Samsung Galaxy Buds Live vs Audeze Penrose

With three total beamforming mics — two on the exterior and one inside — the Galaxy Buds Live have performed just fine during my Zoom meetings and voice calls. Samsung says they also have a “voice pickup unit” in the hardware for improved speech detection. You can use either bud independently while the other is charging in the case.

The Audeze Penrose has almost everything I want in a wireless gaming headset. Its high-end planar magnetic drivers deliver rich, balanced sound quality that’s easily superior to other models I’ve tested recently. It’s feature-packed, too, with individual volume and microphone levels, USB-C charging, the option for wired connectivity via 3.5mm, as well as support for simultaneous Bluetooth 5

TBH, the Galaxy Buds Live are the what I use most often day-to-day. They're reliable, comfortable, and good enough for casual listening.

It’s easy for me to recommend the Penrose based on its features and sound quality alone, but comfort plays an equally large role for me — and that’s where this headset is lacking the most. It’s a shame that the fit is so fatiguing because it’s really the only deal-breaker. Otherwise, the Penrose could be an ideal addition to any gamer’s life, especially those who want a headset that can connect to multiple devices simultaneously. Just heed the warning that, for certain head shapes and for people sensitive to wearing hefty headphones, it might not fit your head very well