Wireless earphones have become essential accessories for anyone active and on the go including music lovers, students and office workers. Even though people have listened to music through wired earphones for decades, the arrival of wireless ones rapidly changed people’s behavior thanks to the freedom of movement, ease of connection and wealth of features packed into their compact frame.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series distinguishes itself from other wireless earbuds available on the market through enhanced sound quality, comfortable fit and a smarter sound experience powered by Galaxy AI. Samsung Newsroom revisited the history of the Galaxy Buds series — a device that has become a must-have item with smartphones.

[2019] Galaxy Buds

Focusing on the Essentials: The Beginning of Galaxy Wireless Earbuds

In February 2019, Samsung launched the wireless Galaxy Buds for consumers who value a more convenient and exciting lifestyle. Accented with a glossy texture and round design, the wearable was compact enough to conveniently fit into the user’s pocket. The earbuds could also be secured with wingtips once placed in the ear, so they don’t slip out during intensive exercise.

However, the most impressive feature was sound quality — the essence of earbuds. Samsung focused on enriching audio so users could hear crystal-clear sound regardless of their environment. The Galaxy Buds featured technology from Harman’s premium acoustic brand AKG to deliver a rich auditory experience that resembled the original sound. Adaptive Dual Microphone technology was another key to the clear sound quality whereby two mics located on the inside and outside of each earbud adjusted to ambient noise. Users could expect smooth sound quality even when taking phone calls in noisy public places.

The portable Galaxy Buds boasted a long-lasting battery life. On a single charge, these earbuds provided up to 6 hours of play time or up to 5 hours of talk time. In addition, users could enjoy up to 13 hours of music playback with a dedicated charging case. Through the Galaxy S10’s Wireless PowerShare feature, the Galaxy Buds could be charged using the smartphone as well.

[2020] Galaxy Buds+

Clearer Sound, Longer Hours of Use

Introduced in February 2020, the Galaxy Buds+ showcased enhanced sound quality. Featuring 2-way speakers with a tweeter for crisp, clear highs and a woofer for powerful bass, these earbuds created a balanced sound. The three mics — one inside and two outside — reduced external noise while capturing the user’s voice accurately to allow for clear communication in any environment.

The Galaxy Buds+ provided up to 11 hours of play time on a single charge. Users could enjoy 11 additional hours with the charging case for a total of 22 hours. Through Android and iOS device compatibility, more people could enjoy the latest features of the Galaxy Buds+.

[2021] Galaxy Buds Pro

Evolved Noise Canceling, Dressed in Sustainable Materials

As a response to the expanding wireless earbuds market, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds Pro in January 2021. Offering premium performance, these wearables highlighted the intelligent Active Noise Canceling (ANC) feature — reducing background noise significantly so users can dial the world up or down. When the Buds Pro recognized a user’s voice, the device would automatically switch to Ambient sound and adjust the music volume. By reducing unnecessary noise, users could tune into what they really wanted to hear.

For unparalleled sound quality, Samsung innovated both the interior and exterior design. The new structure minimized the effect of wind for clearer sound, and the 2-way speaker delivered dynamic audio across the entire sound range. By incorporating recycled polycarbonate (PC) into some components of the earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro provided the same level of performance and durability as the original but in a new, sustainable design.

[2021] Galaxy Buds2

Smaller, Lighter Earbuds in Sync With Life

Samsung launched the smallest and lightest earbuds in the Galaxy Buds series with Galaxy Buds2 in August 2021. Each earbud only weighed 5 grams, making the wearable perfect for users with active lifestyles. Equipped with 2-way dynamic speakers, Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and a new machine learning-based solution that responded to different noise levels, the Galaxy Buds2 effectively blocked out background noise during phone calls to deliver a clear voice to the person on the other line.

