Theres no way around it: Samsung copied Apple in multiple ways on its Galaxy Buds 3 ($180) and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($250). Not only do the physical designs echo the third-gen AirPods and AirPods Pro, respectively, but Samsung also mirrored a few features, too. The Galaxy Buds offer Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Adaptive EQ and Voice Detect, which just happen to do the same thing as Apple's Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. And just like Apple does with AirPods and iOS, the best features here are reserved for recent Samsung devices. If you have a newer Galaxy phone, that's the saving grace of these earbuds: They're the de facto AirPods you've probably always wanted.
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro design
The Galaxy Buds 3 are the most obvious AirPods copycat of the pair, sharing a striking resemblance to the third-generation regular model that Apple debuted in 2021. The shape and location of the speaker and other components are but two examples of the replication on display here. Samsungs blade design for the stem does offer some variation, but not a ton, and theres a gray option for more contrast. On the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, theres a lot of resemblance to the AirPods Pro. Once more, the angular nature of the stem and the gray color are the two biggest differentiators.
Samsungs blade stem accepts both swipes to adjust volume and pinches for playback and noise controls. While the sliding action works well, the pinching takes some getting used to. My tendency is to place my index finger on the flat panel opposite the back side where you pinch, but that doesnt provide enough pressure to activate the controls. Instead, you have to wrap your finger around the blade to hold it in place. Once you figure out how to grip them securely, pressing on them is a much easier task.
The case for both Galaxy Buds 3 models has a similar shape to that of the AirPods, but Samsungs choice to go with a clear lid creates some separation, and I liked being able to see if the buds were inside without having to open it. Samsung also put the USB-C port and the Bluetooth pairing button on the bottom where Apple puts the latter component on the back of the case.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Apple's AirPods Pro.
Billy Steele for Engadget
One weird thing about the case is how the earbuds sit in it. When you take the Galaxy Buds 3 out of your ears, you have to rotate them 180 degrees to put them in the case. This doesnt sound like a huge inconvenience until you have to do it a few times a day. Samsung did this to make the Blade Lights visible when the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are in the case, which, to me, doesnt justify the annoyance.
Speaking of the Blade Lights, lets discuss that design choice. Theyre completely unnecessary. As the user, you only see them when the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are in the case. In that position, they function as a second indicator that the earbuds are in pairing mode, which isnt needed because the case already has its own LED for purpose on the front. You can set them to stay on when youre wearing them, or either fade in/out or blink, but Im not personally into drawing more attention to my earbuds.
Both sets in the Galaxy Buds 3 series are IP57 rated so theyll withstand sweaty workouts with no problems. However, the Pro version is the better option for activities as the ear tip helps keep them in place when moisture comes into play. What's more, I didnt encounter any discomfort with either Galaxy Buds 3 model when wearing them for hours at a time. They both remained comfortable and I never felt like I was enduring some degree of pain to keep them in.
Samsung is also dealing with some quality control issues on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Its nothing to do with functionality, but the company paused shipments due to overly fragile ear tips. This component has a tendency to tear when you remove them from the earbuds, which is a problem if you need to go back to a pair of tips you were using previously. Since the Galaxy Buds 3 dont use these, theyre not affected. Ive asked Samsung for an update on the ear tip saga and will update this review when theres more info.
Notable features
Billy Steele for Engadget
Besides design, Samsung also took a page from Apple when it comes to features on the Galaxy Buds 3 series. First, both models have Adaptive EQ ad Adaptive ANC two key tools on AirPods. These features constantly monitor sound and adjust both the tuning and the noise cancellation based on what you encounter. They mostly run in the background and the only time you might notice a change is when music or a podcast suddenly seems slightly louder because of the earbuds doing their thing.
Samsung went a step further on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with some more advanced features. Adaptive Noise Control automatically adjusts a mix of ANC and ambient sound based on your surroundings while Voice Detect will lower the volume and activate transparency mode when you start speaking. As noted above, these are basically Samsungs take on Apples Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness features, respectively. Theres also a Siren Detect that does the same auto volume reduction and ambient sound thing when it hears an emergency vehicle.
