Tag Archives: Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Review : What you need to know!

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the latest premium wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out what the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offers, and if these are the premium earbuds you have been waiting for!

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Price

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is priced at US$249.99 / £159 / A$299 / RM999. Here are some online purchase options (prices as of 20 September 2024) :

Malaysia : RM919 | RM999 | RM999
United States : $249.99 | $239.99
United Kingdom : £169 | £169
Australia : $390 | $344 | $399 | $357

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Specifications

Specifications	Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Type	In-Ear
Speaker	Enhanced 2-Way: 10.5 mm Dynamic Driver + 6.1 mm Planar
Microphone	3 x Microphones + VPU
Sound Quality	UHQ, 24-bit Hi-Fi – 24-bit, 96 kHz using SSC UHQ 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel
Noise Cancellation	ANC, Ambient Sound, Voice Detect
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Switch
Wireless Codecs	Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) HiFi SSC UHQ (proprietary) AAC, SBC
Sensors	Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) Force + Touch (Swipe) SWIR, Accelerometer, Hall sensor
Battery	Earbud : 53 mAh Case : 515 mAh
Music Playback (Earbuds only)	With ANC : Up to 6 hours No ANC : Up to 7 hours
Music Playback (Total)	With ANC : Up to 26 hours No ANC : Up to 30 hours
Talk Time (Earbuds only)	With ANC : Up to 4.5 hours No ANC : Up to 5 hours
Talk Time (Total)	With ANC : Up to 20 hours No ANC : Up to 22 hours
Water Resistance	IP57 (earbuds only)
Earbud Dimentions	18.1 mm x 19.8 mm x 33.2 mm
Case Dimentions	58.9 mm x 48.7 mm x 24.4 mm
Earbud Weight	5.4 grams
Case Weight	46.5 grams

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box. Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves. Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)

Next Page > Galaxy Buds3 Pro Features + Verdict

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Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Features

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is targeted at audiophiles who want the very best features. Let’s delve into the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s key features

Improved Comfort

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has an in-ear design with silicone tips. By default, they come fitted with medium ear tips, but the package includes small and large ear tips. Use the proper tips, and you will find that they are light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

The new stem design may put off some people, but the earbuds actually feel lighter and less obtrusive. On the other hand, the angular design of the stem makes it a bit uncomfortable to sleep or lie sideways wearing the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. This, of course, isn’t an issue if you are lying down or sleeping on your back.

Improved Audio Quality

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro features Samsung’s first-ever planar tweeter, as well as dual amplifiers to allow for independent control of the 10.5 mm woofer and 6.1 mm tweeter to reduce interference between speakers. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro definitely sounds superior to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, with greater clarity and richer bass.

Samsung has also leveraged artificial intelligence in the Buds 3 Pro through AI-assisted Adaptive EQ/Adaptive ANC. Its AI-boosted algorithm analyses sound from both the inner and outer microphones in real time to optimise your listening experience by adjusting the sound output to conform to the earbuds fit in your ear.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro comes with three microphones and a voice pickup unit (VPU), and leverages machine learning to improve phone calls, using a pre-trained model to restore the original voice of the speaker in various noise environments – a feature called Super-Wideband Call.

Samsung Seamless Codec Support

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and common SBC and AAC wireless codecs. However, it notably does not support aptX.

Instead, it supports the proprietary Samsung Scalable Codec in both HiFi and UHQ (Ultra High Quality) versions. The UHQ mode allows for 24-bit sound at 96 kHz for superior audio quality and fidelity, but will only work with supported Samsung devices.

Adaptive Noise Control

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro takes noise cancellation to the next level with its Adaptive Noise Control feature, which automatically assesses and reduces unwanted external noise, while allowing important conversations and alerts to get through.

Its Voice Detect feature will automatically switch the ANC and Ambient modes on or off, so you can hear conversations without taking your Galaxy Buds 3 Pro off. Its Siren Detect feature will also automatically switch your earbuds to Ambient mode, so you can hear sirens and other important alerts even while listening to music.

Voice Controls

While Samsung hyped up its Galaxy AI-based Interpreter mode, its voice controls are likely far more useful, especially since you don’t need a wake word, like Hi Bixby!

You can simply command the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to adjust the volume, play or pause music, skip forward or backwards, and answer or end your calls, by saying “Volume Up” or “Volume Down” or “Play Music” or “Next Song”.

IP57 Water-Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is now IP57 dust- and water-resistant. That means it is sufficiently protected against dust to prevent interference with its operation, and is rated to withstand immersion in fresh water up to 1 metre in depth for up to 30 minutes.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend running the earbuds under running water or using them in the shower – they are not rated to withstand pressurised water.

The charging case itself is not water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the earbuds before you put them back into the charging case.

Blade Control + Lights

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 series have angular stems (to differentiate from Apple AirPods?), which are called blades. They serve as touch controls – swipe up and down the black to adjust the volume. You can also pinch it to play or pause, or pinch and hold to change noise control, or to launch your favourite app.

The Pro version has an LED light strip in its stem, called Blade Light, that glows white. Its use appears to be limited to flashing when you use the Find My feature to locate your missing earbuds (they are visible even in the case!), or you can set them to light up while you’re wearing them as a fashion statement.

Battery Life

The biggest problem I had with the Buds2 Pro was its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I could get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that was still on the low side for premium earbuds.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro actually lasts longer even though it has a smaller battery (53 mAh vs 61 mAh in the Buds2 Pro) – about 6 hours with ANC enabled, and just over 7 hours with ANC disabled. Not quite as long as I would like, but I can live with that.

Its charging case has an internal 515 mAh battery that provides another 20 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 23 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 3 full charges – another improvement over the Buds2 Pro. The case also supports both USB-C wired charging, as well as wireless charging.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds Buds 3 Pro supports quick charging – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of ANC-enabled battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is Samsung’s premium earbuds and it didn’t get off to a great start. Reviewers who received early samples reported that they had a poor quality finish, with wrongly positioned Blade Lights, and even uneven gaps!

