Surround Sound is a prevalent feature in premium headphones, and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is no exception. I've tested out the 360 Audio feature, and while it has some commendable aspects, there's room for improvement.
Diverse Application Compatibility for Enhanced ExperienceComparing Galaxy Buds Pro to its direct competitor, Airpods Pro, Samsung's headphones support a wider range of applications. This means you can use them on platforms like Youtube or for music playback and still enjoy surround sound effects, not just limited to movie streaming apps.This feature is exclusive to Samsung's S21 series phones.Limiting this feature to specific phones has left many users, including owners of previous Samsung models like S20 or Note 20, without surround sound capabilities. Not to mention devices from other manufacturers. In reality, Galaxy Buds Pro deliver their best audio quality when used with Samsung phones thanks to the Scalable Codec.
Surround feature perfect for music listeningThis is something I really appreciate about Galaxy Buds Pro. While many headphones struggle with distorted sound when playing music in surround mode, Galaxy Buds Pro reproduce the spatial audio exceptionally well. Even when I have 360 Audio turned on while listening to music on these headphones.Significant improvement when watching movies, whether with Dolby Atmos or notI tested watching movies on various platforms like browser, Netflix, and Youtube, and the 360 Audio feature still works, noticeably enhancing spatial details, bass range, and surrounding effects.Head-tracking quality still has room for improvementFor optimal usage of this feature, it's best to hold the phone directly in front of you. When I tried turning my head, the experience didn't feel very smooth, and it only works best when the phone is held close.