All of these work as described, but I would like the volume reduction and activating ambient sound to happen simultaneously. Instead, the volume lowers and then a couple seconds later transparency mode kicks in. So, once you start talking, you might feel the need to speak louder until you can hear yourself better when the full capability of Voice Detect kicks in. Additionally, Im happy to report that Voice Detect isnt easily triggered by coughing like comparable features on other earbuds tend to be. The Galaxy Buds 3 series voice features also accommodate simple commands without pressing any buttons or muttering a trigger word. You can just say things like "play music," "volume up" or "answer call" for basic tasks. These work well once you memorize the accepted phrases, like the fact that "stop music" works but not "pause music."
The Galaxy Buds 3 series also has a Real-Time Interpreter akin to what Google offers on its Pixel Buds. In Samsung's case, the feature can read and translate other languages. When the tool is active, you can pinch and hold the stem and the setup with continue to interpret while someone is talking. The downside is this whole thing currently requires a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Flip 6 as those are the only phones running One UI 6.1.1. Due to this, I wasn't able to test it as my companion device is an S24 Ultra.
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound quality
Billy Steele for Engadget
The Galaxy Buds 3 offer solid audio performance, mainly due to a pleasant amount of low-end tone. The bass tuning here provides a nice backbone to songs and keeps pace with the punchy highs and full mids. That said, how the Galaxy Buds 3 sit in my ears affects overall sound quality. I could make them sound a little better with a small positioning adjustment, but thats not how theyd rest on their own.
If sound quality is your primary concern though, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the better option. Samsungs choice to use two-way speakers and dual amplifiers creates deep sound thats immersive and detailed. Youll get the best performance from a recent Samsung phone where you can employ Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio and 24-bit HiFi. The higher-resolution streaming is also available on the Galaxy Buds 3, but its better suited to the Pro model. Both models also offer 360 Audio with direct multi-channel support. However, I dont think that particular mode sounds good on either set of earbuds. The audio is thin and favors treble, making it less balanced, zapping the oomph out of the excellent bass tone.
When you deploy the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at their maximum potential with lossless audio, you get robust, enveloping sound that rivals some of the best earbuds Ive tested. I still prefer the tuning of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 to these, but Samsung has really flexed its muscle here. Theres beefy bass when a track like Balance and Composures Cross To Bear demands it, but the echo-y guitars and vocals cut through cleanly. Plus, theres ample fine detail in the texture of the bass line and the crisp drum sounds.
Active noise cancellation performance
The Galaxy Buds 3 have ANC even though they are open-type earbuds that dont completely seal off your ears. Samsung has done this before on previous models and I still dont understand why. The ANC on this model is more like slight noise reduction as it barely makes a difference with any background ruckus you might encounter. Im guessing Samsung read the reports about Apple bringing ANC to an upcoming version of its regular AirPods and felt like it needed to beat Apple to the punch. Either way, if you want true, helpful noise-canceling earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the better option here.
You wont find ANC performance that rivals Bose and Sony on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but the noise-blocking ability is good enough to combat a low-to-moderate constant roar. The earbuds struggle mightily with human voices, which is a stumbling block for a lot of the competition. I will point out that transparency mode works really well, providing a natural option for ambient sound that almost rises to the level of the AirPods Pro. I think Apple still has the upper hand there, but Samsung has done well to give us something that makes calls easier and doesnt make environmental noise sound overly muted when you actually want to hear it.
Call quality
Billy Steele for Engadget
The quality of transparency mode on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro makes them a great option for hands-free calls. You can chat without feeling like you need to shout to hear yourself. The open nature of the Galaxy Buds 3 also makes them a solid choice for voice and video for you, the user. For the person on the other end, youll sound slightly better than if you were on speakerphone on both sets, which is about average for earbuds these days. It isnt pristine, but it gets the job done in most circumstances.
Battery life on the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Both the Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro had no trouble hitting Samsungs stated battery figures during my tests. Thats five hours for the former and six hours for the latter, and I tested them with ANC on and the volume between 50 and 75 percent. Each model gets around 20 additional hours of noise-canceling use from the case. The cases for both models support wireless charging, but Samsung doesnt mention any expected times for full charging from zero or any quick-charge features that might be available. Ive asked the company for more details here and Ill update this review f theres more to share.
The competition
Despite all of the comparisons to AirPods that Samsung has heaped upon itself, Apples earbuds arent the main competition for the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Thats because Apple headphones arent good choices for Android users because the company reserves the best features for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Samsung used to cater to iOS users, but it took the same walled garden approach of its rival. Galaxy Buds will work with your iPhone, but without all the bells and whistles.