To Samsung’s credit, it immediately stopped shipment and even we didn’t get our unit until more than 2 months later. Samsung appears to have properly resolved those manufacturing issues, so they would no longer factor in our review.

There is no doubt that Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the best earbuds you can buy from Samsung. It has all the important features you would need – great audio for music, and good voice pickups, with adaptive ANC to automatically cut down on noise while letting in conversations and important alerts.

But it is obvious that it’s getting difficult for Samsung to differentiate the Buds 3 Pro from its competitors. Hence, the rather pointless Blade Lights, and emphasis on niche Samsung-only AI features like Interpreter (instead of the far more useful but generic voice controls).

They rather distract from the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a great pair of wireless earbuds with excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation, and voice control. They are on the pricey side, but if you are on the Samsung ecosystem, the added Samsung-only features may be worth paying the premium.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is priced at US$249.99 / £159 / A$299 / RM999. Here are some online purchase options (prices as of 20 September 2024) :

Malaysia : RM919 | RM999 | RM999
United States : $249.99 | $239.99
United Kingdom : £169 | £169
Australia : $390 | $344 | $399 | $357

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 pre-order deals for Malaysia!

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Here are the pre-order deals in Malaysia for new foldable smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds announced at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event!

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 : What Was Announced!

Samsung just launched a slew of new foldable smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event! Here’s a quick summary of what they announced:

Galaxy Z Fold6 + Galaxy Z Flip6 Smartphones

Samsung introduced upgraded versions of its foldable smartphones – the Galaxy Z Fold6 and and the Galaxy Z Flip6. You can read more about them in our recent articles:

Galaxy Watch7

Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Watch7, with an enhanced BioActive Sensor with greater accuracy. For the first time, the Galaxy Watch7 will allow you to track advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

The Samsung Galaxy Watch7 is also the first to be powered by a 3nm processor, as well as the first to feature a dual-frequency GPS system, for more precise location tracking.

Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a new smartwatch built for extreme durability, with a Titanium Grade 4 frame, and 10ATM water resistance. It is also designed to operate at a wide range of altitudes – from 500 metres below sea level, or 9,000 metres high.

Galaxy Buds3 + Galaxy Buds3 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro leverage the power of Galaxy AI to allow you to translate foreign languages in real-time. They also automatically analyse internal and external sound in real-time to enhanced sound and reduce noise.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 Pre-Order Deals for Malaysia!

Here are the price and pre-order deals Samsung is offering in Malaysia, for the new devices announced the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. These deals are valid from now until 30 July 2024:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6	RRP	Available Colours
12 GB + 1 TB	RM9,099	Silver Shadow, Pink, NavyOnline Only: White, Crafted Black
12 GB + 512 GB	RM7,899
12 GB + 256 GB	RM7,299

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Colour Comparison!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Pre-order Offer

FREE 1 year Samsung Care+ Accidental damage and liquid damage protection worth up to RM829
Receive up to RM500 exclusive e-voucher to purchase selected Galaxy accessories, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
Trade in your current device and get additional RM500 off
Redeem your pre-registered rewards of up to RM500 e-voucher
Buy more save more to enjoy up to 25% off when you purchase with selected Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
PWP Promotion – 20% off Galaxy Watch Ultra when you purchase Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6	RRP	Available Colours
12 GB + 512 GB	RM5,599	Silver Shadow, Blue, Yellow, Mint Online Only: Crafted Black, White, Peach
12 GB + 256 GB	RM4,999

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Colour Comparison!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Pre-order Offer

FREE 1 year Samsung Care+ Accidental damage and liquid damage protection worth up to RM829
Receive up to RM500 exclusive e-voucher to purchase selected Galaxy accessories, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
Trade in your current device and get additional RM500 off
Redeem your pre-registered rewards of up to RM500 e-voucher
Buy more save more to enjoy up to 25% off when you purchase with selected Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds
PWP Promotion – 20% off Galaxy Watch Ultra when you purchase Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Price + Colour Options

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Series	RRP	Available Colours
Galaxy Buds3 Pro	RM999	Grey White
Galaxy Buds3	RM599	Grey White

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Pre-order Offer

Pre-order Galaxy Buds3 or Galaxy Buds3 Pro and get free Buds Case worth RM169

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Price + Pre-order Offer

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra	RRP	Available Colours
47 mm (LTE)	RM3,399	Dark Gray Titanium White

Selected Watch Strap worth up to RM399
Smart Tag2 worth up to RM149
15W Charger W/O Cable worth up to RM59
Wireless PowerBank worth up to RM199
RM200 instant rebate when you trade in your old Galaxy Watch

Samsung Galaxy Watch7 Price + Pre-order Offer

Samsung Galaxy Watch7	RRP	Available Colours
44mm (LTE)	RM1,599	Green, Silver
44mm (Bluetooth)	RM1,299	Green, Silver
40mm (LTE)	RM1,499	Green, Beige
40mm (Bluetooth)	RM1,199	Green, Beige

Selected Watch Strap worth up to RM229
Smart Tag2 worth up to RM149
RM200 instant rebate when you trade in your old Galaxy Watch

Additional Discounts For Samsung Members In Malaysia!

Here are additional discounts for selected devices announced in Galaxy Unpacked 2024 for Samsung Members in Malaysia:

Model	Discount Voucher
Galaxy Watch Ultra	RM1,360 (40%)
All Galaxy Watch7 models	RM200
Galaxy Buds3 Pro	RM200
Galaxy Buds3	RM100

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Hands-on Preview!

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Samsung just launched the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, and here is my hands-on preview of those new wireless earbuds in both Silver and White colour options!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Hands-On Preview!

I managed to get my hands on both the Galaxy Buds 3, as well as the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, in both colour options!

And now, I present to you – my hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, in both Silver and White!

I apologise for the slightly shaky video – Samsung still insists that I do not take photos or record videos with a smartphone, even though it’s their own Galaxy S24 Ultra!

