Apple App Store Preview Confirms Existence of Samsung's Rumored Galaxy Buds+ With Official iPhone Support

[MacRumors]

Apple last night unwittingly confirmed the existence of Samsung's upcoming next-generation Galaxy Buds+, which are set to compete directly with Apple's own AirPods Pro wireless earphones.

Confirmation came via an App Store preview of the wireless earphones' iOS app, first spotted by CNET, indicating that the Galaxy Buds+ will be officially compatible with iPhone 7 and newer devices running iOS 10 or higher.

Other than that, the app description reveals little else about Samsung's new earbuds. However, serial gadget leaker Evan Blass has subsequently shared an official-looking spec sheet of the upcoming Galaxy Buds+ compared to the current Galaxy Buds.

According to the spec sheet, the Galaxy Buds+ will have almost double the battery life of their predecessor, with 11 hours for the buds themselves plus an additional 11 hours from the charging case, compared with six hours for the standard Galaxy Buds and 7 hours for its charging case.

Image via @evleaks​

Unlike Apple's AirPods Pro, the Galaxy Buds+ don't have active noise cancellation, but the design remains the same as the current Galaxy Buds, so there is some passive sound isolation. Otherwise, the new earbuds have upgraded speakers and an additional microphone, so expect improved audio.

The Galaxy Buds+ will cost $149, up from $129, and will be available in black, white, red, and blue colors. Speculation suggests that Samsung may also include the earbuds in the box with the upcoming Galaxy S20, but this hasn't been confirmed.

After CNET highlighted the existence of Apple's App Store preview, a Samsung spokesperson told the website that the company is "excited to introduce Galaxy Buds+ soon." Samsung noted that its app "will allow iOS users to enjoy an optimized sound experience, on the go."

Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on February 11 in San Francisco, where it's expected to introduce its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S20, along with a new folding phone called the Galaxy Z Flip.

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Apple has reportedly been experiencing "much higher" than expected demand for its $249 AirPods Pro, and the company is said to have ask its supplier Luxshare Precision to double production of the high-end earphones to two million units per month.

Together with the Apple Watch, the AirPods and AirPods Pro have been a driving force behind growth in Apple's wearables category, which recently set new fourth quarter revenue records worldwide.

Article Link: Apple App Store Preview Confirms Existence of Samsung's Rumored Galaxy Buds+ With Official iPhone Support

 

[Puppuccino]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

 

[Morgenland]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

right, maybe the best choise for the bud-heads.

 

[smirking]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

Exactly. They're hoping that you love your Galaxy Buds so much that your next phone will be a Galaxy.

 

[Drfter]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

You have been trained by apple not to understand the freedom of using a headphone on w/e device you want because at the end of the day it's just a headphone. Only apple makes it difficult to play nice with others.

 

[waquzy]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

Android and eco-system shouldn’t be used in the same sentence

 

[dumastudetto]

The star ratings are impressive.

 

[Morgenland]

'Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on February 11 in San Francisco'

Is this called aggressive marketing or an attempt to merge with the spirit of the Bay Area?

 

[himanshumodi]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

Mostly for the fit, I guess. There are some folks for whom airpods fit just doesn't work. Always good to have alternatives. Wonder whether they will be as seamless as AirPods though. It's not as if other bluetooth devices don't pair with iPhones. But you are correct, if you don't have an issue with the fit, AirPods are the only logical choice. It's not as if these Galaxy Buds are half the price or something.

 

[Morgenland]

You have been trained by apple not to understand the freedom of using a headphone on w/e device you want because at the end of the day it's just a headphone. Only apple makes it difficult to play nice with others.

Every car salesman does it... Do you really think Huawei would recommend AirPods?

 

[one more]

I do not like many Bluetooth earbud designs for a simple reason - the Bluetooth block and battery need to be embedded into the units themselves, making them heavier for the ears and easier to lose. My current personal favourite is these ones - sound good, the battery life is around 8 hours on a charge, splash-friendly and virtually unbreakable. All for a friendly price of 29$!

 

[Morgenland]

Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on February 11 in San Francisco, where it's expected to introduce its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S20, along with a new folding phone called the Galaxy Z Flip.

Flip or Flop... we'll see...
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I do not like many Bluetooth earbud designs for a simple reason - the Bluetooth block and battery need to be embedded into the units themselves, making them heavier for the ears and easier to lose. My current personal favourite is these ones - sound good, the battery life is around 8 hours on a charge, splash-friendly and virtually unbreakable. All for a friendly price of 29$!

active noise cancellation? ;-)

 

[nylonsteel]

another samsung tactic of capitalizing on aapl
yet samsung makes some validly good products

 

[gnasher729]

I don't get why you'd get Galaxy Buds or AirPods and get the opposing smartphone for it. I mean, it doesn't make a huge difference, but a consistent eco-system is better than a fractured one.

Your earphones are not part of any "eco-system". It should be just like headphones or wired earphones. You buy whatever you like best and plug it in (or connect to) the phone of your choice. Some people have a private phone and a work phone, and they are different. Buying two earphones would be nonsense.
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another samsung tactic of capitalizing on aapl
yet samsung makes some validly good products

Best tactics of capitalising on AAPL would have been to buy lots of shares
They are selling earphones. To anyone who is willing to buy them.

