetooth codec makes a difference.

All Bluetooth “audio” devices must support the baseline codec: SBC (subband codec), which is part of the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). This guarantees that all Bluetooth headphones or earbuds work with all “sending” devices (e.g., iPhone and Android phones).

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) was standardized by ISO and IEC. Almost all headphones and earbuds manufacturers support it, although it is not royalty-free. Generally, AAC offers better (arguable)audio quality than SBC with the same bandwidth. Of course, this depends on the implementation of the sending and receiving devices.

Hi-Res means different in file format and Bluetooth codec.

When talking about individual music files, Hi-Res usually means either uncompressed (e.g., WAV) or compressed but lossless (e.g., FLAC and ALAC). MP3 and AAC are two common examples of the opposite side: compressed and lossy.

For the codec, the Japan Audio Society certifies Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless. … Read the rest

AirPods Pro 2 New features explained

Bluetooth headphones, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

You should understand AirPods Pro 2 new features before deciding whether to upgrade or switch to it.

As the 2nd generation of AirPods Pro, you'd expect many cool new improvements and upgrades in the AirPods Pro 2 (aka AirPods Pro 2nd Gen).

This AirPods guide explains the major AirPods Pro 2 new features you should know, including the H2 chip, touch control, skin-detection sensor, adaptive transparency mode, improved noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio, longer battery life, a speaker and U1 chip in the case.

Update: with the release of iOS 17, some new features were added to AirPods Pro 2, including mute and unmute, adaptive mode, conversation awareness, and personalized volume. Please read this guide for a detailed explanation of these new features in iOS 17.

H2 chip

H2 chip is the heart of AirPods Pro 2.

Most of the AirPods Pro 2 new features and improvements can be traced back to the new chip.

Among Apple silicon, the “H” series is dedicated to headphones. Except for the original AirPods, all prior AirPods (AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max) were powered by the H1 chip.

AirPods Pro 2 is the first AirPods powered by the latest H2 chip. Most of the AirPods Pro 2 new features rely on this new chip.

Apple did not release the technical specs of the H2 (and H1) chips. But the improvements can be read from the claimed 2x noise cancelling capability, adaptive transparency mode, better sound quality, and lower power consumption (longer playtime).

Please note AirPods Pro 2 still does not support any advanced codec, e.g., aptX or LDAC. So, you are still limited by the AAC regardless of the music source. In comparison, Galaxy phones with Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or Galaxy Bud 3 Pro can enjoy Hi-Fi level music with Samsung Seamless Codec. Sony WF-1000XM4/XM5 with Android phones can even enjoy Hi-Res audio with the LDAC codec.

Touch controls

Although AirPods Pro 2 looks similar to AirPods Pro with stems, touch controls were added to AirPods Pro 2's stems.

Instead of relying on pressing force sensors, AirPods Pro 2 adds touch sensors and therefore, you can have more controls from the stem.

One of the most welcomed new controls from the touch sensor is volume adjustment. You … Read the rest

What is Samsung Seamless Codec? 4 things you should know about this new codec

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101, noise cancelling headphones

With the release of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Samsung touted the 24bit Hi-Fi audio, which is enabled by the Samsung Seamless Codec. Samsung shared very little technical information about this codec except for some marketing exaggerations.

Many Galaxy Buds 2 Pro owners have some questions about the Samsung Seamless Codec, for example, how “better” it is.

This Bluetooth headphone guide explains the four aspects of this new codec:

When/where can you get and use Samsung Seamless Codec?
The relationship between Samsung Seamless Codec and Scalable Codec.
How better is Samsung Seamless Codec compared to other codecs?
The role of a codec (like Samsung Seamless Codec) in the Bluetooth streaming process.

Currently, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is the ~~only~~ (Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also support Samsung Seamless Codec) wireless earbuds that support Samsung Seamless Codec. Very likely, new earbuds will be added to the list.

#1. Samsung Seamless Codec is proprietary and only works on Samsung devices

First, Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) is proprietary, and Samsung owns it. No other hardware manufacturers have licensed it yet.

So, currently, it is only available on Samsung devices and works only on Samsung devices.

This means if you want to enjoy the Hi-Res audio with Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, you have to use it with a supported Samsung phone or tablet.

Samsung Seamless Codec is supported in Samsung phones and tablets with Android 11, 12 or 13. For example, Galaxy S10 , S20, S21, S22, Galaxy Note 10, and Note 20 are all on Android 12. So, you can pair Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with any of these phones (and some Galaxy A and J series) and try the Hi-Res audio codec.

For headphones and earbuds, currently, Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC)is ~~only~~ available on Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Galaxy Buds 3, and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.

In short, Samsung Seamless Codec is only for the Samsung ecosystem. You cannot even try it if you are using a phone or tablet of other brands. Galaxy Buds 2 Pro itself is only a receiving (sink) device.

#2. Samsung Seamless Codec is a new version of Samsung Scalable Codec.

The name of the new codec is very confusing: it is too close to the existing Samsung Scalable codec (also abbreviated as SSC).

And the truth is that Samsung Seamless Codec is just a new … Read the rest

AirPods Pro 2