The Buds 3 and the Buds 3 Pro both look quite similar, with identical charging cases. The Buds 3 has a simpler open-ear design, without ear tips. The Buds 3 Pro, on the other hand, has an in-ear design, but is more easily differentiated by its silicone ear tips and its Blade Lights.

They both support Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and common SBC and AAC wireless codecs, as well as the proprietary Samsung Scalable Codec in both HiFi and UHQ (Ultra High Quality) versions for superior audio quality and fidelity with supported Samsung devices. However, they notably do not support aptX.

Internally, the Buds 3 has a single speaker, while the Buds 3 Pro version has two speakers – the dynamic driver, as well as a planar driver. They both have three microphones and a voice pickup unit (VPU), and they both support active noise cancellation. However, the Pro model can distinguish between noise and human voices, will automatically switch to Ambient mode so you can hear conversations.

Samsung also leveraged machine learning to improve phone calls on the new Galaxy Buds 3 series, using a pre-trained model to restore the original voice of the speaker in various noise environments – a feature called Super-Wideband Call.

The Buds 3 can play music for up to 5 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, and up to 6 hours with ANC disabled. The Pro version adds an additional hour of music playback time, with or without ANC. Talk time is shorter. You can talk for up to 3.5 hours on the Buds 3 with ANC, and 4 hours without. The Pro version extends that by an hour, with or without ANC.

The case for both versions will automatically recharge the earbuds whenever you put them back in. Its internal battery is enough to give you 20-24 hours of additional music playback time, and 15-17 hours of additional talk time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 + Buds 3 Pro Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro:

Specifications	Galaxy Buds 3	Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Type	Open Ear	In-Ear
Speaker	1-Way: 11 mm Dynamic Driver	Enhanced 2-Way: 10.5 mm Dynamic Driver + 6.1 mm Planar
Microphone	3 x Microphones + VPU
Sound Quality	UHQ, 24-bit Hi-Fi – 24-bit, 96 kHz using SSC UHQ 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel
Noise Cancellation	ANC	ANC with Ambient Sound, and Voice Detect
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Switch
Wireless Codecs	Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) HiFi SSC UHQ (proprietary) AAC, SBC
Sensors	Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) Force + Touch (Swipe) SWIR, Accelerometer, Hall sensor
Battery	Earbud : 48 mAh Case : 515 mAh	Earbud : 53 mAh Case : 515 mAh
Music Playback (Earbuds only)	With ANC : ≤ 5 hours No ANC : ≤ 6 hours	With ANC : ≤ 6 hours No ANC : ≤ 7 hours
Music Playback (Total)	With ANC : ≤ 24 hours No ANC : ≤ 30 hours	With ANC : ≤ 26 hours No ANC : ≤ 30 hours
Talk Time (Earbuds only)	With ANC : ≤ 3.5 hours No ANC : ≤ 4 hours	With ANC : ≤ 4.5 hours No ANC : ≤ 5 hours
Talk Time (Total)	With ANC : ≤ 18 hours No ANC : ≤ 20 hours	With ANC : ≤ 20 hours No ANC : ≤ 22 hours
Water Resistance	IP57 (earbuds only)
Earbud Dimensions	18.1 mm x 20.4 mm x 31.9 mm	18.1 mm x 19.8 mm x 33.2 mm
Case Dimensions	58.9 mm x 48.7 mm x 24.4 mm	58.9 mm x 48.7 mm x 24.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 grams	5.4 grams
Case Weight	46.5 grams	46.5 grams

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 / Buds 3 Pro Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are available for pre-order on launch, with general available from 24 July 2024 onwards, at these price points :

Galaxy Buds 3 : US$179.99 / £219 / A$399 / RM599
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro : US$249.99 / £159 / A$299 / RM999

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review : Affordable ANC Earbuds!

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The Galaxy Buds FE is the latest wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out what the Galaxy Buds FE offers, and why this is really an affordable pair of ANC earbuds for the masses!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box. Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds FE earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE storage + charging case
Quick Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)
A set of stability bands (for small / medium ears)

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Key Features

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is focused on delivering an affordable set of active noise cancellation earbuds. Think of it as a budget version of the Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro earphones.

New Wingtip Design

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE comes with a new wingtip design to make sure they don’t fall off. People with smaller ears may want to try the optional stability bands.

These are closed earbuds with silicone tips. By default, they come fitted with medium ear tips, but the package includes small and large ear tips. Use the proper tips, and you will find that they are light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE supports three levels of noise cancellation – ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), Ambient (Transparency), or Off.

It is surprisingly good at noise cancellation when you turn on ANC. Budget ANC earbuds generally use only one microphone to receive ambient noise for cancellation. But the Buds FE appears to use two microphones for noise cancellation, delivering better than expected noise cancellation.

On top of that – when you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

The Ambient / Transparency mode is decent – allowing you to hear conversations, or public announcements while still cutting down on ambient noise. It’s not as good as the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, of course, but you won’t realise it if you never compare them before.

IPX2 Splash Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the Galaxy Buds FE is only IPX2 splash-resistant, which means it’s rated to withstand some dripping water (up to 3 mm per minute), limited to a maximum tilt of 15°.

That basically means that these earbuds will withstand sweat and a little bit of rain. You can certainly wipe these down with a damp cloth. However, under no circumstances should you wash the Galaxy Buds FE under running water!

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds FE before you put them back into the charging case.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds FE connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, but does not support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, so they can only be connected to one device at any one time.

However, they support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account. But if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Bonus : You can use the SmartThings Find feature to remotely trigger a beeping sound to locate any misplaced earbuds!

Battery Life

The biggest problem I had with the Buds2 Pro was its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I could get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE actually lasts longer with a similar-sized battery (60 mAh vs 61 mAh in the Buds2 Pro) – about 6 hours with ANC enabled, and 8.5 hours with ANC disabled. Not quite as long as I would like, but still pretty decent at its price point.