 

[Eminemme]

You have been trained by apple not to understand the freedom of using a headphone on w/e device you want because at the end of the day it's just a headphone. Only apple makes it difficult to play nice with others.

Nicely said! Apple fans isolate themselves and are very paranoidal about non-Apple devices

 

[BvizioN]

You have been trained by apple not to understand the freedom of using a headphone on w/e device you want because at the end of the day it's just a headphone. Only apple makes it difficult to play nice with others.

I would get AirPods over these any time just for the simple integration across devices. If your idea of playing nice with others is having to download a dedicated app to make it work (another app on my device) I don't want it. They would still not be able to match the experience of the hardware/software integration.
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Nicely said! Apple fans isolate themselves and are very paranoidal about non-Apple devices

I have almost every year switched outside the Apple ecosystem, to realize why people are so attached to Apple's products. So please let me worry about the "isolation"

 

[YaBe]

Nicely said! Apple fans isolate themselves and are very paranoidal about non-Apple devices

Exactly, I say use what works best for you, not what you are "forced" t use.

I could care less about the brand, as long as the price/performance is good for my needs.

I have almost every year switched outside the Apple ecosystem, to realize why people are so attached to Apple's products. So please let me worry about the "isolation"

Was a Diehard fan myself, but never really understood the "superior integration", it's a pair of headphones....they work, they show the battery on the phone and they control music, just like any other Bluetooth headphones. The fact that they only show battery on iPhone and not on other phones is a limit of Apple, not Android (and 3rd party software proves that ).

 

[BvizioN]

Exactly, I say use what works best for you, not what you are "forced" t use.

I could care less about the brand, as long as the price/performance is good for my needs.

Was a Diehard fan myself, but never really understood the "superior integration", it's a pair of headphones....they work, they show the battery on the phone and they control music, just like any other Bluetooth headphones. The fact that they only show battery on iPhone and not on other phones is a limit of Apple, not Android (and 3rd party software proves that ).

Have you ever used Airpods? If you have (pretty much doubt you have) then you would know that it is not just about the battery, which is the least I care since mine last for nearly a week with a single charge and looking at the battery is not something I generally do.
And lol at you calling yourself an ex "Diehard fan" 😁😁😁😁

By the way I couldn't help but notice this comment from you "Exactly, I say use what works best for you, not what you are "forced" t use"

What on earth makes you guys think people are forced to buy or use things they don't want? What century do you think this is? What kind of person do you think get forced to spend their hard-earned cash on things they do not want and not work best for them? Seriously, what kind of rubbish mentality is the one that when people buy the stuff you don't like, they are "being forced" to buy them, but when they buy stuff that you like, they have chosen the free choice? Are you mad enough to think I would spend hundreds of £ on stuff that I don't like? Get over it and let people buy/use what they like without judging them.

 

[YaBe]

Have you ever used Airpods? If you have (pretty much doubt you have) then you would know that it is not just about the battery

Use them regularly on my Mi9 thank you, and while they are great, they are not the only pair I use and definitely NOT the only one that works well.

So what is it then? Sound Quality? there are plenty of earphones that sound as good, is it the touch control'? Again there are plenty that with similar functionality, what is the feature that makes them "fit in the ecosystem?" (Apart from the Apple logo).

Have you ever used Airpods? If you have (pretty much doubt you have) ...

A defensive weak argument based on assumption. (P.S. I try before I comment on something, in this case use regularly).

What century do you think this is?

The one where marketing can get you to do (aka "force") things you do not even realize you are "forced" to do.

The one where the status symbol (or society if you want to call it that) forces you to, heck in this very forum there are people judging their friends from the color of a message bubble...

Get over it and let people buy/use what they like without judging them.

Did not judge anyone, you, on the other hand, based your argument with assumptions.

 

[sinsin07]

I do not like many Bluetooth earbud designs for a simple reason - the Bluetooth block and battery need to be embedded into the units themselves, making them heavier for the ears and easier to lose. My current personal favourite is these ones - sound good, the battery life is around 8 hours on a charge, splash-friendly and virtually unbreakable. All for a friendly price of 29$!

Cumbersome, not pocketable, goofy.

 

[BvizioN]

Use them regularly on my Mi9 thank you, and while they are great, they are not the only pair I use and definitely NOT the only one that works well.

So what is it then? Sound Quality? there are plenty of earphones that sound as good, is it the touch control'? Again there are plenty that with similar functionality, what is the feature that makes them "fit in the ecosystem?" (Apart from the Apple logo).

A defensive weak argument based on assumption. (P.S. I try before I comment on something, in this case use regularly).

The one where marketing can get you to do (aka "force") things you do not even realize you are "forced" to do.

The one where the status symbol (or society if you want to call it that) forces you to, heck in this very forum there are people judging their friends from the color of a message bubble...