Instead, Sonys WF-1000XM5 is the best alternative to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Android and iOS users both get access to the most attractive features, which include Speak-to-Chat voice recognition, DSEE Extreme audio upscaling and automatic settings adjustments based on either activity or location. iPhone users only miss out on head tracking. The 1000XM5 is more comfortable than its predecessor thanks to a smaller overall design and battery life is longer than both Samsung and Apple at eight hours with ANC on.
Wrap-up
Ill be honest, when Samsung revealed two sets of earbuds that bear resemblance to two models of AirPods, I wasnt expecting much in terms of performance. However, the company certainly surprised me. Audio quality is great on both sets of Galaxy Buds 3, though the Pro model nears spectacular in its sonic capabilities. Samsung could use some more polish on its features like Voice Detect, but the company clearly sees the value in giving its Galaxy phone customers an analogous experience to what iPhone users get with AirPods. Ultimately, though, the companys previous earbuds were good on their own merits. Samsung would be better served by making the next version of Galaxy Buds stand out because of their own unique features, rather than just aping the AirPods across the board.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-3-and-galaxy-buds-3-pro-review-airpods-clones-that-actually-deliver-171024116.html?src=rss
Google is making its Gemini AI faster and more efficient across the board. You now have access to 1.5 Flash, its generative AI model designed to be able to generate responses more quickly and efficiently, even if you're not paying for Gemini Advanced. The company says you'll notice improvements in latency, as well as the tool's reasoning and image understanding, on both the web and mobile.
In addition, it's expanding the AI assistant's context window, so that you can have longer conversations with it and ask it more complex questions. In the near future, Google will also give you the ability to upload files to Gemini from Google Drive or from your device. If you give it access to your notes, for instance, it will be able to create a study guide or a practice exam for you. Plus, the assistant will be able to analyze data and make it easier to digest with graphics and charts.
As part of its work to reduce hallucinations, Google is now displaying links to related content if you ask it questions that require factual answers. It will display a "gray chip" at the end of a paragraph in its response that links to websites where you can read more about the topic. Those chips could even lead to your emails, if you've linked Gemini to your Gmail account. The feature is currently limited to select locations for English prompts only.
The company is making Gemini more accessible overall, as well. It has started gradually rolling out Gemini in Google Messages for Android devices in the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the UK and Switzerland. You'll now also be able to chat with Gemini in French, Polish and Spanish within the Messages app. Finally, Google is expanding access to Gemini's mobile app to more regions and is giving more teenagers the ability to use the AI tool. As long as you meet its minimum age requirement of 13, you'll be able to chat with the assistant. Google has even introduced a teen-specific onboarding process and an AI literacy guide, so you can get an idea on how to use the tool to accomplish your tasks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-gives-free-gemini-users-access-to-its-faster-lighter-15-flash-ai-model-160006705.html?src=rss
There's nothing quite like a summer in Montreal. After several brutal winter months, the city bursts to life and its residents make the very most of the warmer weather. Été (French for "summer") is a relaxing slice-of-life game that deftly captures the essence of Montreal at this time of year, warts and all.
You play as an artist who is spending the summer in La Metropole. The first order of business is to set up an easel in your apartment, which has little else but a mattress in it, no thanks to your somewhat brusk landlord. Once you have learned the basic controls, it's time to explore your new surroundings.
This version of Montreal is effectively your canvas. It's colorless at first, almost as if it's covered in snow. You can fill this world with watercolor, a little at a time. Developer Impossible pulls off a smart trick here as each object you color becomes a stamp that you can use in your paintings your artist character is literally taking inspiration from the world around them.
I spent several hours ignoring the main missions and exploring the various levels, enjoying myself as I restored color to a market, alleyway, front yard and park. Just like moving into a new city or neighborhood, the more I explored (and colored in) the world around me, the easier it became to navigate. And as with much of life in this city, you do things at your own pace.
While the narrative is fairly paint-by-numbers, the characters of Été are surprisingly rich for such a short game (it would only take a few hours to beat by focusing on the main story). Montreal is a melting pot and the game does a deft job of reflecting that in its NPCs. The characters you encounter may be gruff, friendly or a mix of both, and you'll run into more than a few arguments.
Impossible
Talking to the people you encounter is a smart idea, since they'll often commission you to paint something for them with specific elements included. So if you've yet to find all the letters and symbols for an "I heart MTL" T-shirt, you'll need to hunt down and paint them first so you can use them as stamps. You have a lot of scope in how to create these commissioned pieces, as well as custom ones to hang in your apartment or sell at a cafe. You can use the money you earn to furnish your residence something I didn't really bother with in my playthrough.