Its charging case has an internal 479 mAh battery that provides another 15 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 24 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE supports quick charging – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of ANC-enabled battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Review!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds FE is Samsung’s attempt to break into the $100 wireless earbuds market, and is targeted at the large number of Samsung fans who have not yet jumped onto the wireless earbuds bandwagon.

It offers Samsung fans the most important features of the Galaxy Buds2, at a more affordable price point. Now, you won’t get access to premium features like 360 Audio, AKG tuning, or a 2-way dynamic speaker system. But these features are not really deal-breakers for most users.

Dollar-for-dollar – the Galaxy Buds FE definitely offers much better value for your money. In fact, I expect it to cannibalise the sales of the Galaxy Buds2. Samsung fans will either opt to pay more for the premium Galaxy Buds2 Pro, or settle for the cheaper Galaxy Buds FE.

Now, there are slightly cheaper alternatives to be sure, but they won’t come across as well-polished. On top of that, you can count on regular software updates from Samsung.

For those reasons, I think it deserves our Editor’s Choice Award!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is priced at RM399 / US$99.99 / £99 / A$199.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 31 October 2023) :

Malaysia : RM399 | RM399 | RM399
United States : $99.99 | $99.99
United Kingdom : £99
Australia : $137.76

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Recommended Reading

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Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Offers For Malaysia!

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Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE, and here are their special offers for Malaysia!

Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Launched In Malaysia!

Samsung just announced the launch of Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE in Malaysia, offering premium design, advanced performance, cutting-edge camera and audio capabilities.

These new 2023 Galaxy FE devices will enable more Malaysians to experience a hyper-connected lifestyle and live out their passions to the fullest.

“In conjunction with the launch of the most Epic FE devices yet, we are celebrating the fans with exclusive experiences and merchandise curated for #GalaxyTroop, as well as rewards and promos that they cannot get elsewhere,” says KM Liew, Vice President & Head of Mobile eXperience (MX), Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “Be a part of the #GalaxyTroop to enjoy Epic benefits only on Galaxy and belong to a community that embraces unrivalled, premium tech.”

Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Exclusive Offers In Malaysia!

In conjunction with its launch, these exclusive offers for the 2023 Galaxy FE series will be made available in Malaysia, from Tuesday, 10 October 2023, until 30 November 2023.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with storage capacities of 128 GB and 256 GB, with colour options of Mint, Cream, Graphite and Purple.

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy S23 FE in Malaysia:

Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM500
Get double storage, with RM300 off the 256 GB model.
Save up to RM350 with trade-in rebate.
Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

8 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy S23 FE in Malaysia:

Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM300
Free Smart Book Cover worth up to RM389
Free 1-year Viu Premium Subscription voucher code (worth RM99.90)
Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE | Tab S9 FE+ Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE+ comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

8 GB + 128 GB
12 GB + 256 GB

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+ in Malaysia:

Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM300
Free Smart Book Cover worth up to RM389
Free 1-year Viu Premium Subscription voucher code (worth RM99.90)
Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Offer For Malaysia

Galaxy Buds FE is available at RM399 in two colors, Graphite and White. Those who purchase from 10 – 31 October 2023 can get a Minion Bob Eco-Friends Cover worth RM169 for free!

How To Register As #GalaxyTroop For Galaxy FE Offers!

To enjoy the Fan Exclusive promo for the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE in Malaysia, just sign up as a #GalaxyTroop, from now until 6 November 2023.

You will also get to enjoy Samsung’s Finally Monday Epic Rewards, offering everything from entertainment to desserts! There’s something for everyone!

Step 1: Galaxy users and Samsung Members will receive an email to register their details.

Step 2: Those who register will receive the emails that contain the weekly giveaways.

Step 3: Check your email every Monday for the link to the Samsung Members app to download the limited vouchers.

It’s that simple!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

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Please watch out for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones scam! Take a look at the scam, and find out what the facts really are!

Marshall Minor III Wireless Earphones Scam Alert!

Scammers are running Facebook ads that promote an awesome discount for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones! Here is one recent example:

😣”Frustrating” 😣I had to queue for 5 hours at IOI City Mall to buy MARSHALL MINOR III wireless headphones for only RM179 (original price RM596), I was surprised because I thought they only sold directly I heard it’s open for sale online in 2 more days https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms And also get the same discount as buying at the store. Free shipping nationwide.

But the 4 hours of queuing was worth it. As a Marshall fan, I was very excited when I heard the news that the Minor III series was coming out. And don’t waste your time waiting, the design is very beautiful, more stylish than the old version 💯 Great sound quality. Clear bus, fast Bluetooth connection, suitable for all types of devices, super battery life, 5 hours of continuous use and 25 hours with charging box, waterproof. The best thing about these headphones is the close-to-ear design. Comfortable, can play sports without worrying about falling. If you don’t buy it, you will be very disappointed.

I let my colleagues borrow it to play games because it sounded so realistic. There is no delay in movement.
Many people ask me if the store still has promotions? I just saw information that the store has a discount in the next 2 days. Order quickly. At the end of the promotion, the price will return to the original price of RM596. I leave the purchase link here for those who want to buy: https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms

Recommended : Bantuan Rakyat Malaysia Scam Alert!

Marshall Minor III Offer : Why Is It A Scam?!

This is yet another example of SCAMS circulating on Facebook, and here are there reasons why…

Fact #1 : Marshall Minor III Price Absurdly Low

The first thing about scams involving electronics, is that they often promise ridiculous great deals. If it’s too good to be true, it often is just a scam.

In this particular scam, scammers are offering the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones for just RM179 (US$39). That’s absurd, as the Marshall Minor II wireless earphones has an official retail price of $159 (approximately RM699)!

Marshall is a high-end audiophile brand, and its electronics are never cheap. Even if they offer a discount, it wouldn’t be anything like 70% to 75%. That’s just ridiculous.

