Design and features:The Galaxy Buds+ has integrated microphones and touch sensitive music player and call connect/disconnect controls for paired Bluetooth devices. Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications, and the earphones have an auto pause feature that stops audio playback when one earphone is taken out of ear. They support Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Samsung Bixby digital voice assistants when they are used with Bluetooth capable devices that have those features, and the touch controls can be set to control volume and an ambient sound monitor function when the earphones are used with Android or Apple smartphones with the appropriate apps installed. Additional features include wireless recharging with Samsung or other brand smartphones and optional accessories with Qi wireless charging capability, and manufacturer claimed water resistance. This model comes with three pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, three pairs of ear bowl supports in various sizes, a USB charging cable, and a charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries once between its own charges. The free Samsung Galaxy Wearable app download for Android mobile devices and free Samsung Galaxy Buds+ app download for Apple mobile devices can be used to change the tonal balance of the headphones, turn on/off and select between three volume levels of the monitor function, change the function of the earphone touch controls, check the earphone battery level, update the earphone firmware, and help locate the earphones if they are lost or misplaced.
Sound quality: We found the Galaxy Buds+ delivers Very Good overall sound - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. With the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ app equalizer set at Normal setting (as received state of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is a touch prominent. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is somewhat thin and grainy, slightly hazy, and can sound a bit harsh with some program material. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a slightly prominent and a bit sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it's almost like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. This model does a does a good job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the audio program that's being listened to was recorded) in the midrange, but not anywhere else. The overall sound can be summarized as slightly bassy with a thin and grainy midrange. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones.
Comfort: We found that these earphones produce as typical of in-ear models a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening which might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small, medium and large sized ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional track pause, playback, skipping, digital voice assistant activation, or engagement/disengagement of other features depending on how they have been set with the app.