Since earbuds are used throughout the day, the Galaxy Buds2 offered ear tips in three sizes and an Earbud Fit Test to ensure users could comfortably wear the device for long periods. If the earbuds didn’t fit snugly, the test result would indicate a “poor fit” and give users instructions on how to adjust. The Auto Switch feature allowed users to freely and conveniently switch connection between their Galaxy devices including smartphones, watches or tablets without disconnecting their Galaxy Buds2 each time.

[2022] Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Taking Immersive Sound to the Next Level: An Expansion of Seamless Connectivity

Released in August 2022, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro offered the most immersive sound experience in the Galaxy Buds series. Complete with High-Dynamic Range and wireless 24-bit high fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio, the earbuds reimagined how users listen to music. The 360 Audio Recording feature allowed users to vividly capture surrounding sound on smartphone-recorded videos, delivering multi-dimensional audio that makes users feel as if they are actually inside the video.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds were designed to be 15% smaller with an ergonomic design, so users could watch media content more comfortably. Extending beyond the realm of mobile devices, the wearable “can” be connected to a Samsung TV but can automatically connect to a paired smartphone if a call is received while watching. When the call “is” finished, the earbuds would seamlessly reconnect to the TV.

The Next-Generation Galaxy Buds Will Be…

This February, Samsung released a software update for the Galaxy Buds series. Now, users can enjoy the Galaxy S24 series’ AI technology along with various other hands-free AI features on the Galaxy Buds series. In addition, the update strengthened the Samsung device ecosystem experience by connecting the Galaxy Buds series to more products including the Galaxy Book4 series, Samsung TVs and more.

Though sound cannot be seen, it has the power to evoke emotions, trigger memories and stimulate people. As the Galaxy Buds series constantly evolves to reflect the values and needs of users, Samsung is changing the listening experience by delivering earbuds with comfortable wearability that produce quality sound and expand connectivity. The Galaxy Buds series will continue to serve as a friendly medium — allowing users to enter a new world of sound every time they wear their earbuds.

Humans are hardwired to respond to music. When we hear a beat, we start to tap our feet, bob our head and before you know it, we woah, we wave, we renegade, then we put it up on the Gram or TikTok. Whether you own the dance floor or have two left feet, join Samsung’s #Tap2TheBeat movement and just unleash your inner beast.

Samsung is releasing a Galaxy Buds2 Pro song with choreographed dance moves by Mingaling (@mingaling26), Yuki (@yuki_dance_), Jabir Meftah (@jabirmeftah) and Caedon (@caedonyeong).

You can be part of this movement too! All you have to do is record a video of yourself dancing to these moves using the #Tap2TheBeat filter on Instagram, post it with the hashtags #Tap2TheBeat #GalaxyBuds2Pro and tag @samsungmalaysia with your profile set to public.

You can get creative with your video using the choreographed dance or show off any moves that resonate with your passions in these categories – Music, Dance, Fun & Fit and Fashion.

Submission your videos today! Samsung will be selecting the best videos and releasing it as a compilation video, so be sure you break down your best moves!

Good moves require good music and good music requires good earbuds. Get lost in the music when you put on your Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, which brings you the ultimate audio experience with 24-bit Hi-Fi audio, 360 Audio[1] and Active Noise Cancelling, so that you can dance like no one’s watching.

Can you keep to the beat? Join #Tap2TheBeat at https://www.samsung.com/my/offer/mobile/launch/galaxy-buds2pro-tap2thebeat/

Get your Galaxy Buds2 Pro now at https://www.samsung.com/my/audio-sound/galaxy-buds/galaxy-buds2-pro-bora-purple-sm-r510nlvaxme/

[1] Available only on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets with Android One UI version 3.1 or later. 360 Audio and head tracking support may vary depending on the application and content. Enhanced head tracking and Direct Multi-channel is supported with Android One UI version 4.1.1 or later.