My favorite aspect of Été is just the brilliant job Impossible has done of distilling recognizable aspects of life in Montreal into an abstract world. Fairmount Bagel (the best bagel shop on the planet) is instantly recognizable, as is an approximation of a famous flower shop that has many, many bird cages dangling from the apartment balconies above it.
You'll run into kids playing hockey in an alleyway. You'll find someone making Canada Day decorations while complaining about a neighbor who's doing the same thing for Quebec's national holiday. The cafe culture, second-hand furniture stores and wonderful farmer's markets are all present and correct. Even the city's anti-capitalist movement gets its own subplot. Impossible has nailed much of what makes the city so special.
Impossible
Unfortunately, there are no festivals, even though the real Montreal has a ton running simultaneously at this time of year. Old Montreal a historic, heavily European-influenced neighborhood by the river that's like catnip for tourists is overlooked as well. But it would be tough for the developers to factor in everything that makes the city so great.
As someone who lives in Montreal, Été is a gorgeous reminder of what's right outside my doorstep. I should maybe go drink more of that in, even just to watch the world pass by from a terrasse as I paint the final few corners of this sumptuous fictional version of the same thing on my Steam Deck.
Été is out now on PC.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chill-painting-game-ete-beautifully-captures-summertime-in-montreal-152853036.html?src=rss
We knew it was coming and now its here. Disney has entered into a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer an ad-free streaming bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu and Max. The combo pack costs $30 per month, which is a savings of $6 per month when you add it all up. A Disney+ and Hulu bundle costs $20 per month and ad-free Max costs $16 per month, so this is a pretty good deal.
If you want to save even more money and dont mind lengthy ad breaks interrupting prestige dramas that werent made with advertisements in mind, theres an ad-filled version of this bundle available for $17 per month. You still get access to all of the content from the three streamers. You also get a bunch of ads. This is likely the most budget-friendly way to get your eyeballs on Game of Thrones and Star Wars content.
Speaking of, Disney+ is the home to all things Star Wars, including The Acolyte, which has proven to be a pretty big hit for the platform and a great showcase for laser sword tomfoolery. The platform is also Marvel HQ, with Agatha All Along and that new Daredevil show premiering in the near future.
In my humble opinion, Disney+ would be well-served by developing some decent shows outside of its two tentpole franchises, but thats where Hulu comes in. This streamer is home to a little global phenomenon called The Bear, in addition to the cringefest Pen15, the cartoon Solar Opposites and much more. Hulu also streams TV shows the day after they air from networks like FX and ABC. That means you can use it to watch both Shgun and Abbott Elementary.
As for Max, you know the drill. Its HBO that for some reason has been rebranded to suit some corporate mandate nobody quite understands. That means access to the iconic cable networks entire catalog, including The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire and so much more. It also streams new shows like House of the Dragon and The Regime.
Disney also owns ESPN, which is currently prepping a new streaming sports service by teaming up with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Sports. This joint operation will stream events from the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA when it launches later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/that-disney-hulu-and-max-streaming-bundle-is-now-available-152015788.html?src=rss
Pretty much every TV is a smart one these days. But perhaps you're still rocking an older model without built-in streaming functions, you don't have an external device with such capabilities or you simply don't like the interface of your smart TV. As such, a dedicated streaming device might be of interest to you. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a decent option and, best of all, it's currently 33 percent off. That brings the price down to just $40, or only $5 more than the record low it was selling for during Prime Day.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is perhaps the most capable of Amazon's streaming devices and it's pretty straightforward to use as well. You just need to plug it into a spare HDMI port on your TV or monitor to get started. As the name suggests, you can use it to stream video in 4K. The stick also has Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG support. Streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu and, of course, Prime Video are available.
You can use Alexa via the remote to search for shows and movies, or ask the assistant the kinds of questions you would of a smart speaker. The device has a 2GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of onboard storage, so it should offer decently fast performance and have plenty of space for your apps and games.
Speaking of games, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a surprisingly adept device on that front. Engadget senior reporter Jeff Dunn found it to be a solid option for emulating retro games, such as those from the PS1, NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis and even old arcade machines.