For your safety, here are legit purchase options online for the Marshall Minor III earbuds :

Malaysia : Shopee | Shopee | Shopee
Singapore : Shopee
United States : Amazon | Amazon
United Kingdom : Amazon

Fact #2 : Facebook Advertisement Is Fake

The Facebook advertisement appears to be created by a handsome influencer called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾. with 5.5 million followers.

But that’s what the scammers put in the intro. If you look carefully, this scam page only has 13 followers!

Recommended : Warning – PDRM Parking Fine Scam Alert!

Fact #3 : That Is “Push” Puttichai Kasetsin

The page is not owned by any influencer or digital creator called 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 瑾.鍾.瑾.

Those are actually photos of Puttichai Kasetsin – a Thai actor, model, DJ and TV host who is also known as “Push”.

Fact #4 : IOI City Mall Does Not Have A Marshall Outlet

The claim by these scammers that Alvinn Chong queued up for 5 hours at the IOI City Mall to buy the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones is easily debunked.

If you check the IOI City Mall tenant listing, you will quickly discover that it does not have a Marshall outlet.

Fact #5 : Queue Photos Are From Vietnam

The two photos which claim to show long queues for the Marshall Minor III wireless earphones were not taken in Malaysia. They were actually taken in Vietnam.

This photo does not show people in IOI City Mall queueing up outside a Marshall outlet. It actually shows people queuing up for the opening of the 15th Pandora store at the Long Bien Aeon Mall, on 28 April 2022.

Incidentally, Pandora is a Danish jewellery brand, and does not sell Marshall audio products…

The second queue photo is also from Vietnam, but taken many years ago on 11 November 2017. It does not show people queuing up to buy any Marshall products either.

They were actually queuing up at Royal City Shopping Center in Hanoi, for the opening ceremony of the second H&M store in Vietnam.

Fact #6 : Scam Website Not Affiliated With ASH Asia

ASH Asia is an authorised distributor of Marshall products in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

However, the scam page (https://www.marshall-ash.asia/ms) has nothing to do with ASH Asia, whose official Marshall Minor III page is https://ash-asia.com/ms.

On top of that, ASH Asia does not sell the Marshall Minor III directly (like the scam page). Instead, ASH Asia sells the wireless earphones through Shopee and Lazada.

In fact, if you check the main domain itself, you will get an error message, stating:

Your domain name has been successfully pointed! Please publish a Landing Page with the above domain name to use the service. Thank you!

This not only gives it away as a scam website, it also suggests that the scammers are operating out of Vietnam.

Fact #7 : Scam Website Admits Selling Fake Marshall Minor III

Ironically, the scam website itself has a disclaimer, warning potential buyers that it is not selling genuine Marshall Minor III wireless earphones, but a replica instead…

Most people won’t notice it because if you click to order, the website is designed to skip past this warning.

Fact #8 : Package Apparently Contained “Trash”?

To assure you that this is safe, the scammers say that you only need to pay on delivery. Sounds good, doesn’t it? That guarantees that you will at least receive the item, doesn’t it?

Not quite, as one person who claimed to have purchased from this scam website explained…

I was attracted and clicked in, filling in my address and phone number. Three days later, I got a call saying that my package would arrive through DHL-COD, and asked me to make sure I was home.

I started looking forward to it, but when I thought about it, I became more suspicious. Since when does DHL provide Cash On Delivery service? I can’t believe they would dare to pay for first-class service without any payment from me. I figured it might be a scam!

What’s the scam? You may not have any doubts when you receive the package. When I open it immediately and take a look, then I realized it was full of garbage. [Unfortunately] I had already paid the delivery person, who ran away.

我被吸引点了进去，填了地址电话。跟着三天后有电话来说我的包裹会到，DHL-COD的，确定我在家等。我开始很期待。跟着想，越想越不对。DHL有COD的服务咩？我还没过账他们就这么敢与服务一流到我不敢相信。我猜可能是诈骗！骗什么？当你收到包裹时是不会怀疑，立刻打开来看的。然后才发现里面是垃圾。人跑了钱给了。。。

If true, the scam involves giving you an empty package filled with trash to receive your cash payment. After which, you have no recourse.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Review: 24-bit Audio FTW!

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The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out just how good it really is, and why its 24-bit audio support is something audiophiles will love!

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.

Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Key Features

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, with a slew of improvements.

Despite its name, it is the second generation version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro, and not an improved version of the Galaxy Buds2 we reviewed last year.

Comfort

These are amongst the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams and are 15% smaller.

They feel less intrusive, and are also more discreet than the last generation Buds Pro – fitting snugly into your ear.

The earbuds come with medium ear tips fitted, but the package includes small and large ear tips, allowing you to swap them out for a snug fit.

IPX7 Water Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are IPX7 water-resistant, so you can carry on using them even in the rain!

While they are officially rated to withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, Samsung do not advise you use them at the beach or in the pool.

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds2 Pro before you put them back into the charging case.

Even so, water-resistance is one of the things I love about Samsung wearables and smartphones. As a rather clumsy person, I’ve dropped my fair share of gadgets, and more often than not – into pools of rainwater, or even swimming pools!

Active Noise Cancellation

Budget ANC earbuds use one microphone, with mid-range ANC earbuds like the Galaxy Buds2 use up to two microphones to receive ambient noise for cancellation.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro uses three microphones with high signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio to expand the amount of ambient noise it can cancel, and you can tell the difference. Its ANC performance is markedly improved from the last generation.

I managed to test them out on two turboprop flights which are noticeably louder than your typical airliner, and they worked great! The noise outside the planes was greatly muted, and once onboard, it’s like you are in your own oasis of peace and quiet.

If you need to listen to someone speak, there is an Ambient mode that temporarily disables ANC and lets you listen to the outside world. When you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

You don’t even have to turn Ambient mode manually like with the Galaxy Buds2. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with the Voice Detect feature, which automatically activates Ambient mode when you start talking! Just make sure you enable it in your Galaxy Wearable app first!