To help you decide, below is a quick comparison of Galaxy Buds series:

Side-by-side Galaxy Buds Comparison

To purchase the Galaxy Buds, kindly visit:

Galaxy Buds2: https://www.samsung.com/my/audio-sound/galaxy-buds/galaxy-buds2-lavender-sm-r177nlvaxme/ 

Galaxy Buds Pro: https://www.samsung.com/my/audio-sound/galaxy-buds/galaxy-buds-pro-violet-sm-r190nzvaxme/

Galaxy Buds Live: https://www.samsung.com/my/audio-sound/galaxy-buds/galaxy-buds-live-mystic-bronze-sm-r180nznaxme/

[1] Use Galaxy ‘Earbud fit test’ on Galaxy Wearable app to find your perfect silicone tip for your ears. The soft, flexible silicone tips come in 3 different sizes. Active Noise Cancelling works best with the right fit.

[2] Two-way speakers of Galaxy Buds2 are made up of a Woofer for more powerful bass, and Tweeter for clear high note. Offering six different equalizer settings (Normal, Bass Boost, Soft, Dynamic, Clear, Treble Boost), users can personalize their audio experience by adjusting the equalizer mode.

[3] A new machine learning-based solution for clear call in Galaxy Buds2 that filters out a variety of distracting background noises to maximize call clarity.

[4] Active noise canceling on Galaxy Buds2 received UL Verification for cutting external background noise by up to 98 percent.

[5] Galaxy Buds2 is protected against sweat and water splash when tilted up to 15 degrees vertically.

[6] Galaxy Buds2 and case provide up to 20 hours of battery life when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength, and other factors. Play time may vary based on settings.

[7] Active Noise Canceling (ANC) on Galaxy Buds Pro cuts external background noise by up to 99%, backed by UL Verification.

[8] Available only on mobile devices running Android One UI version 3.1 or later. 360 Audio and Dolby Head Tracking support may vary depending on app and content.

[9] Galaxy Buds Pro must be connected to a Galaxy device with a data network or Wi-Fi connection to fully operate Bixby features; Samsung Account login also required. Bixby only recognizes certain accents and dialects of English (UK), English (US), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China), Spanish (Spain) and Portuguese (Brazil).

[10] IPX7 is based on laboratory test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Charging case is not water resistant. If the earbuds are damaged, they are not guaranteed to be water resistant. If the earbuds or your hands are wet, they must be dried thoroughly prior to handling or placing into the charging case. If placed into the charging case without drying, the earbuds may be damaged.

[11] Galaxy Buds Pro and case provide up to 18 hours of battery life with ANC ON and up to 28 hours of battery life with ANC OFF, when the case is charged to 100%. Actual battery life and charging time may vary by usage conditions, number of times charged and many other factors.

[12] Galaxy Buds Live and case provide up to 21 hours of battery life the charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Audio playback time tested by pairing a pre-production Galaxy Buds Live to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with settings (Active Noise Cancellation on, Bixby voice wake-up off). Actual battery life and charging time may vary by usage conditions, number of times charged and many other factors.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked six inspiring colleagues from Samsung Malaysia to share what motivates them and the technology that empowers them to succeed. Here are their stories.

Khaizanita Binti Zakaria, Power Woman

Leading a team in a fast paced industry while managing a family requires a strong set of skills. Khaizanita understands the demands she has to meet on a daily basis and believes today’s women are amazing.

“We wear so many different hats today as a worker, supervisor, team player, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, tax payer, hence our ability to multitask is far greater. Our lives may be split between being the loving, caring, supportive woman domestically and the leader at work,” said Khaizanita.

Helping her manage work and life is the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G that lets her multitask with ease. With the Z Fold3’s Flex mode features, she can join a video call using the devices top screen while checking her meeting notes on the bottom, making her work efficiently and effectively.

She’s also relies on the Jet Bot AI+ to keep her home clean. The smart robotic vacuum cleaner uses cutting-edge object-recognition technology to scan an object and expertly navigate around the house. Using the SmartThings App[1] on her Galaxy Z Fold3, she can schedule which rooms to clean. Giving her more time to spend with family instead of chores.