It supports cloud gaming too, and the Wi-Fi 6E connectivity is a big help there. Amazon Luna is one of the options that's available. Amazon and Microsoft also recently enabled Xbox Cloud Gaming support on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-is-back-on-sale-for-only-40-143827827.html?src=rss
Back in March, Warner Bros. Discovery's Max announced that it's extending its exclusive US streaming rights for Studio Ghibli in a new multiyear agreement. As part of that deal, Ghibli agreed to make Hayao Miyazaki's first film in a decade, The Boy and the Heron, available on Max later this year. Now, the streaming service has revealed that the fantasy adventure film will be available to stream on Max starting on September 6. To note, Studio Ghibli first embraced streaming in 2020 when it gave Netflix and Max the rights to all its films, including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro.
Written and directed by Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron revolves around a boy named Mahito who moves to his family's countryside estate after the death of his mother. It was there where he encounters a gray heron, which marks the beginning of a fantastical adventure with magic, wizards, spirits and anthropomorphic animals. Like all other Miyazaki films, The Boy and the Heron contains philosophical messages weaved into Mahito's journey as he faces the dangers of an unfamiliar world to find his ill stepmother who has disappeared into the forest.
The Boy and the Heron's English dub features some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Christian Bale voices Mahito's father Shoichi, Robert Pattinson voices the grey heron, Florence Pugh is the magical fisherwoman Kiriko while Dave Bautista voices the film's main antagonist, the Parakeet King. The cast also includes Mark Hamill, Willem Dafoe, Gemma Chan, Karen Fukuhara and Luca Padovan as Mahito. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/studio-ghiblis-the-boy-and-the-heron-arrives-on-max-in-september-140046955.html?src=rss
MacBooks are great, but if you're like me, then having to hunch over one brings back and neck pain. An iMac is a perfect though costly solution, but right now, it's a bit more affordable (emphasis on a bit). Apple's 2023 iMac with an M3 chip is down from $1,299 to $1,149 a return to its record-low price. The 12 percent discount applies to the Green, Blue and Silver models with an 8-core CPU and 256GB.
Apple released its latest iMac in late 2023 and garnered an 86 in our review. The big difference between this model and its 2021 predecessor is the M3 chip. The addition gives this latest iMac extreme speed and allows us to do anything from editing photographs to playing games without delays or hiccups.
The 24-inch iMac has a 4.5k resolution and 500nits of brightness. It also offers Apple's TrueTone technology and support for the Wide P3 color gamut. Plus, with just an 11.5mm thickness and a weight under 10 pounds, it's easy to maneuver if you work in different places of your house or need to bring it to an office space every once in a while.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-m3-imac-is-down-to-a-record-low-price-130621105.html?src=rss
It might be arriving a few months later than expected but Fallout: London is finally here. The expansion-sized mod for Fallout 4 is out now on Steam and GOG. Buying it from the latter (which has a DRM-free policy),means the mod will work with both the Steam and GOG versions of the base game. There are some caveats, though, as the launch version of Fallout: London is incompatible with the recent major Fallout 4 update.
Developer Team Folon is working to remedy that. In the meantime, you can download a pre-patched version of Fallout 4 from GOG now (the game is currently 60 percent off there). GOG and Team Folon have created a one-click installer for the mod to make it as easy as possible to jump in.
Things are a bit different on Steam, as the current version of Fallout 4 is incompatible with the mod. To play Fallout: London via that storefront, you'll have to downgrade the original game manually. That'll take a little work, but you can find a step-by-step guide on Team Folon's website.
Fallout: London features a fresh story and environments, fully-voiced characters and new weapons, factions (including Camelot knights) and gameplay features to get to grips with. A trailer (with a Cockney rhyming slang-filled voiceover from someone who sounds like they're from the Manchester area) gives a decent overview of what's in store: Fallout but with a decidedly British slant on the post-apocalypse, innit.
It took Team Folon a collective of hobbyist and professional developers over five years to craft the mod. The original plan was to release Fallout: London back in April, but Bethesda's recent patch threw a spanner in the works.
In any case, the lengthy development process looks to have fallen in Team Folon's favor. There's been a major surge in interest in Fallout since the success of the TV show that debuted on Prime Video earlier this year. Bethesda and Microsoft weren't ready to capitalize on that with a new game (though a Fallout: 76 expansion dropped last month), so Team Folon might reap the benefits.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-long-awaited-fallout-london-fan-mod-is-finally-here-130031260.html?src=rss
