SAMSUNG SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds 3 AI True Wireless Bluetooth Review

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 offer elite 96th percentile call quality and connectivity for just $80, but you trade that for a meager 6-hour battery (14th percentile) and mediocre music sound. It's a renewed device best for Samsung users who live on calls. For music or all-day use, look elsewhere.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are a tale of two extremes. On one hand, they're communication powerhouses, with mic and connectivity scores landing in the 96th percentile. That means they're among the absolute best for calls and staying connected. On the other hand, their 6-hour battery life with ANC on puts them in the bottom 14th percentile, and their sound quality score is a middling 40th percentile. For $80, you're getting a renewed device that's laser-focused on a few key strengths while making some serious compromises elsewhere.

Let's talk about where these buds shine. Their microphone performance is in the 96th percentile, and that's not just a number. The Super Wideband mics and Galaxy AI voice optimization mean your voice comes through crystal clear on calls, even in noisy environments. It's their killer feature. ANC and comfort are also top-tier, both sitting in the 95th percentile, so they block noise well and feel great for long periods. But the audio story is different. With a sound score in the 40th percentile, they're fine for podcasts and calls, but audiophiles will be underwhelmed. The 24-bit/96kHz audio codecs are nice on paper, but the overall tuning doesn't compete with true music-first earbuds. And that battery life? At just 6 hours per charge, you'll be reaching for the case a lot more often than with most competitors.

At $80 for a renewed pair, the value proposition is all about your priorities. If you take a lot of calls and need reliable connectivity above all else, this price for 96th percentile performance in those areas is a steal. If you're an all-day music listener or need long battery life, it's a much harder sell. You're paying for elite communication tech and accepting average sound and subpar battery endurance.

Stacked up against the competition, the Buds 3 carve out a niche. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Google Pixel Buds Pro will both run circles around them for music quality and battery life, but they cost significantly more, especially new. The Nothing Ear (a) and Anker Soundcore P3i offer better battery and similar ANC for less money, but their mics and call quality aren't in the same league. The Buds 3's call performance is their trump card. If you're a Samsung user who can access the Galaxy AI features, the value gets a bump, but for everyone else, you're buying a call-focused specialist with some notable weaknesses.

Skip the Galaxy Buds 3 if your main use is listening to music. Its sound quality score is a middling 40th percentile, meaning there are many better-sounding options at this price. Also, avoid them if you need all-day battery life without recharging—that 14th percentile score is a deal-breaker for long commutes or work shifts. Finally, if you're not a Samsung user, you're missing half the feature set, which hurts the value.

We can recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, but only for a specific type of user. If you're on a budget, take a ton of calls or video meetings, and you're a Samsung Galaxy phone owner who wants to dabble in AI features, these are a compelling buy. The call quality is genuinely elite. For everyone else—especially music lovers, all-day users, or folks who just want a well-rounded pair of earbuds—the poor battery and average sound make it easy to look at competitors like the Nothing Ear (a) or a used pair of higher-tier buds.