Angel Ng Xin Ying, Next Gen Storyteller

Dancer and content creator, Angel believes young women should be fearless and always take a chance to learn and try new things.

“Now is the time to try, explore and improve on your interests, soft and hard skills. Women today should no longer be judged on certain things that were considered unwomanly in the past.”

Angel’s Galaxy S21 FE and her Galaxy Watch4 are her favourite products to make her everyday epic. ­­

“I currently love the S21 FE the most, mainly because of its aesthetic and camera. Plus, the lavender pastel version is one of my favourite colours! It has enhanced my content creation as I can now produce beautiful content and record dance covers that look professional and flawless.”

“I’m also really amazed with the Galaxy Watch4’s ability to measure body composition conveniently. I believe I’m healthier than ever before now. I try to avoid sitting the whole day at work, as the watch will remind me to move around between hours”, said Angel.

Emma Ho, Avid Explorer

Avid reader, Emma Ho seeks to learn and explore the world as much as possible. She understands that life experiences can shape our perspectives.

“It’s important to recognise that we all have different realities. My reality in urban KL is very different from the reality of a woman in rural Kelantan, for example. As much as our similarities matter, so do our differences. What I would like, moving forward, is for women to empathise with and understand each other better. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be much credibility when we claim to speak or demand on behalf of women.”

Emma is working on the roll-out of an exciting new product for Malaysians, which she believes will help them see their world in a different perspective, more or less.

“The Freestyle is the world’s first, truly personal projector. I owned a projector back when I was in university, but no way does it compare to the technology that we have now. The portability and versatility of The Freestyle breaks the boundaries of traditional screens and enables you to invent and enjoy new methods of entertainment.”

Suzanna Ng, Travel Enthusiast

When she’s not travelling the world and learning about new cultures, Suzanna is at the forefront of a fast changing industry where she constantly seeks new opportunities for growth. The nature of the environment means she’s constantly improving and learning.

“Samsung is at the forefront of an ever-changing industry. So I’ve been given a great opportunity to grow into my potential and am constantly seeking to improve and stay relevant. I enjoy working on track towards our overall objective,” said Suzanna.

To help her stay on track, she has her functional yet stylish Galaxy Z Flip3 5G that lets her express her individuality while multitasking to the next level. With the Multi-Active Window feature, she can play a video, look up the information in it and respond to her team all at the same time. Its compact form, various colour options and accessories allow her to customise her device to express herself.

Qistina Binti Zainir, Fearless Skater

When she’s not roller skating in the park, Qistina is getting her skates on as a Management Associate in Samsung Malaysia. She passionately believes women must continue to speak strongly, to bring issues that affect them to the forefront.

“Today we’re not immediately or completely shut down from speaking about women’s issues more publicly, more casually, and more regularly. It’s liberating to be able to educate the people around me as a result of the ability to speak more freely about women’s issues.”

Qistina’s go-to product is her Galaxy Buds Pro which she pairs with her Galaxy A52s 5G.

“I’m quite a fan of the Galaxy Buds Pro. The sound quality is pretty amazing and the housing is small and compact so it’s easy to carry around. The Active Noise Cancelling feature immensely upgrades my content watching experience!” said Qistina.

Agnes Wong, Dedicated Achiever

To make her mark in a fast-paced environment, Agnes understands the challenges and rewards that come with working in a major brand that’s reshaping the world.

“To be successful in a cutting edge company, I have to love variety, I have to be entrepreneurial and explore different possibilities and I have to modify and improve on the ways I tackle problems. This is the exciting part of my job – doing things that haven’t been done before and continuously pushing the envelope,” said Agnes.

To power through her day, Agnes relies on her Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G which is equipped with the latest 4nm processor, so she can enjoy unrivaled performance on her most-used apps, for work or entertainment. The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G’s powerful battery also ensures she has full day of use in a single charge.

