The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has recently made headlines due to quality issues reported by early customers who pre-ordered the earbuds.
In response to these complaints, Samsung has halted shipping of the earbuds, stating that the company cannot compromise on its quality standards.
So, what exactly is the issue with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and how significant is it? Is the problem present in all units? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Issue with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro?
The issue was brought to light when a YouTube channel named ZUYONI TECH was doing an unboxing. While changing the ear tips, the silicone ear tip suddenly tore from the area where it attaches to the actual earbud.
The YouTuber was casually removing the ear tips with her nails and did not take special precautions.
In everyday use, people generally don’t take excessive precautions when removing ear tips. While we are not usually harsh, we also don’t pay much attention to the process of changing ear tips.
Later, many other customers who received their units reported similar issues of the ear tips tearing while being changed.
Please note that there were no other known hardware issues except for this one.
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Is This Issue Significant?
Tearing of the ear tips might not seem like a significant issue, but if you spend $250 on earbuds and suddenly face such problems, it undoubtedly becomes a major concern.
Many people are blaming the YouTuber for using her nails and not following the instructions provided by Samsung.
However, how many customers actually visit the web to read the instructions just to remove the ear tips, especially when it seems straightforward?
Moreover, the YouTuber tried the same process with the predecessor, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, and nothing happened. In fact, she was even more forceful with the Buds 2 Pro, but their ear tips showed no signs of tearing.
We acknowledge that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro has a different design, and changing the ear tips might involve a different process. However, the issue here is not the design but the quality of the material.
Overall, this should not happen with a premium pair of earbuds. Using low-quality materials on such expensive earbuds is a significant issue, especially when their predecessor showed no such problems.
Is This Issue Present in All Units?
No, this issue is not present in all units.
After the news spread, many consumers checked their earbuds, removed the ear tips, and found no problems. However, similar issues of ear tips tearing were reported by numerous other consumers.
Some users applied force to test the quality and experienced no issues, while others handled them carefully and still faced problems.
Therefore, it’s clear that not all units have the same issue and only a few have been affected.
If you already have your Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, it’s quite possible that you might or might not encounter this issue.
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What Does Samsung Have to Say?
Samsung has apologized for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro issues. Here’s what they have said:
“There have been reports relating to a limited number of early production Galaxy Buds 3 Pro devices. We are taking this matter very seriously and remain committed to meeting the highest quality standards of our products. We are urgently assessing and enhancing our quality control processes.
To ensure all products meet our quality standards, we have temporarily suspended deliveries of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro devices to distribution channels to conduct a full quality control evaluation before shipments to consumers take place. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Should any customer already in possession of Galaxy Buds3 Pro be experiencing any issues, they should contact Samsung or visit their nearest Samsung Service Centre.“
How Should You Remove the Tips?
Here’s how you should change the ear tips on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro:
- Hold the main body of the earbud and use your other hand to invert the ear tip.
- Avoid using your fingernails when handling the inverted ear tip.
- Gently pull the ear tip off while holding it between your thumb and finger.
- Select an ear tip that fits your ear. Align the earbud speaker with the groove on the ear tip and press it in until you hear a click.
Please note that the ear tips are snugly fitted to the earbuds. Therefore, you may need to apply a bit more force than usual. However, avoid using excessive force, as it could damage the earbuds.
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Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is a solid pair of earbuds, even with its design resemblance to the AirPods Pro 2 and other stem-style models.
However, such quality issues should not occur, especially in a premium product, as they can significantly raise concerns about the overall quality.
It’s commendable that Samsung has acknowledged the issues and taken immediate action. However, those who have encountered the problem are advised to contact the nearest service center or Samsung support.
It’s also worth noting that since ear tips are not sold separately, affected customers will need to either replace the entire unit or obtain a refund, depending on what the company allows.
Once the issue is resolved, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is expected to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor.
