Since 2019, Samsung has used the same bean-count design for its Galaxy Buds series of earbuds With the third generation, Samsung is redesigning them to look more like AirPods

The Galaxy Buds 3 will likely feature a new stem set with a better microphone and more precise controls The earphones are expected to work with Samsung's Galaxy ecosystem

When the Buds 3 finally arrives, Android users may be able to enjoy AirPod-like earbuds

Here's what we know so far about Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3

The Galaxy Buds 3 will likely be officially announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked summer 2024 event scheduled for July 10

Samsung has not been as consistent about release dates for the Galaxy Buds line as it has been for other products Nevertheless, the Buds 2 and Buds 2 Pro were announced in July 2021 and 2022, respectively, and released in August

Assuming Samsung debuts the earphones at the Unpacked event, they are expected to be officially released in August, similar to the Buds 2 model

The Galaxy Buds 3 is hiding under the radar due to interest in Samsung's next two foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6

There is no indication as to the price of the new earbuds, but one can speculate based on previous releases

The Buds 2 was released in 2021 for $139; the Pro model released in 2022 was $229

Hopefully Samsung will maintain these price points, but the trend this year is for tech companies to raise prices The foldables mentioned above are expected to increase in price by $100

The Pro version is supposed to compete directly with Apple's AirPods, which sell for $249 If Samsung is not undercutting Apple on price, it would not be surprising if the Galaxy Buds 3 could rival the AirPods

As noted above, the surprising move Samsung seems to be making with the Galaxy Buds 3 is to add a stem, especially on the Pro model It is not known if a stick will be added to the standard Buds 3 as well However, it is hard to imagine Samsung bifurcating the earphone market with two completely different earphone designs in the same line

Adding a stem to make the Buds 3 Pro look more like AirPods would be a significant overhaul from the normal bean-like form factor that the company's earphones feature

According to leaked images, the earbuds will be available in white and black We are certain that Samsung will have unique names like Pearl or Graphite

The leaked charging case shows a dark gray case with a clear plastic lid The design appears similar to the Apple AirPods charging case, but with a stem design, which we imagine is a fairly standard way to hold earphones

In general, the Galaxy Buds 3 appears to be an overall improvement Again, not much has been leaked about what's in the new earbuds, but here's what we expect:

High-res audio: the Buds 3 may feature new built-in drivers to improve sound Both earphones should have 24-bit/96kHz "Ultra High-Quality Sound" (according to a leak from Android Headlines)

Improved battery life: It is speculated that adding a stem will create room for Samsung to add a larger battery; the Buds 2 Pro could only be charged for 5 hours with ANC turned on When this was turned off, battery life increased to 8 hours; (with ANC turned off) we see claims of 7 hours and 30 minutes from the case

AI integration: like many companies, Samsung is focused on AI and we expect some form of Galaxy AI integration to be added to the Galaxy Buds 3 We have only seen promo images proclaiming AI integration with the earphones However, other earbuds use ChatGPT, and it is not hard to imagine Samsung working with Google's Gemini or other AI chatbots

SUPPORT AND RESISTANCE: The earbuds appear to be IP57 dust and water resistant; Bluetooth 5 will also be included 4 and auto-switch, Samsung's ability to jump between Galaxy devices via Bluetooth

Noise Cancellation: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has active noise cancellation and the Galaxy Buds 3 should also have ANC How it will be improved is debatable

We don't know exactly what new features Samsung will include in the Galaxy Buds 3, but here are some features we would expect to see:

Live translation: We don't know exactly how Samsung will integrate AI, but live translation is an obvious option There are reports that Samsung is working on this

Battery life: the next iteration of the Galaxy Buds should have better battery life, and with rumors of a larger battery, it will be interesting to see if it improves

Health Tracking: we saw some random speculation that Samsung might add health tracking, similar to what Apple is rumored to be adding to the upcoming Airpods

Samsung has been competing with Apple in the earphone space since the release of the first Galaxy Buds, but with the addition of stemming, the Korean company is taking aim at the AirPods market

The headphones should appeal to Android users who want AirPod-like quality earphones without entering Apple's ecosystem

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 will be a turning point for Samsung and its earphone lineup Will it succeed? I can't imagine the earbuds taking a step back, but adding a stem and keeping the rest of the padding may not be enough

There is still time before the July 10 Galaxy Unpacked event, so new leaks may pop up in the meantime Stay tuned