And when she needs a larger screen for work, she can use Quick Share with the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra to share photos, videos and devices between devices fast and seamlessly. Giving her the tools to do more.

She adds, “Women are resilient. No matter what life throws at us, we rise above and thrive.”

[1] Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

With so much content available at our fingertips, wireless earphones have a unique ability to improve users’ daily lives. Packed with cutting edge software and hardware, wireless earbuds have become an “all-in-one” audio solution that deliver a rich sound experience no matter where you are.

The well-loved Galaxy Buds series has returned with the powerful Galaxy Buds Pro, offering a new standard for wireless earphones. With cleaner call quality, active noise canceling, and a comfortable ergonomic design, Galaxy Buds Pro bring listeners closer to their audio than ever before. We were curious to find out what would happen when an audio expert tried out Galaxy Buds Pro, so Samsung Newsroom sat down with Sung Yonjin, editor-in-chief of “High-Fi Magazine,” to find out his thoughts on Samsung’s newest earphones.

Capturing the Texture of Sound for Clearer Audio Quality

The most important feature for earphones will always be their sound quality. With dynamic vocal range, and an organic, smooth balance for natural sounding audio across genres, Galaxy Buds Pro’s biggest advantage is clean, clear sound.

These earphones really delivered on the low pitches, with drum kicks hitting clear and punchy. Their ability to deliver on the deep sounds makes them perfect for tracks with heavy bass. Sounds in the middle range were warm and rich, while the high-pitched sounds carried surprising detail and openness. Where Galaxy Buds Pro really shined was in capturing things like sharp but fine vocals and the texture of violins without missing any of their warmth.

Galaxy Buds Pro also have an excellent ability to recreate the spatiality of sound. In the case of classical music, they reenacted the sound of deep brass instruments and the voice of a choir all while capturing the feeling of hearing the music in a concert hall. At the same time, they proved able to deliver on the minute details of a performance with clarity.

Dual concentric drivers also play a major role in delivering a sense of space with Galaxy Buds Pro. The earbuds are equipped with a two-way driver consisting of 6.5mm tweeter and 11mm woofer. Samsung has developed an all-in-one two-way driver that places the tweeter at the center of the woofer, improving sound efficiency and raising sound quality to a new level. Galaxy Buds Pro prove that wireless earbuds can deliver clean and clear studio-like sound.

Active Noise Canceling: Hear the Sounds You Want, Not the Ones you Don’t

Galaxy Buds Pro are loaded with functions that help deliver an immersive sound experience, but perhaps the most notable is Active Noise Canceling.

A must-have feature for high-performance wireless earphones, Galaxy Buds Pro do Active Noise Canceling especially well by allowing users to focus on the audio they want without feeling like they’re simply having their ears plugged.

The beauty of Galaxy Buds Pro’s natural noise canceling comes through in the low-pitch range. Active Noise Canceling works to cancel out unwanted sounds by generating sound waves that have the same wavelength as the external noise but move in the opposite direction. While other earphones tend to focus on eliminating noise in the mid-to-low band frequency, Galaxy Buds Pro cover a wider spectrum, eliminating unwanted sounds in the high-pitch range as well. At 118Hz, 99 percent of noise was removed, leaving only a clean sound no matter what your taste in music calls for.

Smart Conversation Detection and Better Call Quality

We’ve all struggled through that awkward moment of removing our headphones and interrupting our music to talk with someone. Galaxy Buds Pro take a unique approach to solving this problem. Equipped with a conversation detecting function, they automatically turn on Ambient Sound by recognizing your voice when you start speaking. This makes it possible to communicate with people around you even when your music is playing. If Galaxy Buds Pro then detect that you haven’t spoken in a while, they’ll assume your conversation has ended and go back to Active Noise Canceling. They can even adjust external volume levels, so small sounds can be amplified to a maximum of 20 dB if necessary, much like how a hearing aid works.

