Samsung is redesigning its wireless earbuds for good this year. The Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will sport an Apple AirPods-like stemmed design. While this may kill the distinct identity of the buds, the redesign brings new features including pinch gestures. The redesign should also improve voice clarity during calls and allow for easier media controls.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro will feature new pinch gestures
Shortly after a leaked image revealed the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s stemmed design, Samsung inadvertently confirmed it. The company listed the buds alongside the non-Pro version on the Galaxy Wearable app’s diagnostics section. The listings featured an icon depicting their design, with a stem differentiating the upcoming duo from previous Galaxy Buds models.
A fresh leak has reconfirmed this redesign. Noted code sleuth AssembleDebug recently discovered some illustrations of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with its stemmed design on the Samsung Members app. An APK teardown of version 5.0.00.11 of the community app revealed the images meant to teach users how to use the new pinch and squeeze gestures.
The illustrations show the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro in white and black/gray colors. These may be the only two color options, though Samsung could add more later. We can also see a vertical strip running along the stem. It could be the Blade Lights that we exclusively reported about earlier this month. The LED strip could sync with your music for a cool lighting effect.
The references found in Samsung Members don’t detail the functions of the pinch gestures. However, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro won’t be the first ever to feature such gestures. We have seen Apple, Xiaomi, Nothing, and other brands use similar gestures in their TWS offerings. They usually let you control media playback and other functions. For example, you can pinch once to pause/play music and pinch twice to skip.
The screenshots published by Android Authority only mention squeeze gestures for the Gaalxy Buds 3 Pro. It’s unclear if the Galaxy Buds 3 will support these gestures. Since the latter is a mid-range offering, Samsung would deprive it of some premium features. We already know that it has a single-drive audio setup (Pro has dual drivers) and misses out on Blade Lights, Adaptive Noise Control, and Ambient Sound.
The new Samsung earbuds arrive soon
The volume of leaks in recent weeks suggests the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are nearing their launch. Case in point, Samsung is rumored to host its next Unpacked on July 10. The new earbuds are likely to go official there. The event will also bring the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldables, Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatches, and the Galaxy Ring. Stay tuned for the official announcement.
