Samsung’s mobile division (MX) seems to be in hot water for aping Apple’s design language with the new Galaxy Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra. In addition to facing flak from fans, Samsung MX has reportedly drawn the ire of Samsung Electronics’ Chairman Jay Y. Lee.

As per a recent report from Korean media outlet AjuNews (via SamMobile), Lee recently ordered Samsung MX to reevaluate its plans and took strict action against some executives, including the division’s President TM Roh.

Insiders familiar with the developments have revealed that Lee “stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

In case you’re not in the loop, the entire controversy stems from Samsung’s design choices for the new Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. These devices bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the new earbuds, Samsung has moved away from its iconic bean-shaped design and opted for an AirPods-like design with stems. The charging case is also nearly identical, and Samsung has even implemented pinch and swipe gestures similar to the AirPods.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s boxy and chunky design with orange accents makes it look a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. The orange quick button on the side and the strap choices also resemble Apple’s top-end smartwatch.

On top of the copied designs, Samsung also faced quality control issues with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company was forced to suspend sales when early buyers reported various issues with the earbuds, including fragile ear tips that were prone to tearing. This seems to have been another cause for concern for the group’s chairman.

These developments could force Samsung MX to reevaluate its recent choices and do better with upcoming products. However, we’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things unfold as the next major Galaxy launch is still a few months away.

Samsung’s mobile division (MX) seems to be in hot water for aping Apple’s design language with the new Galaxy Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra. In addition to facing flak from fans, Samsung MX has reportedly drawn the ire of Samsung Electronics’ Chairman Jay Y. Lee.

As per a recent report from Korean media outlet AjuNews (via SamMobile), Lee recently ordered Samsung MX to reevaluate its plans and took strict action against some executives, including the division’s President TM Roh.

Insiders familiar with the developments have revealed that Lee “stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The internal atmosphere is currently very bad.”

In case you’re not in the loop, the entire controversy stems from Samsung’s design choices for the new Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. These devices bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the new earbuds, Samsung has moved away from its iconic bean-shaped design and opted for an AirPods-like design with stems. The charging case is also nearly identical, and Samsung has even implemented pinch and swipe gestures similar to the AirPods.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s boxy and chunky design with orange accents makes it look a lot like the Apple Watch Ultra. The orange quick button on the side and the strap choices also resemble Apple’s top-end smartwatch.

On top of the copied designs, Samsung also faced quality control issues with the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company was forced to suspend sales when early buyers reported various issues with the earbuds, including fragile ear tips that were prone to tearing. This seems to have been another cause for concern for the group’s chairman.

These developments could force Samsung MX to reevaluate its recent choices and do better with upcoming products. However, we’ll probably have to wait a while to see how things unfold as the next major Galaxy launch is still a few months away.

Samsung’s Unpacked event is a few weeks away, but the leak train continues to steam ahead. Now, European pricing for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Galaxy Watch 7, and Galaxy Watch Ultra may have been revealed.

YTechB reported that a European retailer has listed the aforementioned gadgets on its website, along with pricing. The news outlet shared screenshots too (seen below), but didn’t specify the retailer. The outlet also claimed that these prices were slightly discounted compared to the full recommended prices. Either way, you’ll want to take this report with some caution.

The retailer apparently lists the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at €313.49 (~$335), which would be a steep increase over the Buds 2 Pro‘s €240 (~$257) launch price. Expect to find it in Silver and White colors.

Meanwhile, the 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 BT is reportedly listed at €314.49 (~$336) while the 44mm model costs €344.99 (~$369). The watches are apparently available in Cream, Green, and Silver color schemes. There’s no word on pricing for the cellular models.

Fancy buying the Galaxy Watch Ultra? The unnamed retailer is listing it for €688.99 (~$737), with the outlet claiming that it’s available in Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver, and Titanium White.

Device pricing can undoubtedly change between now and the Unpacked launch event. It’s also worth noting that European prices tend to be more expensive than US prices, so a direct conversion isn’t necessarily indicative of US price tags.

Samsung’s highly anticipated summer Unpacked event could be announced any day now, with a tentative date set for July 10. As the countdown continues, new information about the products expected to debut is emerging, including the next generation of Samsung’s wireless earbuds.

Recent leaks suggest that the Galaxy Buds 3 might feature a design reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods, and now we have our first glimpse of these new earbuds. X/Twitter user @Teqhnikacross spotted what looks like the official product images of the Galaxy Buds 3 on Coupang, an e-commerce site in South Korea. These images give us a preview of the sleek new design of Samsung’s earbuds, and we’re here for it. (h/t: Sammobile)

First things first, the images showcase the Galaxy Buds 3 in a polished grey color variant, which looks absolutely slick. The charging case has undergone a redesign, transitioning from a horizontal to a vertical layout, with a transparent lid that adds a futuristic touch to the design.

The earbuds themselves look stunning. They appear to sport a wider earbud section and a rectangular stem, which makes them look much less like the Airpods or the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Even though the two Buds 3 models might look similar to one another, word on the street is that the Pro version could have ‘blade lights’ running down the stems to set them apart from the standard Galaxy Buds 3.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are rumored to share several features, including active noise cancelation (ANC), an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, and ultra-high-quality sound (24bit/96kHz).

For me, this is the best look Samsung has come up with for its earbuds so far. Let’s hope they sound just as good as they look.

Last month, we reported that Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Buds may offer a significantly different design than previous generations. Now, a new leaked image lends further credence to this. According to a pixelated leak from reliable tipster Evan Blass (h/t: Asian Geek Squad), the Galaxy Buds 3 may drop its “bud” design in favor of an AirPods-like stalk.

We can’t glean many fine details from the image, but what is apparent is the rumored “blade lights” bar at the foot of the stalk and the silver colorway. Have a look at the render below.

Lots of the deals we see every day are kinda meh, but this is one of those discounts that had us double-checking it was legit. Woot is currently offering the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for just $119.99 — a 48% markdown and easily the best price we’ve ever tracked.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for $119.99 ($110 off)