There is also a noticeable improvement in call quality. Galaxy Buds Pro use three microphones to get the job done, including a high-sensitivity microphone and voice pickup unit. When used indoors, they matched the quality of a speaker and microphone on a smartphone, and when used in noisier environments like subways and buses, it was still possible to have clean and clear calls without a drop in quality. Meanwhile, Galaxy Buds Pro’s windshield chamber and mesh coverings also stop wind from cutting through your calls, allowing you to talk worry free, even if you find yourself in some harsh weather.

Game Mode & 360 Audio: Immersive Viewing & Gaming Experience

The job of earbuds has grown more complicated in recent years. Users demand more than just crisp call quality and rich music experiences as they also seek better audio for games and movies. Galaxy Buds Pro are uniquely equipped to meet those demands with the Game Mode that reduces the delay time often felt when using Bluetooth devices, so that your game screen and sound remain perfectly in sync. Features like Sound Play set the Buds Pro apart when it comes to live gaming situations where accurate real-time audio is crucial to the experience.

The 360 Audio feature also adds a sense of immersion while watching movies and other videos. The technology tracks the movement of the user’s head, so it can accurately arrange sound on a virtual landscape. This ensures that sound remains centered and accurate, and that the user stays immersed in the experience even when moving around.

With their comfortable fit, best-in-class sound quality, unique design, and a long list of functions, Galaxy Buds Pro are the perfect companion for users that want to immerse themselves deep into their audio experiences —anytime, anywhere.

*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of Samsung Electronics.

Today, this technology is known as noise cancelation technology, and is used around the world in headphones and earbuds to help people focus on the music, podcasts and other audio that they want to hear while blocking out the sounds that they don’t.

Putting Sound Waves to Work

Simply putting on any pair of earphones will block outside noise to some extent. But unless you completely seal off your ear, it is impossible to stop outside noise filtering in and interrupting your audio experience. In order to understand the process of capturing and filtering the noise that leaks in that is key to noise cancelation technologies, it is necessary to first look at how sound waves work and how they are transmitted into your ear.

Sound waves are produced by vibrations which then travel long-distance through a surrounding medium to reach your ear. The most common example of this is the air around us. The reason why we can effortlessly carry on a conversation in a café is the same reason we cannot hear sound in space – it is dependent on the presence of air as a medium.

Noise cancelation works by harnessing the unique characteristics of these sound waves and their medium. The first method for canceling noise is called Active Noise Canceling (ANC), which works by creating its own noise-like waves that work to offset the unwanted noises entering your ears from outside. The second method is called Passive Noise Canceling (PNC), which blocks outside noise from entering your ear by limiting the mediums through which the sound is delivered.

Active Noise Canceling: Using Sound Waves to Offset Sound Waves

It is said that the most effective tool to cut a diamond is with another diamond. Similarly, sound waves can be offset or even canceled by other sound waves. Just like the waves we see in the ocean, sound waves have peaks (the highest point) and troughs (the lowest point). When sound waves with the same distance from peak to trough come from different directions and collide with each other, the respective peaks and troughs clash, leaving the sound wave at a near zero value.

ANC uses this principle of destructive interference to cancel out unwanted sounds before they reach your ears. Sounds from outside are collected through an external microphone mounted inside the earphone. The earphone uses its internal circuits to analyze those sounds and then replicates them to produce sound waves that are similar to the unwanted external sound but that move in the opposite direction. Through this process, the earphone cancels out the unwanted sound waves before they can reach your ears.

Because ANC uses collected sound and responds based on analysis of this outside noise, noise cancelation takes place regularly and continuously. If the earphone picks up a sound that is similar to a noise it has analyzed previously, a reverse wavelength can be emitted at the exact right time in order to eliminate the unwanted noise. This is why this sound offsetting technology is highly effective in places where the background noise is consistent, for example on an airplane or a busy subway. On the other hand, ANC can be less effective in cases where the external noises are random and more difficult to predict, such as during a conversation between two people or when a sudden noise is emitted unexpectedly.

