The Galaxy Buds Pro are Samsung’s most durable ANC earbuds yet (On sale!)

Update: January 15, 2021 at 4:38 p.m. ET: The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are now on sale! You can pick up a pair for yourself from Amazon, Best Buy, or Samsung.com.

Original article: January 14, 2021 at 10 a.m. ET: After much anticipation, Samsung unveiled its latest flagship earbuds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. These deliver active noise-cancelling (ANC), clear audio, and a seamless experience across Samsung devices. Samsung jumped ship from its kidney bean ‘buds of yesteryear in favor of a standard earphone design akin to the rest of the Galaxy Buds line. These are the first Samsung Galaxy Buds to feature an IPX7 rating, so they can withstand a drop into the pool.

Samsung boldly asserts that the Galaxy Buds Pro ANC can reduce background noise up to 99%, and if true, would prove quite the impressive feat. You can tweak the ANC intensity within the mobile app. It also supports Ambient Sound, and you can amplify background noise up to 20dB.

The built-in chipset registers when you speak, directs the earbuds to lower music volume, and switches from ANC to Ambient Sound mode. It even works when neither ANC nor Ambient Sound mode are enabled at the time of detection. This allows you to carry quick conversations with tellers and clerks, much like the speak-to-chat function of the Sony WH-1000XM4. Whether Samsung’s take on this adaptable tech succeeds remains to be seen, but it further opens the door for wearables that understands environmental context.

Each Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro earbud houses a three-mic system with wind noise-reduction, so you should be able to take phone calls outside. A 6.5mm tweeter and 11mm woofer fit inside each casing, and the dual-driver system facilitates clear bass and treble notes. They operate via Bluetooth 5.0 and support the Samsung Scalable codec, AAC, and SBC.

Samsung integrates 360 Audio with Dolby Head Tracking technology, which you can enable via the Galaxy Wearable app. This keeps you in the center of the action as sound moves all around you. The Galaxy Buds Pro retain Game Mode from previous Galaxy Buds generations, which enables low-latency audio for gaming and video playback.

Although the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro don’t support Bluetooth multipoint, they can automatically toggle between any Samsung Galaxy device and Windows PCs. Let’s say you’re playing music on your phone, but then begin to play a video from your tablet. The Galaxy Buds Pro will automatically detect the new device’s audio output and play accordingly. This effectively works the same as the Apple AirPods’ automatic device switching function, which was added with iOS 14.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S21 series buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

The Galaxy Buds Pro can last up to five hours of playtime with noise-cancelling enabled, and the case provides an extra 13 hours of reserve battery. With ANC disabled, the ‘buds last eight hours, and the case then provides an extra 20 hours of playtime. Once the earphones are completely drained, you need only insert them into the case for three minutes to enjoy 30 minutes of playback. The case charges via USB-C, Qi wireless power mat, and atop a compatible Samsung Galaxy device thanks to PowerShare technology.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are available today, January 14, from Samsung and retail for $199.99/€229/£219. The earbuds will be available from other retailers tomorrow, January 15.