exploring the Galaxy Wearable App for Galaxy Buds

I started my wireless earbuds journey with Galaxy Buds 2 and now I am continuing with Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. This app exploration post focuses on the Galaxy Wearable app used to manage devices in the Buds series.

The Galaxy Wearable app serves as an intermediary. When any Samsung wearable is connected, the app downloads the appropriate control app. Upon opening Wearable, it presents the interface of that specific app. Regarding our subject, the earbuds, each model has its own named application, yet they share similar functionalities.

To emphasize, this is an app and not a specific earbud model. With that clarification, I’ll conclude this introduction and delve into exploring the app.

Wearable Interface for Galaxy Buds

To utilize the Wearable app, grant it all requested permissions upon its initial launch. Denying any permission may cause the app to malfunction.

When Wearable is open and an earbud is connected, the screen displays:

• Information section: Shows the earbud image, name, and separate charging status for both earbuds. “L” represents the left earbud, “R” the right. If both have the same charge, a single percentage is shown. Additionally, when the earbuds are in the case, the case’s charging status is displayed.
• Notification section: Displays earbud-related notifications, including connection status, updates, and reminders.
• Basic settings: Includes Noise controls with options for active noise cancellation, off, and ambient sound. Also features sound detection, 360 sound, and touch control settings.
• Advanced options: Contains “Earbud settings” with advanced configurations, a Find my earbuds option, and a user manual.

Note: In the current version, these items aren’t divided into distinct sections; they’re included together in one window. It’s worth elaborating on the noise controls, touch controls, and earbud settings.

Noise Controls

Similar to many current wireless earbuds, the Buds offer noise-canceling and ambient sound features that can be managed through the Wearable app.

• Active noise cancellation (ANC): Reduces or eliminates external noise by processing detected sounds through the microphone and generating an opposing sound wave. Highly effective against engine noise or construction sounds but less effective with high-pitched noises.
• Ambient sound feature: Transmits both device and external sounds captured by the earbud microphones. Useful for situations requiring awareness of surroundings.

In both modes, the earbud microphones are active, which increases battery usage. Disabling these modes when not needed is crucial for extending battery life.

Touch Controls

Galaxy Buds come with touch controls, some of which can be customized. The default settings are:

• Single tap: Play/pause functions for media like music, audiobooks, or videos.
• Double tap: Skips to the next track during media playback, answers or ends calls.
• Triple tap: Returns to the previous track during media playback.
• Long press: Toggles between noise controls. By default, it switches between ANC and ambient sound. It also rejects calls when ringing.

Most touch controls, except long-pressing, are fixed toggles and cannot be customized. However, the long-press function can be customized individually for each earbud. Each earbud can be assigned functions like ANC on/off, ambient sound mode on/off, activating voice assistants, or controlling Spotify.

For my earbuds, I’ve personally assigned ANC and ambient sound toggles to different sides. I’ll discuss another method for adjusting volume later.

Earbud Settings

The Earbud Settings offer various options, varying depending on the earbud model. Some of these options include:

• Equalizer: Adjusts the sound quality.
• Earbud fit test: Ensures proper earbud fit and selection of suitable eartips.
• Read notifications aloud: Enables voice reading of incoming notifications when earbuds are connected.
• Bixby wake-up for voice command.
• Reset, diagnostics, software update, and information options for earbuds.

Let’s delve deeper into the Labs and Accessibility settings:

• Labs: This section provides various experimental features. For instance, a gesture option allows volume adjustment without physically touching the earbuds. A double tap on the edge of the left earbud decreases the volume, while the same gesture on the right earbud increases it. These gestures are transmitted to the earbuds through the ear without needing direct touch on the earbuds.

Additionally, Labs include a game mode that reduces latency and a hearing support option that amplifies external sound.

• Accessibility: Here, options are available to adjust volume balance between left and right earbuds, enable noise controls on a single earbud, and increase ambient volume (though not as much as the hearing support option). However, for Buds 2 Pro, both hearing assist and ambient volume boost may cause excessive reverb, particularly with hearing assist.

Conclusion

All adjustments made within the Wearable app for Galaxy Buds earbuds are stored in the earbuds themselves, preserving settings even when switching to another device. The Galaxy Wearable app is available on both the Galaxy Store and the Play Store. Its Windows counterpart, known as Galaxy Buds, is accessible via the Microsoft Store. The Windows app closely mirrors its mobile counterpart in functionality and accessibility.

Editors’ Notes:

This overview provides a general understanding of the Wearable app’s capabilities concerning Galaxy Buds models. However, it’s important to note that the available settings and options might vary based on the specific model of the earbuds being used. Additionally, these functionalities within the app could potentially change or expand with new updates or versions.