One other Samsung Unpacked occasion has flown by with the South Korean electronics large revealing the merchandise it’s releasing for the remainder of 2021. The Galaxy Watch 4, Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 took prime billing, rendering the Galaxy Buds 2 as extra filler than killer.
Samsung has launched a bundle of true wi-fi headphones previously few years – by our depend, the Galaxy Buds 2 mark the fifth true wi-fi of the final two years.
To be truthful that’s only a couple greater than Sony, however Sony has unfold them throughout premium, price range and health areas. Samsung has targeted extra on the mid-range, with the Galaxy Buds Professional sticking their head above the parapet with their £220 value.
As such, when Samsung launches new true wi-fi, it typically feels that it’s both extra of the identical or capabilities as an replace to a mannequin set to be discontinued. The Galaxy Buds Dwell are the outlier to this view, taking an formidable strategy with its design however was nonetheless a product that missed as a lot because it hit.
The skin perspective is that Samsung treats true wi-fi headphones like equipment to the Galaxy smartphones moderately than headline options.
There’s synergy available – the Buds 2 present seamless switching between Galaxy units – however when does being wedded to the Galaxy ecosystem grow to be a hindrance, limiting the capabilities and attraction of those headphones?
Even in Samsung’s press releases the headphones really feel like footnotes – facet programs to the principle meal. I’ve by no means felt there was a transparent technique almost about its headphones and the Buds Dwell apart – all of them really feel like they’re attempting to be everyman (or every-Galaxy) kind of headphones that robs them of some individuality.
Whereas the Galaxy Buds vary has improved to grow to be stable sufficient choices, as we’ve persistently said in our opinions there are better-sounding efforts accessible. At present they’re not shut sufficient to jostle with the likes of Bose, B&W or Sony.
That additionally brings into the dialogue the position of AKG. AKG is a longtime audio model and was one of many greater names within the headphone market six to seven years in the past, however now has drifted beneath the mum or dad possession of Samsung. Go to the AKG web site to buy some headphones and also you’re shuffled off to buy them from the Samsung website as an alternative, which feels odd.
AKG’s position with the true wi-fi efforts seems to be within the tuning of the sound for latest earbuds, however as we’ve famous there are better-sounding choices, so how a lot of an affect can they have an effect on? I’d really be way more if AKG have been left to their very own units to create a real wi-fi and see what turns into of that, moderately than one merchandise on a recipe Samsung is assembling.
What Samsung wants is an announcement of intent. An AirPods Professional or QuietComfort Earbuds or a WF-1000XM4. What it doesn’t want is one other box-ticking train as a lot of Samsung’s earbuds and headphones really feel. They should ship an outright demonstration of what the Galaxy Buds will be. Given it’s Samsung/Harman, they’ll definitely do innovation and so they want to take action to present the category leaders one thing to consider.
Till it does, Samsung’s headphones will all the time be pretenders moderately than true wi-fi challengers.