24-bit Audio

If you are an audiophile, you will love the 24-bit audio support in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

24-bit audio has been around for a while, offering higher audio resolution and fidelity. However, adoption has been limited so far to expensive music players and audio devices.

After all, the entire chain – from the music file to the music player (software or hardware) and the earphones / headphones, plus the connectivity between them – must support 24-bit audio.

So it’s great to see Samsung driving the 24-bit audio effort forward by making sure that its mobile devices support 24-bit audio. Just make sure you upgrade to the One UI 4.0 or higher, to enable its proprietary Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi codec.

Built on the Scalable Codec it introduced several years ago, the Samsung Seamless codec is able to encode full 24-bit audio to transmit to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro wirelessly.

The only downside is that it’s proprietary, and will only work with Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 4.0 or higher.

360 Audio

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro also supports 360 Audio, which is basically their version of the spatial audio feature in Apple AirPods. It’s not enabled by default, because you may not want to turn it on all the time.

The 360 Audio feature only works with apps and content that support Dolby Atmos surround sound. When enabled, it delivers a 360-degree surround sound effect for a more immersive experience.

On top of that, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro supports head tracking, so the 360 audio you hear will actually change with your head movement!

While it doesn’t do much for music (very few are encoded for Dolby Atmos), you should enable it for movies and games.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.3, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s new Seamless codec, but not aptX, LDAC or LHDC. Again, please note that the Samsung Seamless codec is proprietary, and will only work with their devices running on One UI 4.0 and above.

These earbuds do not offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means they can only be connected to one device at any one time.

They support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account, but if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Battery Life

The biggest problem I have with the Buds2 Pro though is its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I can get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

This is really a trade off – a larger battery (and consequently, longer battery life) would mean a heavier and more obtrusive earbuds. There is only so much Samsung can squeeze out of the tiny 61 mAh battery in each earbud.

The charging case with an internal 515 mAh battery provides another 13 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 21 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

They support quick charging though – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Our Verdict

If you want the very best TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation technology from Samsung, there can be no doubt – the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is it.

It is amazing that such a small package comes with so many great features – 24-bit audio with 360 Audio, active noise cancellation with three SNR microphones, and IPX7 water resistance.

While the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is not cheap, those features do really make a real difference in the enjoyment of your music, videos and games.

For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Just be aware of its relatively short battery life, lack of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and reliance on a proprietary codec which limits 24-bit audio to Samsung devices.

If you are in the Samsung ecosystem and would like to enjoy 24-bit audio and/or surround sound, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

But if you are not using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, or do not need 24-bit audio support, then these are not the earbuds you are looking for. You are better off buying the cheaper Galaxy Buds2!

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM899 / S$328 / US$229 / £189 / A$349.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 11 November 2022) :

Malaysia : RM899 | RM899 | RM899
Singapore : $243 | $279 | $328
United States : $179.99 | $226.49
United Kingdom : £189 | £189
Australia : $301 | $306 | $310

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

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It’s official – the EU has ordered all brands to standardise on the USB-C connector for all mobile chargers, including Apple!

EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the European Parliament voted decisively in favour of adopting the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.

The directive passed with an overwhelming vote of 602 MEPs in favour, and just 13 against (with 8 abstentions), and now heads to the EU Council for the formality of a final approval.

Once the Council signs off on the directive, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have 12 months to transpose the new directive, and another 12 months after that transposition period, to apply the new rules.

Once these new rules are enforced, consumers will be able to use and share chargers since all portable devices use the same charging port.

The EU expects the directive to greatly reduce e-waste, and help consumers save up to €250 million a year on purchasing chargers of different standards.

In the EU, chargers alone account for about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. So this directive will help to cut down on the environmental impact of disposing of so many old or unused chargers.

Details Of EU Directive On USB-C Standardisation

Here is my quick round-up of the new EU directive on standardising portable devices and laptops on the USB Type C charging port.

All Devices Must Come With USB-C Charging Port

What this means is that by the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB Type C charging port.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

Small devices like smartwatches and health trackers that cannot fit a USB-C port are exempted from this requirement.

This directive is more or less directed at Apple which persists in using its own proprietary Lighting connector for its devices – everything from iPhone, iPad, AirPods and even its wireless keyboard and mouse.

The only way for Apple to get around this is to switch their new devices to wireless charging before the end of 2024.

All Devices Must Support USB-C Fast Charging Standards

Also important is the fact that the EU is going to force all brands to adopt USB-C fast charging standards.

While the legislation won’t stop manufacturers from implementing special fast charging capabilities, it will ensure that their chargers and devices support USB-C fast charging standards as a minimum.

All devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speed, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.

USB-C Mandate To Extend To Laptops In 2026

On top of that, the directive also requires laptops to standardise on the USB Type C charging port by spring 2026.

This new directive will not please Apple MacBook users who just celebrated the return of the MagSafe connector, but it will be a great advantage for consumers.

Once enforced, everyone will be able to use their laptop’s USB-C charger to also recharge their other devices, because they all have the same USB Type port!

Dedicated Labels

The directive also requires brands to use dedicated labels to help consumers decide if their existing chargers will support their new devices, or if they need to purchase a new charger.

This will hopefully prevent consumers from being hoodwinked into purchasing a new charger with every new device, when their existing chargers will work just as well.

Dedicated labels will inform consumers about the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible.

Buyers will also be able to make an informed choice about whether or not to purchase a new charging device with a new product.

Wireless Charging To Be Standardised Too

The directive also commanded the European Commission to tackle wireless charging interoperability by the end of 2024.

It highlighted the risk of brands using proprietary wireless charging technologies to “lock in” users, replicating what Apple did with its Lightning connector for wired charging.

Like with wired charging, the EU wants wireless charging to be interoperable as well.

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did China Give These AWESOME Olympics 2022 Gifts?!

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Did China give Olympics 2022 athletes AWESOME gifts like Samsung gadgets, and a personalised necklace?

