Samsung’s latest wearables, the Galaxy Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Ring, boast the latest Bluetooth 5.4 standard. But what does that mean for you, the user? Honestly, not much.
Bluetooth 5.4 doesn’t offer any significant benefits over Bluetooth 5.3 when it comes to your everyday experience. The new standard mainly focuses on security and retail features, like electronic shelf labels. So, unless you’re a retailer, you won’t notice any differences.
But let’s dive deeper into what Bluetooth 5.4 actually offers. The new core specification adds features that relate to security and ESL (Electronic Shelf Labels). ESL devices are used by retailers to display pricing information on store shelves. These new Bluetooth 5.4 features bring no benefits to the Galaxy Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, or Galaxy Ring, for obvious reasons. But Samsung used the latest standard anyway, which isn’t a bad thing.
With Bluetooth 5.4, you get the same great characteristics Bluetooth 5.3 has. If you are presently using a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds, which support Bluetooth 5.3, you won’t get any Bluetooth-related advantages by switching to the Galaxy Buds 3 or Buds 3 Pro. However, if you are using a pair of older wireless earbuds based on Bluetooth 5.2, such as the Galaxy Buds FE and Buds 2, you will benefit from upgrading to Bluetooth 5.4, just as you would from Bluetooth 5.3.
The newer standards above Bluetooth 5.2 have lower latency, suffer less interference when other Bluetooth devices are nearby, and boast lower energy consumption. This means that your earbuds will have a more stable connection, won’t get disrupted by other devices, and will last longer on a single charge.
But here’s the thing: the benefits of Bluetooth 5.4 are only noticeable if you’re using a device that supports it. If you’re using an older phone or tablet that only supports Bluetooth 5.2, you won’t get the advantages of Bluetooth 5.4 even if you have a device that supports it.
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It’s also worth noting that Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5.4-based S3 Gen 2 Sound Platform doesn’t seem to be used in Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 series. This platform boasts a lower latency of less than 20ms, but that’s not a standard Bluetooth 5.4 feature. Instead, it’s a Qualcomm optimization that requires specific hardware and software support.
So, unless Samsung borrowed a page from Qualcomm’s book and worked some magic under the hood, Bluetooth 5.4 shouldn’t bring any latency benefits to the Galaxy Buds 3 series compared to version 5.3 on the Buds 2 Pro.
In conclusion, Bluetooth 5.4 is a nice-to-have feature, but it’s not a game-changer. If you’re already using a device with Bluetooth 5.3, you won’t notice any differences by upgrading to Bluetooth 5.4. But if you’re using an older device with Bluetooth 5.2, upgrading to Bluetooth 5.4 will bring you some nice benefits.
It’s worth noting that Samsung’s decision to use Bluetooth 5.4 in their latest wearables is still a good thing, even if it doesn’t bring any significant benefits. It shows that Samsung is committed to using the latest technology in their devices, even if it’s not a major selling point.
In the end, the Galaxy Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Ring are still great devices with a lot to offer. They have great sound quality, long battery life, and sleek designs. So, even if Bluetooth 5.4 isn’t a major selling point, these devices are still worth considering if you’re in the market for a new pair of wireless earbuds or a smartwatch.