ANC is more effective at mitigating low pitch sounds than it is high pitch sounds. The system requires time to analyze external noises, and that potential time delay can affect how well it offsets external sound and how much external noise the user hears. In other words, unwanted external sounds might come in faster than the ANC can cancel them out. “In the case of bass sounds, which have a relatively long wavelength, the gap between the peak and trough of the waves is wide(more time gap), so a slight lag in the offset timing will not impact the quality of ANC,” noted Kim. “However, high-pitch sounds with short wavelengths have a shorter gap between the peak and trough points, meaning that even a small delay can make it hard for the ANC to match the waveforms up correctly, causing ANC performance degradation.”

Passive Noise Canceling: Stopping Sound in Its Tracks

When they hear a sound they don’t like, most people cover their ears – this is because this is by far the easiest way to block out noise. Since sound waves travel the air to reach your ear, the sound cannot properly enter the ear if there are obstacles, such as hands, in the way. This is also why communication underwater is so difficult, given the amount of water in the way between a noise’s source and a person’s ears.

This is essentially how PNC works. PNC-enabled earphones are designed to physically block noise out by closing the ear off from its surroundings or using a sponge that absorbs sound. Headphones with over-ear padding covering the entire ear and in-ear earphones that completely block the entrance to the ear are some of the best examples of PNC technology.

Unlike ANC, which requires microphones and analytical circuits to offset unwanted noise, PNC earphones are fairly easy to make, making them generally cheaper than ANC earphones. Furthermore, if PNC earphones have been made to fit the shape of your ear perfectly, they can block outside noise almost entirely, making them more practically effective than ANC earphones. However, as PNC headphones fit right into the ear canal, some users can find these kinds of earphones uncomfortable to use.

Putting Safety First in Noise Cancelation

In the end, it is not just the noise cancelation technique that matters when it comes to cutting out those unwanted sounds, but also the shape of the earphones themselves. Up until now, most noise-canceling earphones were produced as canal-type earphones since this shape fits right into your ear compared to open-type earphones, which leave more space around the ear and are subsequently less effective at noise cancelation. Open-type earphones have rarely been equipped with noise cancelation technology, but when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Live on August 5, the company expanded users’ options by applying ANC technology to an open-type wireless earphone.

While noise cancelation technology can help you fully immerse yourself in your music or better focus on an audiobook, it can also present dangers if you cannot hear exactly what is going on around you. “It is difficult to recognize a dangerous situation when wearing earphones with noise cancelation technology as they block out all surrounding sounds,” noted Professor Kim. The volume inside a pair of earphones can reach up to 70 to 80 dBspl¹ – the same as a car horn – but since the sound from a user’s earphones is much closer to a user and more immersive, it is easy for a user to become insensitive to external noises. On top of this, the activation of ANC technology further reduces external noise by around 30 dB while maintaining the sound in the earphones at 70 to 80 dBspl, making it more difficult for users to detect any auditory signs of danger.

When using their noise-canceling headphones, users need to keep their own safety top of mind and have a good understanding of the situations in which they are using their earphones. If you are looking to enjoy your favorite audio indoors, earphones that feature effective noise cancelation are a great choice. However, if you enjoy using your earphones while doing outdoor activities such as jogging, you should be sure to stay mindful of your surroundings at all times and choose earphones that offer a reasonable level of noise cancelation, allowing you to stay aware of the world around you.

¹ Decibel (dB) is originally a relative unit of measurement, representing the difference between the level of a base measurement and that of comparison. When used in the context of sound, 0 dB is defined as the lowest sound level a person can hear and is used as an absolute measure (dBspl = dB + sound pressure level (‘spl’)). In other words, dB is used both when representing the difference between the sound of people conversing in comparison to that of a car horn and when expressing the sound of the car horn in absolute terms, but the latter simply omits ‘spl’ from dB.