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2022-02-12 : Added the actual price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 Olympic Edition, and other updates.
Originally posted @ 2022-02-07

Claim : China Gave Olympics 2022 Athletes These AWESOME Gifts!

This video and message are going viral on WhatsApp, claiming to show the awesome gifts that China gave Olympic Games 2022 athletes.

A total of 2,925 athletes participated in the Winter Olympics. The country has prepared a gift bag for every athlete, which contains the latest Samsung mobile phone worth $7999, sports headphones, a unique Winter Olympics necklace and ring, and a small quilt that is close to the body.

Foreign athletes are happy when they open the gift bag. Shout out Mamma Mia, resounding throughout the sports village. The cost of the Samsung phone is no more than $3k (marketing & profits accounting for more than half the listed price).

Product placement to the 3,000 Olympian influencers will cost about $9m. Compare that with a 30-second advert slot during the Superbowl for $6m a pop. If they give a Huawei the Western press would be terrified. 🌿

Truth : China Did NOT Give Olympics 2022 Athletes Those Awesome Gifts!

This is yet another example of pro-China fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Video Was Taken By Petra Nieminen

The video was misappropriated by the fake news creator, probably because it has the comment – Beijing 2022 gifts for athletes.

This video was actually taken by Petra Nieminen, a hockey player from Finland, who was showing off the free gifts she received since arriving in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Fact #2 : Gifts Not Prepared, Nor Given By China

The gifts Petra showed in the video were neither prepared, nor sponsored, by China – the host country for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Samsung is the worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games, and it was they who gave the athletes the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Olympic Edition smartphone, and Galaxy Buds2 wireless earphones.

Incidentally, Samsung will also be giving them to athletes at the upcoming Paralympic Games!

The personalised necklace with the ring was given to the athletes by Lumoava – the official Olympic partner of the Finnish team.

Fact #3 : No Evidence Athletes Shouted Mamma Mia

There is no known report of any athlete shouting Mamma Mia on getting their gifts. It is also a silly claim since it’s an Italian expression.

Fact #4 : The Gifts Do Not Cost So Much

The fake news creator made up the value of these gifts, falsely claiming that the Samsung smartphone cost $7,999.

It’s likely a mistranslation from the original Chinese post, because the Galaxy Z Flip Olympic Edition smartphone costs ¥7,999 (about US$1,259 / £929 / RM5,269), while the Galaxy Buds2 cost US$149.

The personalised Lumoava Brilliance Pendant 4 necklace, which is engraved with the words “Olympic Team Finland Beijing 2022” costs €124 or about US$142.

Fact #5 : Lumoava Necklace Limited To Finnish Athletes

From what I understand, the Lumoava necklace was made specially for Finnish athletes, and was not given to athletes from other countries.

Teams from different countries received different gifts from their partners. For example, Team USA received gear from Skims, while Team Canada received special Lululemon gear.

Fact #6 : China Can Spy On Athletes Without HUAWEI Smartphones

The fake message mocked Western media for fearing HUAWEI smartphones. The truth is – China can spy on Olympic athletes without giving them HUAWEI smartphones.

All participants in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are required to install and use the My 2022 app, which ostensibly is used to keep everyone connected and informed about services, food, transportation, etc.

The problem is one cybersecurity researcher, Jonathan Scott, recently reverse-engineered the app, and found that it was capable of recording and sending audio to servers based in China.

It appears that Chinese netizens / 50 Cent Army are creating such fake news to cover up negative news reports of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Since arriving in Beijing, Olympic athletes from Germany, Belgium and Russia have complained about nightmarish conditions in their quarantine hotels – bad food, poor to no Internet connectivity, no access to training equipment, or even the ability to communicate with their own teams.

Whatever their reasons may be, there is no excuse for creating and spreading fake news. Help us fight their fake news by sharing this fact check!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!

Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!

They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…

Comfortable Fit

Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.

They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!

Super Strong Bass

Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!

You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.

It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!

And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.

Microphone Noise Cancellation

Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.

Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.

The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud. This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.

Multipoint Connection

Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.

If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.

Ultra-Low Latency

Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.

The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!

Battery Life

Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.

With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications	TWS 2 ANC	TWS 2e
Design	In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating	IP54
Speaker Unit	12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range	20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	No
Microphones	3	2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation	Yes, 3-Mic	Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2 Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency	88 ms (min.)	117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec	aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC	AAC / SBC
Wear Detection	Two capacitive sensors	None
Google Fast Pair	Yes
Controls	Pressure + Touch	None
Battery	45 mAh (each earbud) 505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation Off)	7.3 Hours	7.6 Hours
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation On)	4.1 Hours	–
Charging Time	60 minutes (earbuds) 110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port	USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions	23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions	60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight	41.9 g

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.

But it only costs RM68, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM369 – approximately US$88 / £65 / A$121 / S$119.

But it only costs RM98, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

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Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Malaysia Deals!

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Take a look at the official October-November deals for the Samsung Buds Live and Galaxy Buds+ TWS earbuds in Malaysia!

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Premium TWS Earbuds

Announced together with the Samsung Galaxy S20 family of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or Galaxy Buds+ is their second-generation TWS earbuds design.

Improving on last year’s Galaxy Buds, it boasts a new 2-way speaker design by AKG, and an adaptive 3-microphone system.

Announced together with the Galaxy Note20 smartphones, the Galaxy Buds Live extends that with active noise cancellation (ANC), and a more spacious soundscape.

This is the first time ANC is offered on an open type TWS earbuds by Samsung. It also boasts 12 mm speakers by AKG, with a large driver and bass duct.

It has a 6 hour battery life, which is extended to 21 hours with its charging case.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Malaysia Deals For Oct-Nov!

Here is the official price list for both TWS earbuds in Malaysia :

Galaxy Buds Live : Mystic Bronze, Mystic White : RM 699 (about US$168 / £130 / A$238 / S$230)
Galaxy Buds Plus : Black, White : RM 599 (about US$144 / £111 / A$204 / S$197)

From now until 22 November 2020, every purchase will come with a FREE case worth RM 99.

