/ Jan 12, 2025

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: The Best TWS You Probably Never Tried

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is one of the most innovative and underrated pairs of truly wireless earbuds ever released. With its unique design, open-fit style, and surprisingly effective noise-cancellation, the Galaxy Buds Live set itself apart from the competition in the TWS market. Despite these advantages, it flew under the radar for many, and now, it’s no longer available in India as Samsung has discontinued the product. But why exactly were these earbuds special, and should they still be considered if you can get your hands on a pair? Let’s dive in.

Design & Fit

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is its distinctive bean-shaped design. Unlike traditional in-ear models, the Buds Live don’t enter the inner ear or completely seal off the ear canal. Instead, they rest comfortably just outside, providing a more open fit. This design makes them perfect for people who don’t like the intrusive feeling of in-ear buds, and they allow users to remain aware of their surroundings without having to take the earbuds out.

Despite their open design, Samsung managed to include **Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)** in these earbuds, which is quite unusual for this type of fit. While the ANC won’t completely block out environmental noise, it does a decent job at filtering out low-frequency sounds like engine hums during a commute.

Performance in Different Settings

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live excel in several everyday scenarios, making them versatile enough for a variety of uses:

Commuting & Travel

These earbuds are ideal for people on the go. They are compact and portable, slipping easily into your pocket. The ANC helps reduce the low rumble of buses or airplanes, making your commute more pleasant. With over seven hours of continuous battery life, you can get through longer trips without needing to recharge constantly. However, the lack of a standby mode might drain the battery if you forget to put them back in their case.

Office Use

In an office setting, the Buds Live perform decently well. While their open design means they won’t completely block out conversations or the hum of air conditioning, they’re comfortable to wear for long periods. The battery life is sufficient for a typical workday, especially if you place them back in the case during breaks. However, switching between devices, such as your phone and laptop, can be frustrating due to the lack of multi-device pairing support.

Sports & Fitness

Surprisingly, the Galaxy Buds Live are great for sports and fitness enthusiasts. Their bean-like design ensures they stay secure even during intense activities, while their open-fit makes them comfortable for extended wear. They are also rated IPX2 for water resistance, which provides basic protection against sweat during workouts. However, the absence of volume control out-of-the-box might be inconvenient for some.

Phone Calls

Phone calls are perhaps where the Galaxy Buds Live show their limitations. The microphone quality is passable but not great, often making your voice sound muffled or distorted. Additionally, while the ANC is effective at reducing background noise from engines, it struggles with isolating voices, which can make calls in noisy environments challenging.

Performance in Different Settings

One of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is its low latency, especially on mobile devices. This makes them excellent for watching videos or gaming, as audio sync issues are minimized. The open design also provides a more natural listening experience, allowing for passive awareness of your surroundings.

On the downside, the ANC is not as strong as it is on more traditional in-ear models, and they don’t do a great job of blocking out higher-frequency sounds, like people talking. Another minor flaw is the lack of multi-device pairing and certain essential features, such as volume control, which can be inconvenient for users who frequently switch devices or want quick control over their listening experience.

Tech Maarga Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live were ahead of their time in terms of design and features but ultimately fell short of mass appeal. Their innovative form factor, coupled with decent ANC and long battery life, made them a solid choice for commuting, office work, and fitness activities. However, their open-fit design and limited phone call performance likely contributed to them being overshadowed by other models.

While the Galaxy Buds Live are now discontinued, they remain a strong option if you’re looking for comfort, portability, and unique design in your earbuds. If you can still find them, they’re worth considering, especially for casual users who value comfort over complete noise isolation.

Final Verdict

8/10

The Galaxy Buds Live offer a unique mix of comfort, style, and functionality, though they may not satisfy those looking for perfect noise cancellation or call quality in noisy environments. Despite being underrated and now discontinued, they still shine in the areas of portability and design innovation.

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