Magic Beans. That could’ve been a good name for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, the company’s latest true wireless earbuds. It’s truly a missed opportunity... the name! At a time when innovative smartphone designs are taking a nap, the South Korean company has come up with one of the most exciting designs we have seen in the past couple of years. Nobody thought the bean shape can be as versatile as the pantry staple.
Practical design
Whatever you call it — cool beans, smart beans, magic beans — the Buds Live plays around with the form factor but never gives the feeling that compromises have been made, be it in terms of fit or sound. Yes, hesitation was in plenty when the product was showcased at a virtual event. Will it fit the ears? Will it sound good? Will it be comfortable for hours? These Buds deliver knockout punches each time it pops into the ears. It’s the active noise cancellation feature!
Shiny on the outside, matte finish on the surface facing the ears, the Buds come with ear tips that would fit everyone. It comes in a case that’s comparable to the ones delivering Apple AirPods. Looking at the Buds on websites, it appears big but in real-life these are really cool and nice.
The hinge on the case is on the stiffer side, which is a good thing. Being a small case, the cradles that hold the buds are not deep enough, so the tight hinges offer big on safety. Once worn, the Buds fit in snugly and there is zero chance of it falling off. What sets this pair apart is that if you come across a person sporting Buds Live head on, it would be difficult to spot the device. The shape has quite a few practical benefits. For example, when you change into your training gear — like a round neck T-shirt — at the gym, the Buds won’t come off.
Second, while cycling, the helmet strap won’t bother the device.
Dynamic soundscape
The most exciting aspect after the shape is active noise cancellation. Once turned on, all kinds of noises in the room — like the whirling of a fan or the hum of an old air conditioner — are drowned out. It’s like finding time to one’s self, dipping into a bowl of thickly-cut fries drizzled with malt vinegar while Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue plays out on Spotify, immersing the listener in that everything’s-all-right-with-the-world feeling, even though when it’s not. But the image gets slightly distorted when one takes the technology out on the streets. The hum will certainly be gone but some noises do trickle in.
But the Buds Live leaves no room for quibbles when it comes to sound. The audio quality hits the same level as that on the AirPods. The
Buds come with 12mm drivers to offer a fuller sound, which it does and more. Using the device in tandem with the Galaxy Wearables app makes a lot of sense because of the additional functions. The equaliser can accommodate bass boost, dynamic range, treble boost and a lot more.
There is also the Labs feature on the app which is handy during gaming. It helps to minimise audio-visual lag, which one doesn’t want during gaming or video streaming. The ambient sound option helps to deal with the vacuum-like feeling one may get while using ANC.
The Buds Live use Bluetooth 5.0 and supports AAC and SBC audio standards. When listening to audiobooks, it feels as if the reader is whispering into one’s ear. What is most important is the presence of Samsung’s Scalable Codec, which balances sound quality and connection stability. Chances of experiencing stutters are almost nil with the Galaxy Buds Live.
As impressive as audio streaming is mic capabilities. On this front AirPods have remained almost unbeatable. But Samsung pulls out some great punches. Three things here: the audio is not mechanical, the audio doesn’t fluctuate and all background noises are completely cancelled out.
Is it for you?
Phones will come and go but all brands are slowly moving away from the 3.5mm headphone connector, forcing users to look at wireless sound options. Keeping this in mind, it makes sense to buy a pair of truly wireless earbuds that would last some years while offering good sound, mic quality, comfortable fit and amazing battery life... all in equal measures. The Buds Live offer four-five hours of play on a single charge (ANC on), which can reach 21 hours if the charging case is taken into consideration. Plus, according to iFixit, these are some of the most repairable earbuds available, making them far less disposable than competitors. Pop the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live into the ears and you will certainly feel ‘bud wiser’. It can truly be your best bud!
At a glance
Device: Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
- Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
- Earbud weight: 5.6g each
- Battery: In case — 472mAh
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Supports: Upwards of Android 5.0 and upwards of iOS10
- Price: Rs 14,990