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Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

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Jabra is introducing a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

On 21 October 2020, Jabra announced a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

By taking advantage of the superior Qualcomm digital audio processor already built-into the Elite 75t, Jabra is able to introduce this free ANC upgrade via a firmware update in the Jabra Sound+ app.

The Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t with ANC as standard will be available for purchase in October 2020.

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Now With ANC

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t.

Improved Comfort + Secure Fit

Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.

They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.

Better Battery + Charging Capabilities

Jabra extended the Elite 75t’s battery life by 50%, from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. They also extended its charging case’s battery capacity, allowing the Elite 75t to offer a total battery life of 28 hours, versus 15 hours for the 65t.

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.

Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.

MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)

Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.

MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.

MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.

4-Microphone Technology

Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.

Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for lower-latency audio with lower power consumption. That means longer battery life without the fear of audio dropouts!

IP55 / IP57 Dust + Water Resistance

The Jabra Elite 75t is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!

The Jabra Elite Active 75t, on the other hand, is IP57-rated, which allows for water submersion up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Price + Availability

The Jabra Elite 75t is priced at USD 179.99 / €169.99 / A$249 / S$288 / RM949.

Malaysia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Singapore : Titanium Black | Black | Gold Beige
United States : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
United Kingdom : Titanium Black | Gold Beige
Australia : Titanium Black | Gold Beige

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is priced at USD 199.99 / €189.99 / A$279 / S$318 / RM999.

Malaysia : Dark Grey | Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
Singapore : Dark Grey | Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
United States : Navy Blue | Mint | Sienna
UK : Titanium Black | Copper Black | Dark Grey | Navy | Sienna | Mint
Australia : Copper Black | Dark Grey | Navy | Sienna | Mint

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Samsung Galaxy Buds : Get Update For Buds+ Features!

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A new software update for Samsung Galaxy Buds will introduce three new Buds+ features! Here are the details!

Samsung Galaxy Buds : Get Update For Buds+ Features!

Starting today (4 May 2020), you will be able to update your Galaxy Buds with three new features that were hitherto available only in the Galaxy Buds+.

Here are the three new features you can enjoy after updating your Samsung Galaxy Buds!

Microsoft Swift Pair

Microsoft Swift Pair lets you more easily pair your Galaxy Buds to your Windows 10 PC, so that you can use it for remote video meetings, or just listen to music while you work.

Like the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, your Galaxy Buds will also support the capability to pair with multiple devices, allowing you to use them across your mobile and PC devices.

Your PC must be running on Windows 10 version 1830 or above. Go to the Bluetooth & other devices menu under settings to pair your Galaxy Buds.
Samsung Easy Pair is used to quickly pair with mobile devices
Microsoft Switch Pair is used to quickly pair with Windows 10 PCs

Ambient Sound Capability

Ambient Sound lets you hear your surroundings and remain aware of the world around you, even while you are watching movies or listening to music.

You can also choose to experience Ambient Sound with one earbud in, giving you more options on how to tune in, or tune out, of your surrounding environment.

Ambient Sound can be pre-set and enabled through the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app.

Spotify Personalised Playlist

Using a simple ‘Tap & Hold’ gesture, you can launch Spotify and start listening to music wherever you left off.

Tap again, and Spotify will recommend a playlist just for you. This update lets Spotify offer you a personalised playlist with a single press!

Samsung Galaxy Buds : Where To Buy?

Malaysia : White | Black | Black / White
Singapore : Black / Yellow
United States : Black | White
United Kingdom : White | Black
Australia : White | Black

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ : Where To Buy?

If you are looking to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, you can buy them from these online stores :

Malaysia : White | Black
Singapore : White | Black | Blue
United States : Black | Pink | Red
United Kingdom : White | Black | Blue
Australia : White | Black | Blue

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus : TWS Earbuds Tuned By AKG!

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One of the best TWS earbuds in the market are the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, which are turned by AKG.

Find out if the new Galaxy Buds Plus (Galaxy Buds+) are TWS earbuds you’re looking for!

True Wireless Stereo : What Is It?

True Wireless Stereo or TWS for short, refers to the ability to transfer stereo music wirelessly through Bluetooth.

The music player (or smartphone) transmits the music to a TWS Master device, which then forwards it to a TWS Slave device. This allows both TWS Master and Slave devices to deliver stereo music to you

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus : TWS Earbuds Tuned By AKG!

Announced together with the Samsung Galaxy S20 family of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or Galaxy Buds+ is their second-generation TWS earbuds design.

Improving on last year’s Galaxy Buds, it boasts a new 2-way speaker design by AKG, and an adaptive 3-microphone system. Let’s take a closer look at its key features…

2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.

Adaptive 3-Microphone System

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.

The two outer microphones work together with the inner microphone to cancel out background noises, whenever you are on a call.

You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.

Better Battery + Charging!

Samsung greatly improved the battery life on the Galaxy Buds Plus, almost doubling it over its predecessor – from 6 hours to 11 hours!

Even its battery case has a much longer battery life, up from 7 hours to 11 hours! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery life on-the-go!

Samsung also improved its recharging performance. It now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time. That’s 3X faster than its predecessor!

On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and its battery case are Qi-certified. That means you can recharge either or both using any Qi-compatible charging pad.

Heck, you can even recharge it on smartphones that support Qi reverse charging, like the Samsung Galaxy S20 / Galaxy S20 Plus / Galaxy S20 Ultra… and even the HUAWEI P40 / P40 Pro / P40 Pro Plus smartphones!

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is available in two colour options – White and Black, with Blue, Red and Pink options in select countries, at recommended retail prices :

Malaysia : RM 599
Singapore : $268
United States : $149.99
United Kingdom : £159
Australia : $299

You can purchase them from these online stores :

Malaysia : White | Black
Singapore : White | Black | Blue
United States : Black | Pink | Red
United Kingdom : White | Black | Blue
Australia : White | Black | Blue