You quoted the same part of my question, twice. And you left outside the part of my argument, for which you clearly did not have an answer. The one that people should use what works best for them, but according to you, when that is Apple product, they are being "forced"

Connectivity and easy set up. This has been copied by others now but the simplicity is just plain Apple.
Airpods integration across devices is seamless. All it takes is one tap to switch. That is not Beats and AirPods that can do it.
Remove to pause - place back on the ear to play. It may seem like a small thing but makes a huge difference for a lot of people.
Comfort and Aesthetics. This is a bit subjective but clearly, for a lot of people, they are a winner.
I have been using original AirPods since the first day they were released, and no intention to get newer models just yet. You wanna know why? Because they just work. They have never failed. They have never let me down (in contrast to some products from different other companies) So excuse me for being a bit Apple fan and wanting to buy (or "being forced" as you may call it) products that I like.
And spare me the colour bubble bull **** argument. I don't even use iMessage. You people should really stop dictating to others what they should buy/use and what they shouldn't and trying to bring the stupid argument trying to make it look as they are "forced". Just Stop it and use whatever the heck suits your needs. Geeezzz.

 

[RamGuy]

I remember the time when product releases such as these would simply replace the previous model and inherent it's price tag or actually be slightly cheaper due to improvements in the production line.

Now a'days it seems more common to bring out what is 90% the same product wight some slight improvements and simply stick somethling like +/Plus or whatever to the name and sell it for a higher price.

Give me one reason why this shouldn't just replace the old model?


Apple is somewhat excused when it comes to the AirPods Pro as its a different product compared to the AirPods 2 as one is completely open and doesn't really go inside your ear while the other is closed and goes inside your ear. There are arguments to be made for having them both as seperate products.

But this release would be the same as Apple would release the AirPods 2 and still keep the AirPods 1 around and just hike the price on the new ones slightly. Wouldn't make much sense as those two products are basically the same. One is just a slight revision of the first one. Just like these Galaxy Buds+ vs Galaxy Buds.
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Your earphones are not part of any "eco-system". It should be just like headphones or wired earphones. You buy whatever you like best and plug it in (or connect to) the phone of your choice. Some people have a private phone and a work phone, and they are different. Buying two earphones would be nonsense.

The major issue with this currently is how Bluetooth was never really designed around audio. As long as Apple, Google, Samsung etc.. is forced to go outside the Bluetooth specification in order to achieve better convince and user experience it will get fragmentet.

I'm surprised how neither Bluetooth 4.x or Bluetooth 5.x was incapable of bringing something to the Bluetooth specifications that would provide a universal and platform agnostic way of having fast and easy pairing and synchronisation across devices. And the spec itself is still rather poor in-terms of audio quality, they still rely on heavy compressed SBC. You have to attach proprietary solutions such as AAC, APT-X etc ontop of the baseline spec in order to have improved audio quality. Why is that? Why aren't we able to achieve near lossless audio transfer within the baseline of Bluetooth, not even with 5.0....


Lossless audio in the base spec. And having seamless synchronisation across devices for up to at least five devices should have been there for a while now. I do understand that having playback to mulitple devices at once might be more difficult due to bandwidth restrictions or what not but having lossless to one set or headphones and being capable of jumping between at least five devices seamlessly shouldn't be too much to ask...

 

[urtules]

Use them regularly on my Mi9 thank you

You only can unleash full AirPods potential with iOS device, when using with Android or PCs it just another pair of wireless headphones, nice looking and small, but just headphones. I use mine with Apple Watch and iPhone.

 

[mazz0]

Jesus H. Flip!

I was wondering as I read it how they managed to cram such a big battery in there, then I saw the pics. No cramming required I see!

---

You have been trained by apple not to understand the freedom of using a headphone on w/e device you want because at the end of the day it's just a headphone.

Your earphones are not part of any "eco-system". It should be just like headphones or wired earphones. You buy whatever you like best and plug it in (or connect to) the phone of your choice.

Sorry but that's an absurd simplification, to the point of being nonsense. It's not "just a headphone", it's a user experience. There's much more to it than simply "does it go in your ears and make sound without wires?". There's how easy it is to set up, and to switch it between devices; how easy it is to share audio with another user; how convenient it is to charge, how comfortably it fits in your pocket; how easy it is to control*; etc.

It's just a headphone

That's the Android everyone-but-Apple attitude right there.

*an area of weakness for AirPods in my opinion - an easy way to change volume is missing

 

[YaBe]

You only can unleash full AirPods potential with iOS device, when using with Android or PCs it just another pair of wireless headphones, nice looking and small, but just headphones. I use mine with Apple Watch and iPhone.

Luckily it's not 100% true, Airbuds Popup allows most of the features, and the tapping functions can be enabled on iOS first and then works natively on Android.

On PC though it's true, they are only another pair of Bluetooth headphones but do not use them that way myself.

EDIT:
Airbuds Popup allows Wearing detection as well!

As I said earlier I came from iOS so I know what they can do and not missing a feature (not thanks to Apple that is) third party developer really filled the feature Apple "crippled" on other phones.

Fun fact is, we can use Apple's own marketing trademark to fix their crippling, "There’s An App For That™!".